Job 35

Job 35:9-13

Many, under terrible troubles and inhuman oppressions, cry to God for relief, and for vengeance, on their oppressors: but as their prayers are mingled with no faith in God, or kind sense of his goodness, but merely forced from them by the pressure of their distress, and the haughty violence of their oppressors, God pays no regard to them. 14, 15. Therefore, although thou complainest that he hath not, and despairest that he will ever appear for thy relief, yet he still attends to wisdom and equity in every dispensation; therefore do thou patiently wait and earnestly look for him; and remember that it is because there is nothing of this in thy carriage that God has thus severely afflicted thee; and because of thy excessive pride he quite disregards thy former prosperity, and overlooks thy present extremity of trouble

Job 35:16

And it is owing to thy ignorance, or thoughtlessness of this, that so many foolish and wicked words have proceeded out of thy mouth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXV.—There is great need to be well rooted in the knowledge and faith of God’s infinite greatness and sovereignty, in order to prevent many fatal mistakes in principle or practice. We can never make him our debtor. The best we do is unworthy of his notice; and the worst he dispenses to us is less than our iniquities deserve. Whatever trouble now attends his service, it will appear infinitely profitable at last. But many groan under their troubles, who never shew any humiliation for sin or desire after God. Yet irreligious poverty and suffering is, of all human miseries on earth, one of the most deplorable. It cannot be expected that such men’s selfish prayers, without any regard to God or the good of their soul, should issue in help from him. While they are insensible of the most distinguishing mercies they enjoy, they cannot reasonably expect deliverance from the evils they feel, or the experience of those divine joys which overbalance every sorrow and pain. While our unhumbled hearts only murmur and groan under our troubles, it is a mercy to be denied the removal of them. But, when God corrects his saints severely for their humiliation, Satan is ever ready to drive them to despair. The greatness of their sufferings makes them to overlook their unbelief, impatience, and rashness; by which means they lose the comforts, and defer the removal, of them. It is only strong faith in God that can guide us aright through temptations and trouble. Despair of relief is as high a reflection upon his power and grace as impatience is on his goodness and wisdom. And, if our troubles are not removed, but increased, it becomes us to look well if we have not provoked God by our insolent behaviour under them