Job 12

2. His greatness appears by the effects of his power; He made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8), and can unmake it. God can with a breath crumble us to dust; with a word he can unpin the world, and break the axle-tree of it in pieces: He pours contempt upon the mighty (Job 12:21).…

I add, he is your God. And this alone, if we will take the Scriptures' verdict, will carry it, and lo, as he is styled the Father of spirits in common, and yet withal a father of their spirits, out of special love: so in like manner, he is styled both the God of the spirits of a…

Others translate girdle: but because the Prophet sets Christ before us decked as it were with his royal ornaments, I have rather translated it sword-girdle, or hangers: for this also is a kingly ornament as was the scepter which was given him previously. And Job, meaning to show…

He now more plainly expounds that which he had set down briefly in the former verse; to wit, that Shebna shall be deposed by God's just judgment, to the end Eliakim may succeed him. Doubtless God by his providence disposes of all the changes which happen in the world: for as Job…

And because man's chief strength consists in his loins, or reins, the Hebrews take the weakening of the loins, for the dissolving or weakening of the strength. We may also expound it a little otherwise, to wit, that the Lord will spoil or ungird them; according to the common phr…

He that has a rectified palate, knows what is good food, as soon as he tastes it, without the reasoning of a physician about it. There is a holy beauty and sweetness in words and actions, as well as a natural beauty in countenances and sounds, and sweetness in food; Job 12:11. D…

Providence rings the changes all the world over. He encreaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he enlarges the nations, and straitneth them again, Job 12:23 The same it does with persons, Psalm 102:10 Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. See what a sad Alteration Providen…

And that the true reason why men cannot prosper, is their forsaking that rule, 2 Chron. 24:20 It's true, if God have a purpose to destroy a man, he may for a time suffer him to succeed and prosper in his sin, for his greater hardening, Job 12:6 But it is not so with those whom t…

If one come from the dead, if Angels should descend from heaven to preach to him; there is no hope of him. If God shut up a man, who can open (Job 12:14)? As there was none found in heaven or earth, that could open the seals of that book (Revelation 5:5), so is there no opening…

Though the Saints cannot see the one, yet they can clearly discern the other, Ier. 12. 1. Ieremiah was at a stand; so was Job in the like case, Job 12. 7. So was Asaph, Psalm 73.▪ and Habbakkuk, Chap. 1. 3.

3. God tries us, by permitting the temptations of Satan, and his instruments; for surely these things do not befall us without a providence. (Job 12:16): "The deceived, and the deceiver, are his," his creatures; and nothing can be done or suffered in this kind, without God's pro…

For as the beams of the sun are no longer continued in the air than the sun shines; or, as the water retains the impress and stamp no longer than the seal is kept on it; so when God takes off his providential influence, all vanishes into nothing. Thus he is said (Hebrews 1:3) to…

The Ephori had Power over the King of Sparta; the Tribunes over the Roman consuls; much more has God a Soveraign Power over all. He poureth contempt upon Princes, Job 12:21. He threw the Proud Angels to Hell.

We can neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor drink without this intimate support and influence from him. The Scripture sets it out by a man's holding a thing in his hand, (Job 12:10) In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Now if God does bu…

Then as to the inward case he may justly desert us in the time of trial, when we should give a testimony for him, and take the word of truth out of our mouths, all these speeches: Hide not your commandments from me (verse 19), incline not my heart to covetousness (verse 26), and…

They all read a divinity lecture to those that have a mind to hear it; and preach the goodness, and power, and wisdom of God by a loud and audible voice. It is true we are deaf, but they cease not to cry to us (Job 12:8). Speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; and the beast…

Go to the animate creatures, the beasts of the field, (Psalm 36:6) You preserve man and beast. (Job 12:7-8) But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the birds of the air shall declare to you: Or speak to the Earth, and it shall teach you; and the fishes of the sea s…

As we have God's power to trust in against their violence, so God's wisdom against their frauds and deceits. Job 12:13: "With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding." Wisdom implies his accurate knowledge of things; counsel his advised government of them.

Creation and Providence (which is creation upheld and continued) are witnesses for God! So that I may say with Job (Job 12:7-9): Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you, and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you; or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you, and th…

So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which led between them both. Also now he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for after break of day they came not ni…

It is with me as it is with a weak man among the strong, or as with a sick man among the healthy, or as a lamp despised; so that I know not what to do. “He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.” (Job 12:5). Mr. Great-Hea…

In him we live, move, and have our being: You say, so has a carnal man his life from Christ; True, but he acknowledges it not; In him was life, and that was the life of men (John 1:3-4). A Christian man has his natural life from Christ, as from a head that gives both spiritual a…