Job 22

Job 22:2

CAn a man be profitable unto God] Chap. 35. 7, 8. Psalms 16:2. Luke 17. 10. Though man were just, yet God could have no profit thereby. Why then doest thou talk so much of thy righteousnesse?

as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself?] Or, if he may be profitable, doth his good successe depend theren: Or, but he that is wise, may be profitable to himself? Proverbs 9:12.

Job 22:3

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?] Canst thou adde any joy, or profit to God by being righteous?

Job 22:4

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee?] Dost thou think that God punisheth thee for being religious, or for fearing God? no, it is for thy wickednesse, as vers. 5. or, because he is asraid of thee; or, if thou didst fear him, would he reprove thee, or quarrell with thee?

for fear of thee] Or, for thy religion.

enter with thee into judgement] Psalms 143:2.

Job 22:6

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought] Thou hast been cruell, and wouldst do nothing for the poor, but for thy own advantage.

stripped the naked of their clothing] Heb. stripped the clothes of the naked.

Job 22:7

water to the weary to drink] Isaiah 21:14.

and] Or, yea.

bread from the hungry] Isaiah 58:7.

Job 22:8

the mighty man] Heb. the man of drm] When thou wast in authority, thou didst wrong the poor, to please the mighty and honourable.

honourable] Heb. emminent, or, accepted for countenance.

Job 22:9

Thou hast sent widows away emptie] Whereas thou shouldst have defended the widows and fatherlesse by thy authority, and relieved them with thy wealth, thou hast not shewed pitty, but opprest them.

the arms of the fatherlesse have been broken] Thou tookest from them all power to defend themselves.

Job 22:10

Therefore snares are round about thee] God hunts thee like a wilde beast that spoils the countrey, chap. 18. 8, &c.

Job 22:11

Or darknesse that thou canst not see] Confusion of minde, that thou knowest not how to get out of trouble, Isaiah 8:22.

and abundance of waters cover thee] Of afflictions that overwhel thee.

Job 22:12

Is not God in the height of heaven?] If thou passe not for men, yet consider e height of Gods majestie.

behold the height of ttarres] That so much the more thou mayest fear God, and reverence him.

the height of the starres] Heb. the head of the starres.

Job 22:13

And] Or, But.

How] Or, What.

How doth God know?] Psalms 10:11. and Psalms 73:11. and Psalms 94:7. He reproveth Job as though he denyed Gods providence, and affitmed, That God could not fee the things that were done in this world.

Job 22:14

he walketh in the circuit of heaven] Enjoyes his own felicitie, not regarding what is done below.

Job 22:15

Hast thou marked the old way] How God hath punished wicked men from the beginning.

Job 22:16

Which were cut down out of time] Before they need to die by the course of nature, chap. 15. 32. Psal 55. 23. and 102. 24. Ecclesiastes 7:17.

whose foundation was overflown with a floud] Heb. a floud was powed upon their foundation.

with a floud] It is likely he alludeth to Noahs floud, 2 Peter 2:5.

Job 22:17

Which said unto God] Chap. 21. 14.

for them] Or, to them.

Job 22:18

Yet he filled their houses with good things] They had no cause to say so, for he had filled their houses with good.

the counsel of the wicked far from me] Chap. 21. 16. Job said so in words, chap. 21. 16. but I and other godly men say so in truth.

Job 22:19

The righteous see it] Psalms 107:42.

and are glad] The just rejoyce at the fall of the wicked, because God gets the glory of his justice, and shews his love to them in destroying their enemies. It may be he means, Noah and his did laugh at them that perished in the deluge. See notes on vers. 16. Psalms 58:10.

Job 22:20

Whereas our substance is not ut down] God spared the good: but the wicked he destroyed by fire also, as in Sodom, 2 Pet. 2. 6, 7, 9.

substance] Or, estate.

the remnant of them] Or, their excellency.

Job 22:21

Aquaint now thy self with him] He exhorteth Job to repent, and to return to God.

with him] That is, with God.

Job 22:22

lay up his words in thine heart] Psalms 119:11. Luke 2. 19.

Job 22:23

If thou return to the Almighty] Chap. 8. 5, 6. and 11. 13.

thou shalt be built up] God will restore thee to all thy substance.

thou] Or, if thou.

Job 22:24

as dust] Or, on the dust. Which shall be in abundance like dust, 2 Chron. 1. 15.

the gold of Ophir] Most precious gold. See 1 Kings 9:28. and 1 Kings 3:11.

Job 22:25

the Almightie shall be thy defence] Yea, thou shalt have God for thy protection in all perils, who is better then gold.

defence] Or, gold.

plentie of silver] Heb. silver of strength.

Job 22:26

and shalt lift up thy face unto God] Chap. 11. 15. Thou shalt boldly call upon God, and expect help from him, 1 Joh. 3. 21, 22.

Job 22:27

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him] Psal. 50. 14, 15.

thou shalt pay thy vows] Psal. 116. 14, 18. God will give thee thy desire, that thou mayest have occasion to pay thy vows.

Job 22:28

the light shall shine upon thy wayes] Gods favour will direct thee to right wayes, and blesse thee in them.

Job 22:29

When men are cast down] God will deliver his, when the wicked are destroyed round about them: as in the floud, and in Sodom.

and he shall save the humble person] James 4:6. 1 Peter 5:5.

the humble person] Heb. him that hath low eyes.

Job 22:30

He shall deliver the island of the innecent] Or, the innocent shall deliver the island: or, he shall deliver him that is not innocent. One good man may save a whole countrey, Jere. 5. 1. Or, even those that are wicked may be saved for a good mant sake, Gen. 18. 26, &c.