Job 34:29

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?.... Quietness or peace is of God; external peace to bodies of men, to communities, civil and religious, and to particular persons; quietness and

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

When he giveth quietness; either to the poor and oppressed persons last mentioned, or to any other person or people, as it follows. Who then can make trouble? no man or creature can hinder God’ s design and work. When he hideth his face, i.e. withdraws his favour and help from them, and thereby exposeth them to all oppressions or calamities. Who then can behold him? i.e. who can look up to God with cheerfulness or confidence, to desire or expect his help? Or rather, who then will look upon him, or regard him, to wit, so as to pity or succour him? If God be against him, what man will or dare be for him? all men will forsake and oppose him, and so he will be utterly lost. For this who answers to the who in the former branch of the verse, and both of them speak of man and his act as opposed unto God and to his act. The case is the same in both: God can carry on his work, either of mercy or justice, as easily and as irresistibly upon a whole nation or people as upon one particular person.

Job 34:29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:Ver. 29. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?] Ipse tranquillabit, et quis inquietabit? This is like that of the apostle, saith Brentius, Romans 8:31-39, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’ s elect?" &c. It is he alone who giveth peace, both of country and of conscience; Peace, peace, Isaiah 26:3, Pacem omnimodam; external, internal, eternal; and then, who can disturb or unsettle? Surely as Isaac once said to Esau, concerning Jacob, He is blessed, and he shall be blessed; so may it be said of such as have made their peace with God; peace shall be upon them and mercy, contra gentes, whosoever saith nay to it; yea, though it be the devil himself, that οπονηρος, as he is oft called, the troublesome one; who, even since he was cast out of heaven, keeps ado on earth, and seeks to disquiet all such as, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, Romans 2:7. And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?] Him? whom? God; who dare look upon him, or toward him for help, when he is thoroughly displeased and looketh irefully? Or, the party frowned on by God; who will smile upon him, or show him any favour and furtherance? Here Aben Ezra giveth a good note, Aversio vultus Dei, &c., The turning away of God’ s pleased countenance is the cause of all wars and other disasters. The physiologer in Epiphanius telleth of the bird charadius, that being brought into the room where a man lieth sick, if he look with a steady and fixed eye upon the sick man, he recovereth; but if he turn away from him, and look another way, the disease is to death. Apply this to God, and it fitteth. Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only] All is a case (as they say) to God, he stands not upon multitudes, as men use to do in case of mutinies or the like, to punish the tenth man or so, in terrorem, for a terror to the rest. This is not God’ s way of punishing; but as a thousand years are to him but as a day, and one day as a thousand years; so when he proceeds to execution of justice, whether it be done against a nation, &c. All nations to him are but as a drop of a bucket or dust of a balance, Isaiah 40:15 And hence he buried a world full of people in one universal grave of waters. And the wicked (be they never so many) shall be turned into hell, with whole nations that forget God, Psalms 9:17. God seemeth to say, Fiat iustitia, ruat orbis.

(29) When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?—This is probably the meaning, but literally it is, Who can condemn?Or against a man only.—Rather, against a man alike: i.e., it is all one in either case. He judges nations as He judges individuals, and individuals as He does nations.

Verse 29. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?] How beautiful is this sentiment, and how true! He ever acts as a sovereign, but his actions are all wise and just. If he give quietness, who dares to give trouble? And if he give to every human being the right to worship himself according to their conscience, for the director of which he gives both his word and his Spirit, who shall dare to say to another, "Thou shalt worship God in my way, or not at all;" or, through a pretended liberality, say, "Thou shalt be tolerated to worship him so and so;" and even that toleration be shackled and limited? Reader, thou hast as much right to tolerate another's mode of worship as he has to tolerate thine: or, in other words, neither of you have any such right at all; the pretension is as absurd as it is wicked. If, however, there be any thing in the religious practice of any particular people that is inimical, by fair construction, to the peace of the country, then the civil power may interfere, as they ought to do in all cases of insurrection; but let no such inference be drawn when not most obviously flowing from the practice of the people, and the principles they profess; and when solemnly disclaimed by the persons in question. Whatever converts sinners from the error of their ways must be good to society and profitable to the state. Whether it be done against a nation] He defends and supports nations or individuals howsoever weak, against their enemies, howsoever numerous and powerful. He destroys nations or individuals who have filled up the measure of their political or moral iniquity, though all other nations and individuals stand up in their support.

29–33. The connexion of the following verses is rather uncertain. The sense of Job 34:30 might suggest the connexion of Job 34:29-30 with the preceding. In this case Job 34:31 would make a new start, and the connexion would be maintained to the end of the chapter. It is probable, however, that Job 34:34-37 should be taken by themselves. In Job 34:29 the word he is emphatic; similarly in Job 34:31 an emphasis falls on God. This common emphasis, in Job 34:29-30 on the absoluteness of God’s operation and in Job 34:31-33 on the presumption of any one who questions it, seems to bind these two groups of verses together. The verses read as a whole, 29. When he giveth quietness, who shall condemn him? And when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? Whether it be done to a nation or to a man alike: 30. That the godless man reign not, That the people be not ensnared. 31. For hath any said unto God, I have borne (chastisement) though I offend not, 32. That which I see not teach thou me, If I have done iniquity I will do it no more?— 33. Shall God’s recompense be according to thy mind That thou dost reject it? For thou must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what thou knowest.

When he giveth quietness - That is, when God designs to give rest, comfort, ease, or prosperity in any way to a man. The Hebrew word used here may refer to any kind of ease, rest, or peace.

29. Make trouble — éøùׁ ?ò. Its meaning is not “condemn,” (Delitzsch, Zockler,) but alarm, trouble. (Hitzig.) Nor is the object of the verb “trouble,” God, as Hirtzel and others think, but the afflicted.