‏ 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.