get ready for another world, and then leave it to God to order our removal thither as he thinks fit.
Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its
greatest crosses, to be willing to live. Job's way was hid; he knew not wherefore God contended
with him. The afflicted and tempted Christian knows something of this heaviness; when he has
been looking too much at the things that are seen, some chastisement of his heavenly Father will
give him a taste of this disgust of life, and a glance at these dark regions of despair. Nor is there
any help until God shall restore to him the joys of his salvation. Blessed be God, the earth is full
of his goodness, though full of man's wickedness. This life may be made tolerable if we attend to
our duty. We look for eternal mercy, if willing to receive Christ as our Saviour.
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
Eliphaz reproves Job. (1–6)
And maintains that God's judgments are for (7–11)
the wicked.
The vision of Eliphaz. (12–21)Verses 1–6
Satan undertook to prove Job a hypocrite by afflicting him; and his friends concluded him to
be one because he was so afflicted, and showed impatience. This we must keep in mind if we would
understand what passed. Eliphaz speaks of Job, and his afflicted condition, with tenderness; but
charges him with weakness and faint-heartedness. Men make few allowances for those who have
taught others. Even pious friends will count that only a touch which we feel as a wound. Learn
from hence to draw off the mind of a sufferer from brooding over the affliction, to look at the God
of mercies in the affliction. And how can this be done so well as by looking to Christ Jesus, in
whose unequalled sorrows every child of God soonest learns to forget his own?
Verses 7–11
Eliphaz argues, 1. That good men were never thus ruined. But there is one event both to the
righteous and to the wicked, Ec 9:2, both in life and death; the great and certain difference is after
death. Our worst mistakes are occasioned by drawing wrong views from undeniable truths. 2. That
wicked men were often thus ruined: for the proof of this, Eliphaz vouches his own observation.
We may see the same every day.
Verses 12–21
Eliphaz relates a vision. When we are communing with our own hearts, and are still, Ps 4:4,
then is a time for the Holy Spirit to commune with us. This vision put him into very great fear. Ever