Job 34

Among the Hebrews the heart is put for wisdom. Job 34:32: Let men of understanding tell me — in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me. God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise.

An unsound heart is afraid of the light, lucifuga — he is not willing to know his duty. A sincere soul says, as Job 34:32, What I know not, teach me. Lord, show me what is my duty, and wherein I offend; let me not sin for want of light: what I know not, teach me.

But in those inward distresses of conscience, that sin which is the true cause and moves God to afflict, God often uses the very guilt of that sin to terrify — it is both the initial cause and the executioner. But in case you cannot find out the cause, as Job seemingly could not…

By Thomas Goodwin, B.D. Job 34:29. When he hides his face, who can behold him? Printed at London by M. F. for R. Dawlman and L. F. at the Brazen Serpent in Paul's Churchyard, 1636.

If I should say thus, I should offend against the generation of your children: meaning, that he should condemn the whole race of godly men through the whole world; for who is there among them all, but is, or has, or may be afflicted as severely as myself? Surely, it is fitting t…

Only he would (to say so) have your consent to, and your approbation of what he does for the greater peace and tranquility of your own minds. Surely therefore it is meet, meekly and submissively to be said to God, whenever and however he chastises, I have borne chastisement, I w…

1. To search your heart and life, that you may know the very worst by yourself: if you will not know it now, you will know it to your shame in the day of judgment. 2. Be vile and base in your own opinion (Job 34, last). 17. They are jealous over you wrongly: indeed they would ex…

Neither is that your part, neither can it be said of you. In Job there is the like saying, shall he that hates judgment govern? (Job 34:17). For in that there are often found wicked judges among men, that is either because they use their authority against law and right, or else…

Which is as much as to say, they that do any sort of wickedness. Job 34 verses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Is not destruction to the wicked, and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Holiness is promoted in the soul by cautioning and warning the soul against sin for time to come. Job 34:31 I have born chastisement, I will not offend any more. O happy Providences, how smart soever, that make the soul for ever araid of sin! surely such rods are well bestow'd.

Nay, it is a sin, which God threatens and denounces woe against in his Word, Psalm 28. 4, 5. and Isaiah 5. 12, 13. Yea, God not only threatens, but smites men with visible Judgements for this sin, Job 34. 26, 27. And for this end and purpose it is, that the Holy Ghost has affixe…

When he givs quietness, who can give trouble? and when he hids his face, who can behold him? Job 34:29. Now what is the way to receive that which comes from mere Soveraignty and prerogative? does not the nature of the thing require humble waiting?

The third lovely effect of Christ's presence, is in the ninth verse; and 1. the effect itself is set down: then its commendation is amplified. The effect, or advantage of Christ's presence, is in these words, The roof of your mouth (or your palate) shall be as the best wine: the…

He that upon search finds that he has but the minimum quod sic, the least degree of grace, is like one that has found his box of evidences; he is heir to all the promises, and in a state of salvation. And that we may go on the more successfully in this work, let us desire God to…

How is that? You shall see (Job 34:31): "Surely it is fitting to be said to God, I have borne the chastisement of my iniquity, I will offend no more." This is fitting for you to say to God: to come before him with humiliation and reformation.

Now, though these be allowed Maxims of Reason, and Conscience inforce them strongly on the soul, yet cannot it prevail; the prou'd stubborn Will rebels, and will not be guided by it. See Ephesians 2:3. Job 34. 37. Isai. 46. 12.

Now in that God does not receive, or respect persons, it shows that God prefers not any one before another for any the forenamed outward respects, or any other like to them. Elihu plainly expounds this phrase in these words, he accepts not the person of princes, nor regards the…

And the first is according to the work itself. (Job 34:19) He [reconstructed: accepts] not the person of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, and the reason is added: therefore they are all the work of his hands. He made all the persons, and he makes all those diffe…

Now the end of this desire is growth. Desire the word not that you may only hear it, that is to fall very far short of its true end, indeed, it is to take the beginning of the work for the end of it; the ear is indeed the mouth of the mind, by which it receives the word, as Elih…

When temptation is grievous and sore, go to God and say, Lord, why is it thus with me? (Job 34:31-32) Surely it is fitting to be said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. That which I see not, teach me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Then the poor would be ashamed and discouraged, not being able to comply with the command. Indeed, then God would not act like the true God, who accepts not the person of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands (Job 34:19). Say no…

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desire of your heart. It is a slander that the hypocrite brings upon God (Job 34:9). He has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

1. As men. 1. They are upon the same level with others, and are concerned to understand the way of pleasing, glorifying, and enjoying God, as much as their meanest subjects: for it is said (Job 34:19), He accepteth not the person of Princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the…

A chief cause of our going wrong is because we do not bring our hearts and ways together. 3. Desire God to show it if there be anything in the heart allowed contrary to the Word: (Job 34:32): That which I see not, teach me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. And (Psalm…

The first of these respects concerns God's justice, the two other his wisdom. First, right as to the cause, they never exceed the value of their impulsive; (Job 34:23), He will not lay upon man more than is right, that he should enter into judgment with him. God never afflicts h…

(Haggai 1:5) Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. God's complaint was, They would not consider his ways (Job 34:27; Isaiah 1:3) — my people does not consider. Running thoughts never work upon us, nor leave any durable impression; like the glance of a su…

The author of Psalm 73, for having but almost said this, concluded himself a fool, indeed so foolish, ignorant, and as a beast (verse 22), so much a fool that he could not express it enough; what fools are they then that say it with an open mouth? Because Job had but glanced at…

And as Saint Paul, though I know nothing by myself, yet, etc. (1 Corinthians 4:4). the heart of man is such a maze, as man himself cannot find out all the windings of it; such a deep, as man himself cannot fathom it; so deceitful, that man himself does not know it, only God sear…

1 That God damns no man but for sin: Damnation is a punishment (Matthew 25:46), and all punishment supposes guilt and transgression. God the judge of all the earth will do right, and he lays not on man more than is fitting, that man may not enter into judgment with God (Job 34:2…

Sin is a forsaking of God, and sin makes God forsake us: now which is better, to have God with and for, or against us? If God be for us, it matters not who be against us (Romans 8:31), but if God be against us, and depart from us, all is Ichabod (1 Samuel 4:21-22; Job 34:29). Ye…

My brethren, death and judgment will break all peace of conscience, but only that which is wrought by Christ in the soul, and is the fruit of the blood of sprinkling. When he gives quietness who then can make trouble (Job 34:29)? Now that peace that death will break, why should…

(Proverbs 11:8): The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead. (Job 34:24): And he makes others to stand in their place, as before in the Hebrew. (Psalm 45:16): In stead of fathers shall be sons.

The word 'world' in scripture is in general taken four ways. First, for the world as container — generally for the whole fabric of heaven and earth with all things in them contained, which God created in the beginning (Job 34:13; Acts 17:24; Ephesians 1:4); and distinctly, first…

(1) By the authority of scripture — This assures us, that God will render to every man according to his deeds to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that does evil (Romans…

And if a gracious soul is so apt to be humbled for other men's sins, much more for his own. Fifthly, the upright soul is inquisitive under the rod to find out that evil for which the Lord contends with him by affliction (Job 10:2): 'Show me why you contend with me'; and Job 34:3…

I will therefore bear the wrath of the Lord, because I have sinned against him (Micah 7:9). I have done foolishly, but I will offend no more (Job 34:31-32). Teach me, and if I have done iniquity, I will do no more; he will now refrain from such evils, as in which God had been of…