Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 29
Overview:
Job's former comforts.
(1-6) The honour paid to
Job, His
usefulness.
(7-17) His prospect of prosperity.
(18-25)
1-6 Job proceeds to contrast his former prosperity with his
present misery, through
God's withdrawing from him. A gracious
soul delights in
God's smiles, not in the smiles of this world.
Four things were then very pleasant to holy
Job. 1. The
confidence he had in the Divine protection. 2. The enjoyment he
had of the Divine favour. 3. The
Communion he had with the
Divine
Word. 4. The
Assurance he had of the Divine presence.
God's presence with a
Man in his
House, though it be but a
Cottage, makes it a
Castle and a
Palace. Then also he had
comfort in his family. Riches and flourishing families, like a
Candle, may be soon extinguished. But when the mind is
enlightened
By the Holy
Spirit, when a
Man walks in the
Light of
God's countenance, every outward comfort is doubled, every
trouble is diminished, and he may pass cheerfully
By this
Light
through
Life and through
Death. Yet the sensible comfort of this
state is often withdrawn for a season; and commonly this arises
from sinful neglect, and grieving the Holy
Spirit: sometimes it
may be a trial of a
Man's
Faith and
Grace. But it is needful to
examine ourselves, to seek for the cause of such a change
By
fervent
Prayer, and to increase our watchfulness.
7-17 All sorts of people paid respect to
Job, not only for the
dignity of his rank, but for his personal merit, his prudence,
integrity, and good management. Happy the men who are blessed
with such
Gifts as these! They have great opportunities of
honouring
God and doing good, but have great need to watch
against pride. Happy the people who are blessed with such men!
it is a token for good to them. Here we see what
Job valued
himself
By, in the
Day of his prosperity. It was
By his
usefulness. He valued himself
By the check he gave to the
violence of proud and evil men. Good magistrates must thus be a
restraint to evil-doers, and protect the innocent; in order to
this, they should
Arm themselves with zeal and resolution. Such
men are public blessings, and resemble Him who rescues
Poor
sinners from
Satan. How many who were ready to perish, now are
blessing Him! But who can show forth His praises? May we trust
in His
Mercy, and seek to imitate His
Truth,
Justice, and
Love.
18-25 Being thus honoured and useful,
Job had hoped to die in
peace and honour, in a good old
Age. If such an expectation
arise from lively
Faith in the
Providence and promise of
God, it
is
Well; but if from conceit of our own
Wisdom, and dependence
On changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to
Sin. Every one that has the
Spirit of
Wisdom, has not the
Spirit
of government; but
Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a
Comforter. This he thought upon with pleasure, when he was
himself a mourner. Our
Lord Jesus is a
King who hates iniquity,
and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes. To
Him let us give
Ear.