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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible

Job Ch.6 / 42 Ch.s


JOB:6

* Job justifies his complaints. (1-7) He wishes for death.
(8-13) Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14-30)

#1-7 Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition
to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away
all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath
of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then
did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he
bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine
justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or
estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it
as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the
peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed,
our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for
their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his
relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and
burdensome.

#8-13 Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries.
For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again
with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus
of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath
of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us
rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his
comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been,
in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have
grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in
exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the
worst of times.

#14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his
friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the
failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations
on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them;
whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the
time of need, #Heb 4:16|. Those who make gold their hope, sooner
or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it.
It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our
confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the
Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is
very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we
had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we
have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in
trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard
usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good
look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect
little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect
much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was
ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in
error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have
given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and
will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such
iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our
characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every
upright believer shall have praise of God.