Job 5

Life and trouble are married together: there is more in life to wean us than to tempt us. Parents divide a portion of sorrow to their children, and yet they leave enough for themselves (Job 5:7). Man is born to trouble.

More water of tears than wine of joy: Quid est diu vivere nisi diu torqueri, Aug. Man is born to trouble (Job 5:7). Every one is not born heir to land, but he is born heir to trouble; as well separate weight from lead.

Indeed sin unrepented of makes one miserable, but the cross does not. If God has a design in afflicting his children, to make them happy, then they are not miserable; but God's afflicting them is to make them happy: therefore they are not miserable (Job 5:17). Happy is the man w…

God has made promises to his people, when they are under great pressures to deliver them, and his truth is engaged in his promise (Psalm 50:15): Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you. (Job 5:19) He shall deliver you in six troubles, and in seven. How is the Scri…

3. If we trust in our wisdom, we make it a God (Jeremiah 9:23): Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. Glorying is the height of confidence; many a man does make an idol of his wit and parts: he deifies himself: but how often does God take the [reconstructed: Wise] in their o…

John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, yet they say he has a devil (Matthew 11:18). Slandering Job calls the scourge of the tongue (Job 5:21). And Jeremiah 18:18: "Come and let us smite him with the tongue" — you may smite another and never touch him.

The counsel of Achitophel which he counseled, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: but he consulted his own shame, the Lord turned his counsel into foolishness (2 Samuel 17:23). Job 5:13. God takes the wise in their own craftiness; that is, when they think to deal…

3rd Branch: It should exhort such to be very thankful to God, whom God has preserved from slander and false witness. Job calls it the scourge of the tongue (Job 5:21). As a rod does scourge the back, so the slanderer's tongue does scourge the name.

That I may further illustrate this, I shall show you wherein this submission to God's will lies; it lies chiefly in three things. (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…

1. That by these contrary providences, God is faithfully pursuing the great design of his electing love upon the souls of his people, and orders all these afflictions as means sanctified to that end. Afflictions do not fall out by chance, but by counsel (Job 5:6; Ephesians 1:11)…

It is well for us and ours, that our times are in God's hand, not in our own. And however immature soever it seemed to be when it was cut down; yet it came to the grave in a full age, as a shock of corn in its season (Job 5:26). They that are in Christ, and in the covenant, neve…

Third, in urging this doctrine more hardly upon the people, to cause them not to rest on the letter of the law, but seek to the promised Messiah, in whom only was their righteousness — as young heirs and minors are kept under tutors while their minority expires. But, first, who…

He goes not away pulled by the hair, but willingly, gladly (Hebrews 11:8, 15); they desire a better country. (Job 5:26) Like a shock of corn in his season; it would be the loss of the corn to be longer out of the barn. Death shall not come while it be welcome (Job 7:3); as the h…

But we see none of these things in Hezekiah, for he is not ashamed to confess his fault, notwithstanding he was endowed with the true fear of God. Therefore if we desire to seek reconciliation with God, and to feel his favor in the day of adversity, let us give some testimonies…

But the Lord detects and discovers their treacheries, so as every one may see they dance but in a net. After Job has said, that God catches the wise in their wisdom: to show what this wisdom is, he calls it craftiness (Job 5:13). As touching that which by and by follows; namely,…

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night," (Job 5:12-14.) -- Ed. 9. But they, having heard the King, departed It is truly an instance of base…

If Christ reply in the negative, they will exclaim that he wickedly abolishes the Law; and if in the affirmative, they will give out that he is not a prophet of God, but rather a pander, who lends such countenance to the lust of men. Such were the calculations which they had mad…

The resurrection of Christ would undoubtedly have been less manifest, or, at least, they would have had more plausible grounds for denying it, if they had not taken pains to station witnesses at the sepulcher. We see then how the Lord not only disappoints the crafty, (Job 5:12,)…

What-ever they do in Religion, they do it not to him, Amos 5. 25. They have neither heard his Voice at any time, nor seen his Shape, John 5. 37. knowing nothing for themselves, which is their Duty, Job 5. 27. And yet it is hard to convince them that such is their condition.

It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Genesis 19:11 The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interpos'd, and wither'd his arm, 1 Kings 13:…

The Reformed church was defended as Lot and the angels were in Sodom, by smiting the Sodomites with darkness or blindness, that they could not find the door. God then fulfilled that in Job 5:11, etc. "To set up on high those that below; that those which mourn may be exalted to s…

Thirdly, the seed is cast into the earth seasonably, in its proper season. So are the bodies of the saints (Job 5:26). You shall come to your grave in a full age, as a shock of corn comes in, in its season.

Lastly, (to come home to the particular object of this chapter) the reapers are never sent to cut down the harvest till it be fully ripe; neither will God reap down saints or sinners, till they be come to a maturity of grace or wickedness. Saints are not reaped down till their g…

How often does an envious fretful soul, like a sharp knife, cut its own sheath, and, as they say of the viper's brood, eat its own way out: all which meekness happily prevents. The quietness of the spirit will help to cool distempered heats, to suppress melancholy vapors; and th…

Indeed; on the contrary, have you not found that it very well deserves your best affections and services? Enquire of those that have made trial of it, consult the experiences of others: call now, if there be any that will answer you, and to which of the saints will you turn (Job…

There is no truer misery, then false joy, says Bernard. There is a great difference between the prosperity of the wicked, and that which the godly have; God carries his people when he exalts them, as the Eagle her yong upon her wings, he exalts them to safety, according to that…

They speak mischievous things, says David, but I as a deaf man heard not; but mark verse 15. In you O Lord do I hope, you will hear, O Lord my God; What need David hear, God will hear: the less we hear in this case, the more will God hear, Job 5:21 You shall be hid from the scou…

APPLICATION. No sooner come we into the World as Men, or as Christians, by a natural, or supernatural Birth; but thus we are tossed upon a Sea of Troubles, Job 5. 7. Yet Man is born to trouble, as the sparks flie upwards.

This he largely describes in Isaiah 19:11-14: drunkenness and staggering are the issue of all their wisdom, for the Lord gives them the spirit of dizziness. So also Job 5:12-14: they meet with darkness in the daytime; when all things seem clear about them and a man would wonder…

The Lambs Innocency will not preserve it from the Wolf. Job calls slandering the scourge of the Tongue, Job 5:21. You may smite a man and never touch him.

What words you would use to them, use the same thoughts to yourself: heart answers to heart. 3. You understand a truth; you have arguments evident and strong, why you should believe it; repeat them over to the soul with application (Job 5:27). See it, and know it for your good.

2. An applicative sight, not only knowledge, but prudence (Proverbs 8:12): I Wisdom dwell with Prudence. Wisdom is the knowledge of principles, prudence is an ability to apply them to our comfort and use, that we may know it for our good (Job 5:28). Many are right in generals; b…

Counsels, though never so wisely laid, yet are blasted, if we do not make this our business to approve our hearts to God in those actions. Remember in one place it is said, The counsel of the froward is carried headlong (Job 5:13); and in another place (Isaiah 44:25), The counse…

And (Joel 2:17): "On the fasting day let the priests the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare your people, O Lord, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them, why should they say among the people…

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Job 5:27) Lo, this we have searched, so it is, hear it, and know you it for your good. The benefit of sound doctrine consists in the application thereof by the hearers.

1. How likely it is that the children of God will be exercised with afflictions, because God in his Word has laid in so many comforts beforehand; a full third of the Scriptures would be lost, and be as bladders given to a man that stands on dry land, and never means to go into d…

(Romans 8:31) What shall we then say to these things? (Job 5, final verse) Lo, this we have searched, so it is; hear it, and know you it for your good. (Hebrews 2:3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?

1. Their Author is God. We think them fortuitous, from chance, but they do not rise out of the dust (Job 5:6). Whoever be the instruments, or whatever be the means, the wise God has the whole ordering of it.

Carnal sense is not easily persuaded, but the new nature prevails at length, and then they readily subscribe to the truth of it. The word is clear in this point (Job 5:17): Behold, happy is the man whom the Lord corrects. The first word [Behold] summons our attention and observa…

How much are we obliged to God's providence, who does not only defend us against open violence, but secret machinations. It is the Lord who takes the wise in their own craftiness, and disappoints the counsels of wicked men against his people (Job 5:12). Many things are contrived…

He was the light of the world, which without him is a dark dungeon. More particularly it appears that man is dark: 1 By his groping, which is constantly attributed to blindness and darkness in the Scripture: Be pleased to peruse (Deuteronomy 28:29, Job 5:14, and 12:25, Isaiah 59…

There was never such a thing seen in Israel; therefore though your heart tells you, there was never a sinner as I am, yet God is able to do that which never was done in Israel, therefore expect still what may be. Again, though you cannot conceive it, yet know there is a sufficie…

What if we have more afflictions than others, if we have more of God's company? God's honor is dear to him; it would not be for his honor to bring his children into sufferings, and leave them there; he will be with them to animate and support them; indeed when new troubles arise…

What account can the unfruitful Christian give to God? God will come with this question: where is your fruit? A godly man dies full of fruit (Job 5:26): you shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of corn. The unfruitful Christian comes to his grave not as a shock o…

God sits laughing while hell and earth sit plotting, Psalms 2:4. He disappoints the devices of the crafty, he breaks their studied thoughts and plots, as the words import, Job 5:12. in one moment pulling down the labors of many years policy. Indeed as great men keep wilde beasts…

4. The believers are blessed through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:10, 13; Psalm 32:1-2; Romans 4:6; Psalm 2:12; Psalm 119:1). Their afflictions and death are blessed, precious in the eyes of the Lord, not qualified with any law-curse (Job 5:17; Psalm 94:12; Matthew 5:6; Luke 6:22;…

Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon, Beasts, Birds, etc. being all made servants to man, were in a manner fellow-Covenanters in their kind with man in the Covenant of Works: As a King covenants with a great family, his servants and dependents have the benefit of the King's Covenant-peace,…

Well then, it is not to be admired that a believer desires to depart from hence; he shall leave the valley of tears; the bottle of tears shall be stopped; his water shall be turned into wine, his mourning into music, his lamentations into Hallelujahs: death is the handkerchief t…

Every one does for its own: the prince for his own people, the father for his own children; indeed, the dam for her own young ones, the shepherd for his own sheep, and God for his own in covenant with him. An offensive and defensive covenant of peace and war takes in the believe…