Job 1

This hallowing God's name by praise is very becoming a Christian; it is unbecoming to murmur, this is a dishonoring of God's name: but it becomes the saints to be spiritual choristers in singing forth the honor of God's name: it is called the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3) — ho…

The Devil is no recusant, he will be sure to be present in our assemblies: If he cannot hinder us from hearing, he will hinder us in hearing. Job 1:6. When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them.

Answer: Perfection there is meant of sincerity. God is best able to interpret his own word, he calls sincerity perfection (Job 1:8): A perfect and an upright man. But who is exactly perfect?

(1.) In acknowledging God's hand; seeing God in the affliction (Job 5:6): Affliction arises not out of the dust; it comes not by chance. Job did eye God in all that befell him (Job 1:22): The Lord has taken away: He complains not of the Chaldeans, or the influence of the planets…

This we shall see to be true in Christ Jesus the head of the Church: for, when he was Baptized, and had received the holy Ghost, Matthew 3, in the form of a Dove, and had this voice of GOD the Father pronounced upon him, that he was his well-beloved son in whom he was well pleas…

Thirdly, when outward means of preservation in this life do abound, as health, wealth, honor, riches, peace, and pleasure, then we must remember to be thankful; because these things always come by the providence of God. Thus Job was thankful both in prosperity and adversity: The…

3. From this place they are now driven into the lower parts of the World, as being a place more fit for sin and misery: that the place into which they are driven is the bottom and center of the Earth, cannot be shewen out of Scripture, rather the contrary; for sometimes they are…

'It may be God uses him as his rod to lash me, because I by my sin made his enemies to blaspheme him — and shall I be angry with the rod? How irrational would that be?' This also was what quieted Job: he does not rail and vow revenge upon the Chaldeans and Sabeans, but eyes God…

Oh then what manner of persons ought you to be! You have many eyes over you: the omniscient eye of God that searches the heart and minds (Revelation 2:23); the vigilant eye of Satan (Job 1:7-8); the envious eyes of enemies that curiously observe you (Psalm 5:8); the quick and ob…

God had a gracious principle of love to mankind, and acted for the salvation of the world in it; the instruments had base principles and ends, and moved freely in obedience to them. So in the affliction of Job, both God and Satan had a hand in it (Job 1:12): "The Lord said to Sa…

All in Christ are living men; this is the great benefit, because death is the greatest evill: therefore by the rule of contraries, life must be the greatest good. Farther, men prize nothing so much as life; this experience sheweth, and Satan himselfe could tell, that skinne for…

Similarly, Joshua expressly affirms that the fathers of the wilderness people worshiped foreign gods not only beyond the river but also in Egypt (ch. 24:14). Some are of the opinion that this was the reason why, when Satan boasted of having traversed and subjected the whole eart…

But when the Lord, in regard of Iobs outward estate, had given him leave, & said, Loe all that he has is in your hand, then did he exercise his power, to the vtmost: yet so farre onely, as he was permitted, and no further. Job. 1. 12. The consideration of this first point, that…

Yes, although means be wanting, we give glory to God (Romans 4:10; 2 Kings 6:16). From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuri…

[Exodus 13:1. And declare to your son in that day, saying: For this has the Lord done these things to me, when I went out of Egypt. 9 So shall it be to you for a sign upon your hand, and for a monument between your eyes, that the doctrine of the Lord may be in your mouth: to wit…

The brawny and fat heart, which being never a whit moved, never or to small purpose repeats, examines, applies, or practises (Ezekiel 33:31; Zephaniah 2:1; 2 Samuel 12; Mark 6:20). In the Sacraments, the preparation is an examination of our faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 11:28;…

3. Because the act of sinning, comes formally from free-will, which cannot be forced, but may keep out the siege without violence, but yet basely renders. If Satan be the Prince of the air, and can raise mighty storms and winds, that can smite the four corners of a house, which…

And as it is thus for our obedience in doing his will, so is it for our patience in suffering his will, there is a glorious worship given to Christ in patience, when as if so be it be the will of God to call us to suffer, we lay our hands upon our mouths and sit down and quiet o…

1. That temptations come not by chance, not out of the earth, nor merely from the Devil; but God orders them for his own glory and our good. Satan was fain to beg leave to tempt Job (Job 1:12). And the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon himse…

This is to live by faith: and, as Peter says (1 Peter 3:17), to sanctify God in our hearts. The last: in all things we must give praise and thanks to God: and that for our miseries, and afflictions (Job 1:22); for in them, God mingles his justice, with mercy, whereas he might ut…

Caiaphas supposing that Christ had blasphemed, rent his garments (Matthew 26). When Job did but suspect his children of blaspheming God, he called them and sanctified them (Job 1:5). It is the fault of our days, that many blaspheme by cursing, swearing, etc. without fear, and ma…

Paul says (Colossians 3:20), that children must obey their parents in all things. When the devil had obtained liberty to afflict Job in all things that belonged to him, save his person; he destroyed his children (Job 1:12, 18). And this shows, that the children in respect of the…

The second rule: we must be circumspect lest we sin in the use of the creatures. In this respect Job sends for his children after they had feasted together, and he sanctifies them (Job 1:5). The third rule: we must use the gifts of God with thanksgiving (Romans 14:6).

Saint Jerome's exposition (which I also have followed) is much better, and more agreeable. This phrase of speech is very frequent in Scriptures, as we see in Job 1:1, of whom it is said, that he was an upright and just man, fearing God, and avoiding evil. Solomon also says (Prov…

First, men drink more freely; next, the door is opened to filthy and immodest conversation; and, lastly, no moderation is observed. This was the reason why the patriarch Job was in the habit of offering sacrifices, while his sons were feasting alternately in each other’s houses,…

And therefore be contented to let him judge and requite: for of him shall every one receive, according to his deserts. An example of this we have in the holy man Job, who after all his goods were consumed, his cattle taken away, his children slain, and all that he had wasted, br…

For Sinners also love those that love them. And the Devil himself knew that that Kind of Respect to God which was so mercenary, as to be only for Benefits received or depended on, (which is all one) is worthless in the Sight of God; otherwise he never would have made use of such…

And evil Angels, or Devils, 1 Kings 22. 21, 22. For that Spirit who appeared before the Lord and offered himself to be a lying spirit in the Mouths of Ahab's Prophets, was no other but he who appeared before God, Job 1. who is called Satan. These in the New Testament are called…

And it often appears by their backwardness to entertain charitable thoughts of them, and their being hard to convince that it is really so that they have obtained mercy, and a forwardness to listen to anything that seems to contradict it. The devil hated to own Job's sincerity (…

It was a weighty and savory speech, which a pious pen once saved from your Lordship's lips, namely, that you accounted the prayers of God's ministers and people, the best walls about your house. He that so accounts, doubtless understands that prayer engages providence (Isaiah 45…

It's a greater mercy, to descend from praying Parents, than from the loyns of Nobles. See Job's pious practice, Job 1:5 (2.) What a special mercy was it to us, to have the excrescencies of corruption nipt in the bud by their pious and careful discipline?

As first, by the Devil (1 Peter 5:8): He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And in Job 1, when God asked the Devil from where he came, he tells him, I come from compassing the earth to and fro. The Devil is still industrious and indefatigable to damn sou…

Hence some conjecture, that the translation of the LXX is changed since that time; seeing it is evident that they are so called in the Greek Bibles now extant. However in the original they are called the sons of God (Job 1:6, chapter 2:1, chapter 38:7, Psalm 89:6). Believers are…

If you carefully lay up these rules, they will much advantage and advance your profiting, when we come to the explication of any part. Job 1:1-2. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evi…

Whereby wee see, that wandring beggers are not to bee suffered in Church or common wealth; for they live without any calling, and so transgresse Gods will: yea their course of life is here also condemned, that spend their life in sports and gaming; for such a life is rebellion a…

Thus hee gaue the Israelites a King in his wrath, Hos. 13. 11. and so hee gaue them Quailes, for while the meate was in their mouthes, the wrath of God came upon them, Psalm. 78. 30, 31. Thus the deuils had their request graunted, to enter into the heard of swine, Matth. 8. 31,…

She answers, whatever the most part of the world do, yet these who have spiritual senses, love Christ as I do. The difference between this and the former expression in the end of the third verse is in two: 1. Though the persons be the same, yet she gives them different styles; t…

So careful is he for their safety, that he creates upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defense (Isaiah 4:5). Not a particular saint, but is hedge…

Job is mine, he serves God for hire. All hypocrites are Satan's (Job 1). 7. Sometime he tempts to lawful liberties, to eat, setting the law of nature in opposition to the divine positive law (Genesis 3). The tree is good for meat; then God and Nature ordained it for food.

It were good to turn our censuring of the Lord's providence into complaining of our own evil hearts, it follows humble and diligent obedience, that has sweetness of submission (Psalm 119:165), Great peace have they that keep your Law and nothing shall offend; or (as the word is)…

5. His actings are in matter of lots that seem to be ruled by fortune and chance (Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33, compared with Joshua 14:1, 2, 3). 6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6,…

So was Daniel who mourns and confesses and fasts three full weeks (Daniel 4; Daniel 10:2, 3), and ascribes righteousness to God. The more submission there is in Job, there is the more spiritual frame of a gracious spirit in him (Job 1:21, 22; 2 Samuel 16:10), and they who fret m…

The day did not yet dawn, the shadows did not flee away, nor the day-star shine in the hearts of men. But when the Son of Righteousness did arise in his strength and beauty, when the Son of God appeared in the flesh, and in the discharge of his office; God himself, as to his bei…

Though but few such are recovered, yet how know you but the hand of mercy may pull you, as a brand out of the fire, if now you will return and seek it with tears? Though it be a fire that consumeth to destruction, as Job calls it, Job 1. 12. yet it is not an unquenchable fire, t…

How highly soever Men prize such Commodities, yet reason tells them, It were better these should perish, than Life. Satan himself could say, Job 1. Skin for skin, and all that a Man has, will he give for his Life.

That prosperity and success in Trade is from the blessing of God, I suppose few are so Atheistical, as once to deny or question. The Devil himself acknowledges it, Job 1. 10. You hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the Land.

And as he compares her to the lily among the thorns, so she him to the apple tree among the trees of the wood: and she adds this reason of it, even because he has the two eminent things of trees, which the residue of them have not: 1. Fruit for food. 2. Shade for refreshment: of…

They are the sons of God, and so of the family whereunto the adopted person is to be admitted, and therefore it concerns them to know, who are invested with the rights of that family, that they may discharge their duty towards them. Unto them then it is declared, that believers…

As bond servants were a master's possession forever: so covenanted servants are his possession for the time of their covenant. When God gave the devil leave to seize on all that Job had, by virtue of that permission he seized on all kinds of Job's servants bond and free, as well…

A Christian must not only look to the malice of Satan in his temptations, but to the justice of God. Look, as in outward afflictions, we are not to reflect upon instruments; Job did not say, The Chaldean and Sabean has taken, but, The Lord has taken (Job 1:21). So in these spiri…