Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The
Piety and prosperity of
Job.
(1-5) Satan obtains leave to
try
Job.
(6-12) The loss of
Job's property, and the
Death of his
children.
(13-19) Job's patience and
Piety.
(20-22)
1-5 Job was prosperous, and yet pious. Though it is hard and
rare, it is not impossible for a rich
Man to enter into the
kingdom of
Heaven.
By God's
Grace the temptations of worldly
wealth may be overcome. The account of
Job's
Piety and
prosperity comes before the history of his great
Afflictions,
showing that neither will secure from troubles. While
Job beheld
the harmony and comforts of his sons with satisfaction, his
knowledge of the human
Heart made him fearful for them. He sent
and sanctified them, reminding them to examine themselves, to
confess their sins, to seek forgiveness; and as one who hoped
for acceptance with
God through the promised
Saviour, he offered
a burnt-
Offering for each. We perceive his care for their souls,
his knowledge of the sinful state of
Man, his entire dependence
On God's
Mercy in the way he had appointed.
6-12 Job's
Afflictions began from the malice of
Satan,
By the
Lord's permission, for
Wise and holy purposes. There is an evil
Spirit, the enemy of
God, and of all
Righteousness, who is
continually seeking to distress, to lead astray, and, if
possible, to destroy those who
Love God. How far his influence
may extend, we cannot say; but probably much unsteadiness and
unhappiness in Christians may be ascribed to him. While we are
On this
Earth we are within his reach. Hence it concerns us to
be sober and vigilant, 1Pe 5:8. See how
Satan censures
Job.
This is the common way of slanderers, to suggest that which they
have
No reason to think is true. But as there is nothing we
should dread more than really being hypocrites,
So there is
nothing we need dread less than being called and counted
So
without cause. It is not wrong to look at the eternal recompence
in our obedience; but it is wrong to aim at worldly advantages
in our religion.
God's people are taken under his special
protection; they, and all that belong to them. The blessing of
the
Lord makes rich;
Satan himself owns it.
God suffered
Job to
be tried, as he suffered
Peter to be sifted. It is our comfort
that
God has the
Devil in a
Chain, Re 20:1. He has
No power to
lead men to
Sin, but what they give him themselves; nor any
power to afflict men, but what is given him from above. All this
is here described to us after the manner of men. The
Scripture
speaks thus to teach us that
God directs the affairs of the
world.
13-19 Satan brought
Job's troubles upon him
On the
Day that his
children began their course of feasting. The troubles all came
upon
Job at once; while one
Messenger of evil tidings was
speaking, another followed. His dearest and most valuable
possessions were his ten children; news is brought him that they
are killed. They were taken away when he had most need of them
to comfort him under other losses. In
God only have we a help
present at all times.
20-22 Job humbled himself under the
Hand of
God. He reasons
from the common state of human
Life, which he describes. We
brought nothing of this world's goods into the world, but have
them from others; and it is certain we can carry nothing out,
but must leave them to others.
Job, under all his losses, is but
reduced to his first state. He is but where he must have been at
last, and is only unclothed, or unloaded rather, a little sooner
than he expected. If we
Put off our clothes before we go to
Bed,
it is some inconvenience, but it may be the better borne when it
is near
Bed-time. The same who gave hath taken away. See how
Job
looks above instruments, and keeps his
Eye upon the First Cause.
Afflictions must not divert us from, but quicken us to religion.
If in all our troubles we look to the
Lord, he will support us.
The
Lord is righteous. All we have is from his
Gift; we have
forfeited it
By Sin, and ought not to complain if he takes any
part from us. Discontent and impatience charge
God with folly.
Against these
Job carefully watched; and
So must we,
acknowledging that as
God has done right, but we have done
wickedly,
So God has done wisely, but we have done very
foolishly. And may the malice and power of
Satan render that
Saviour more precious to our souls, who came to destroy the
Works of the
Devil; who, for our
Salvation, suffered from that
enemy far more than
Job suffered, or we can think.