Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 22
Overview:
Eliphaz shows that a
Man's
Goodness profits not
God.
(1-4) Job
accused of oppression.
(5-14) The world before the
Flood.
(15-20) Eliphaz exhorts
Job to
Repentance.
(21-30)
1-4 Eliphaz considers that, because
Job complained
So much of
his
Afflictions, he thought
God was unjust in afflicting him;
but
Job was far from thinking
So. What
Eliphaz says, is unjustly
applied to
Job, but it is very true, that when
God does us good
it is not because he is indebted to us.
Man's
Piety is
No profit
to
God,
No gain. The gains of religion to men are infinitely
greater than the losses of it.
God is a Sovereign, who gives
No
account of his conduct; but he is perfectly
Wise, just,
Faithful, good, and merciful. He approves the likeness of his
own
Holiness, and delights in the fruits of his
Spirit; he
accepts the thankful services of the humble believer, while he
rejects the proud claim of the self-confident.
5-14 Eliphaz brought heavy charges against
Job, without reason
for his accusations, except that
Job was visited as he supposed
God always visited every wicked
Man. He charges him with
oppression, and that he did harm with his wealth and power in
the time of his prosperity.
15-20 Eliphaz would have
Job Mark the old way that wicked men
have trodden, and see what the
End of their way was. It is good
for us to
Mark it, that we may not walk therein. But if others
are consumed, and we are not, instead of blaming them, and
lifting up ourselves, as
Eliphaz does here, we ought to be
thankful to
God, and take it for a warning.
21-30 The answer of
Eliphaz wrongly implied that
Job had
hitherto not known
God, and that prosperity in this
Life would
follow his sincere
Conversion. The counsel
Eliphaz here gives is
good, though, as to
Job, it was built upon a false supposition
that he was a
Stranger and enemy to
God. Let us beware of
slandering our brethren; and if it be our
Lot to suffer in this
manner, let us remember how
Job was treated; yea, how
Jesus was
reviled, that we may be patient. Let us examine whether there
may not be some
Colour for the slander, and walk watchfully,
So
as to be clear of all appearances of evil.