Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Job Ch.17 / 42 Ch.s
JOB:17
* Job appeals from man to God. (1-9) His hope is not in life,
but in death. (10-16)
#1-9 Job reflects upon the harsh censures his friends had passed
upon him, and, looking on himself as a dying man, he appeals to
God. Our time is ending. It concerns us carefully to redeem the
days of time, and to spend them in getting ready for eternity.
We see the good use the righteous should make of Job's
afflictions from God, from enemies, and from friends. Instead of
being discouraged in the service of God, by the hard usage this
faithful servant of God met with, they should be made bold to
proceed and persevere therein. Those who keep their eye upon
heaven as their end, will keep their feet in the paths of
religion as their way, whatever difficulties and discouragements
they may meet with.
#10-16 Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hope
of his return to a prosperous estate; he here shows that those
do not go wisely about the work of comforting the afflicted, who
fetch their comforts from the possibility of recovery in this
world. It is our wisdom to comfort ourselves, and others, in
distress, with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his
love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life. See
how Job reconciles himself to the grave. Let this make believers
willing to die; it is but going to bed; they are weary, and it
is time that they were in their beds. Why should not they go
willingly when their Father calls them? Let us remember our
bodies are allied to corruption, the worm and the dust; and let
us seek for that lively hope which shall be fulfilled, when the
hope of the wicked shall be put out in darkness; that when our
bodies are in the grave, our souls may enjoy the rest reserved
for the people of God.