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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
THE SOURCE AND REMEDY OF DESPONDING FEARS
IN controversy there is need of the utmost candour; nor without it can we ever hope for a favourable issue. The friends of Job were grievously defective in it; and therefore utterly failed, either to convince him, or to be convinced themselves. But Elihu, who was an attentive auditor of the dispute, and who, on account of his youth, judged it indecorous to offer his sentiments till he saw that his elders were silenced, took up the matter with incomparably better temper and judgment, and, instead of bringing railing and unfounded accusations as the others had done, called Job’s attention to many expressions he had used, and endeavoured to convince him out of his own mouth. This was wise, and well adapted to the end proposed: and it is observable, that when God reproved the manner in which the other three had conducted the controversy, he said nothing to the disparagement of Elihu, nor required any sacrifice on his account.
It is certain that Job, though far from being a hypocrite, as his friends had represented him, had not always spoken quite advisedly with his lips. His self-justification had been occasionally too strong, and his complaints of God’s conduct towards him somewhat irreverent: he had yielded also too much to despondency. He had complained that he could not understand God’s dealings with him, and that he had no hope or prospect of deliverance from his troubles [Note: Job_23:8-9.]. This is noticed by Elihu in the words before us; and the proper remedy for such desponding fears is pointed out to him: “although thou sayest thou shalt not see God, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him;” that is, Place in God that confidence he deserves; and all will yet be well.
From the words thus explained we shall be led to consider,
I. The source of desponding fears—
There is far more of despondency in men than is generally supposed: perhaps it is, as much as any other thing whatever, a ground of their continuing impenitent in their sins.
The ostensible ground of men’s fears is usually a sense of the extreme difficulty of their case—
[Thus it was with Israel at the Red Sea, at the waters of Marah, at the borders of Canaan also, when the spies represented the cities as impregnable, and the inhabitants as irresistible. Thus it was even with the pious Hezekiah, when his sickness appeared to be unto death [Note: Isa_38:10-13.]: and thus it is with multitudes amongst ourselves, who imagine that their circumstances are so calamitous, as to be beyond the reach of any remedy. More particularly is this the case with persons under spiritual trouble: they are apt to imagine, that their sins are unpardonable, and that their corruptions are too inveterate ever to be subdued — — —]
The real ground is a low apprehension of the perfections of their God—
[This is the interpretation which God himself puts on the unbelieving fears of his people. When Sarah laughed at the promise made to her, the answer was, “Is there any thing too hard for the Lord?” and the complaint of God against the unbelieving Israelites was, that “they limited the Holy One of Israel.” In fact, a just view of God’s perfections would silence all fears: for if his wisdom, his power, his love, his faithfulness be really infinite, we have nothing to do, but to repose our confidence in him, and we are safe — — —]
But it is a small thing to know the source of desponding fears, unless we apply,
II. The remedy—
This is prescribed in the words of our text:
1. Contemplate God—
[What we are to understand by that expression, “Judgment is before him,” may be ascertained by consulting a similar passage in the prophet Isaiah [Note: Isa_30:18.]. He will do nothing but what is right and good; nor will he omit any thing which it becomes him to do.
Consider what he has done in a way of power and grace — — — and is he not the same God as ever?
Consider what he has engaged to do: is there any thing that we can need, which is not made over to us by an express promise? Has he not said, that “his grace shall be sufficient for us;” that “we shall have no temptation without a way to escape;” that “as our day is, so shall our strength be;” that “he will give grace and glory, and withhold no good thing” from his believing people? “Hath he then said these things, and will he not do them? hath he spoken, and will he not make them good?”
Consider, above all, the gift of his only dear Son! What else will he, or can he, withhold from us [Note: Rom_8:32.]? Surely he will be “a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall [Note: Isa_25:4.].”
Did we but duly consider his glorious perfections as already exercised for his people, and as specially pledged to be exercised for us, we should never entertain a doubt of his constant and effectual care. “His name would be to us as a strong tower, to which we should run and be safe.”]
2. Trust in him—
[“They that know his name will trust in him:” and to trust in him is the certain way to dissipate all fear. See how a confidence in God operated in the case of David [Note: Psa_46:1-3; Psa_11:1-4.]: and the same effect will it produce in us: “if we commit our ways to him, our very thoughts” (which are by nature fluctuating as the wind) “shall be established.” This, then, is what we must do: we must “cast all our care on Him who careth for us.” It is the very direction which God himself gives to “those who walk in darkness and have no light [Note: Isa_50:10.]:” and if we follow this direction, “God will keep us in perfect peace [Note: Isa_26:3.];” and we shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but standeth fast for ever [Note: Psa_125:1.].”]
Address—
1. To those who overlook difficulties—
[This is the habit of men in general: and hence it is that they are so much at their ease. But it is no easy matter to turn to God aright. To repent and to believe in Christ are works far beyond the ability of man; nor can any man do either the one or the other, but by the influence of the Holy Ghost [Note: Act_5:31. Php_1:29.]. O let this be duly weighed! Let us remember, that “we cannot even say that Jesus is the Lord,” (we cannot feelingly and believingly say it) “but by the Holy Ghost [Note: 1Co_12:3.]:” and let us not delay one hour to seek his effectual aid.]
2. To those who unduly magnify them—
[We certainly magnify our difficulties too much, when we deem them insuperable: for “the things that are impossible with man are possible with God.” See the state of Jonah in the whale’s belly: could any condition be conceived more hopeless? Yet from thence did he cry; and his prayer entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts [Note: Jon_2:1-7.]. Thus let us “never stagger at the promises of God through unbelief, but be strong in faith, giving glory to God [Note: Rom_4:20.].” The greater our difficulties, let our application to him be the more earnest, and our expectations of his gracious interposition be the more enlarged: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord [Note: Psa_31:24.].”]