Job 11
SIBThen Zophar the Naamathite replied, 2. Dost thou think to stop our mouths with a multitude of words, or by thy talkativeness to persuade us thou art innocent?
Job 11:3
Must no one confute thy false allegations concerning thine own innocence or God’s dispensations of providence? And, when thou hast so insolently scoffed at God and thy friends, must none expose thee to shame by pointing forth thy wickedness?
Job 11:4
Wilt thou dare pretend to God himself that thou art quite pure and unspotted in thy principles and practice?
Job 11:5
Truly my earnest wish is, that he would fully and freely debate the cause with thee, and confute thy mistakes
Job 11:6
And that he would shew thee the hidden methods of his providence, and reasons of his wise counsels, which infinitely transcend thy conceptions, and make thee to know that thou hast deserved far more affliction than has been laid upon thee
Job 11:7
Darest thou pretend, by thy inquiries, fully to know the secrets of his providence, or the reasons of his procedure! 8, 9. Thou mayest sooner measure the height of heaven, or fathom the depth of hell, and describe the surfaces and boundaries of the earth and sea
Job 11:10
If he attack a person or family, and shut them up in chains or nets of affliction, or bring them to his public tribunal, who can resist or refute him, or cause him to restore them to liberty?
Job 11:11
For he knoweth the lovers of, and dealers in, falsehood and vanity. He exactly observes and understands what emptiness and wickedness takes place, however unimportant it appears to us, and thus hath reasons for inflicting trouble that men overlook
Job 11:12
Let then the dull and self-conceited pretender to knowledge, who just now spoke, be endued with solid wisdom; and let him, who appears as rude and blockish as an ass, be formed into a man of understanding
Job 11:13
If thou art truly wise, forbear disputing; and, in the exercise of faith and hearty repentance, apply thyself to humble supplication
Job 11:14
Reform thyself and family from whatever wickedness thou hast indulged
Job 11:15
Thus shalt thou be quickly delivered from thy loathsome disease and lamentable condition, and be firmly established in holiness and happiness
Job 11:16
The greatness of thy prosperity shall make thee forget all thy present trouble, as if it had never been
Job 11:17
The remainder of thy life shall be filled up with the most glorious and ever-increasing felicity. Thy present labour, under confounding trouble, shall issue in a fresh, clear, and pleasant, morning of prosperity
Job 11:18
Thy mind shall be quiet, and free from terrors, in the well-grounded confidence of God’s favour and protection. Thou shalt dig thy wells of water, or entrench thyself for security, and nothing shall disturb thee or thine
Job 11:19
And, whilst thou art in perfect peace, without any thing to disquiet thee, many, even of the great, shall humbly court thy favour and friendship
Job 11:20
But wicked men shall never enjoy the happiness they desire or expect; their refuge from, help under, or escape out of, misery, is utterly perished. Their firmest hope of happiness is but as a noisy puff of breath, or giving up of the ghost, all on a sudden leaving them miserable and desperate
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XI.—It is highly indecent and sinful to be abusive and passionate in religious controversy; and cruel to deal harshly with them whose spirits the Lord has wounded. Harsh censures readily exceed the bounds of truth. Such as are forward in giving the lie to others are ordinarily too guilty of falsehood themselves: and none are more forward in making their appeals to God than they whose cause is bad. How little we know of God’s unbounded excellencies, or of the mysteries of his wisdom and will! men often talk well concerning them to serve a bad purpose. But surely it is very unreasonable to complain under troubles, when we have not only a God of deep counsels and unsearchable perfections to deal with; but, in providence, have a mixture of undeserved mercy in the most severe afflictions we meet with. Men often proudly imagine they know much when they are amazingly ignorant: and, the more ignorant they are, so are they the more unsettled and ungovernable. But in trouble there is need of a thorough reformation of ourselves and families. Yes, to have our nature changed, our heart lifted up to God in holy desires and self dedication, and our practice rectified. And the most holy confidence towards God; holy composure in our own mind; comfortable reflection on troubles; and joyful expectation of peace, joy, and honour; attend upon sincere and gospel repentance. If God establish us we shall not fail; nor need we fear what all the powers of hell and earth can do against us. Though we may for a little suffer an eclipse, we shall at last, without spot, shine forth in the kingdom of our Father. If the anchor of our hope be fixed on the faithfulness of God, no storms can hurt or endanger our security.—But unavoidable misery awaits the impenitent: and, if not before, the hope of the wicked always expires in death