Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 14
Overview:
Job speaks of
Man's
Life.
(1-6) Of
Man's
Death.
(7-15) By Sin
Man is subject to corruption.
(16-22)
1-6 Job enlarges upon the condition of
Man, addressing himself
also to
God. Every
Man of
Adam's fallen race is short-lived. All
his show of beauty, happiness, and splendour falls before the
stroke of sickness or
Death, as the flower before the scythe; or
passes away like the
Shadow. How is it possible for a
Man's
conduct to be sinless, when his
Heart is
By nature unclean? Here
is a clear proof that
Job understood and believed the doctrine
of original
Sin. He seems to have intended it as a plea, why the
Lord should not
Deal with him according to his own
Works, but
according to His
Mercy and
Grace. It is determined, in the
counsel and decree of
God, how long we shall live. Our times are
in his hands, the powers of nature act under him; in him we live
and move. And it is very useful to reflect seriously
On the
shortness and uncertainty of human
Life, and the fading nature
of all earthly enjoyments. But it is still more important to
look at the cause, and remedy of these evils. Until we are born
of the
Spirit,
No spiritually good thing dwells in us, or can
proceed from us. Even the little good in the regenerate is
defiled with
Sin. We should therefore humble ourselves before
God, and cast ourselves wholly
On the
Mercy of
God, through our
Divine
Surety. We should daily seek the renewing of the Holy
Ghost, and look to
Heaven as the only place of perfect
Holiness
and happiness.
7-15 Though a tree is cut down, yet, in a moist situation,
shoots come forth, and grow up as a newly planted tree. But when
Man is cut off
By Death, he is for ever removed from his place
in this world. The
Life of
Man may fitly be compared to the
waters of a land
Flood, which spread far, but soon dry up. All
Job's expressions here show his belief in the great doctrine of
the resurrection.
Job's friends proving miserable comforters, he
pleases himself with the expectation of a change. If our sins
are forgiven, and our hearts renewed to
Holiness,
Heaven will be
the
Rest of our souls, while our bodies are hidden in the
Grave
from the malice of our enemies, feeling
No more pain from our
corruptions, or our corrections.
16-22 Job's
Faith and
Hope spake, and
Grace appeared to revive;
but depravity again prevailed. He represents
God as carrying
matters to extremity against him. The
Lord must prevail against
all who contend with him.
God may send disease and pain, we may
lose all comfort in those near and dear to us, every
Hope of
earthly happiness may be destroyed, but
God will receive the
believer into realms of eternal happiness. But what a change
awaits the prosperous unbeliever! How will he answer when
God
shall
Call him to his tribunal? The
Lord is yet upon a
Mercy-seat, ready to be gracious. Oh that sinners would be
Wise,
that they would consider their latter
End! While
Man's
Flesh is
upon him, that is, the body he is
So loath to lay down, it shall
have pain; and while his soul is within him, that is, the
Spirit
he is
So loath to resign, it shall
Mourn. Dying work is hard
work; dying pangs often are sore pangs. It is folly for men to
defer
Repentance to a
Death-
Bed, and to have that to do which is
the one thing needful, when unfit to do anything.