be led by the sanctifying grace of God to restore what was unjustly gotten, as Zaccheus was, is a
great mercy. But to be forced to restore by the horrors of a despairing conscience, as Judas was,
has no benefit and comfort attending it.
Verses 23–29
Zophar, having described the vexations which attend wicked practices, shows their ruin from
God's wrath. There is no fence against this, but in Christ, who is the only Covert from the storm
and tempest, Isa 32:2. Zophar concludes, “This is the portion of a wicked man from God;” it is
allotted him. Never was any doctrine better explained, or worse applied, than this by Zophar, who
intended to prove Job a hypocrite. Let us receive the good explanation, and make a better application,
for warning to ourselves, to stand in awe and sin not. One view of Jesus, directed by the Holy Spirit,
and by him suitably impressed upon our souls, will quell a thousand carnal reasonings about the
suffering of the faithful.
Chapter 21
Chapter Outline
Job entreats attention. (1–6)
The prosperity of the wicked. (7–16)
The dealings of God's providence. (17–26)
The judgement of the wicked is in the world (27–34)
to come.Verses 1–6
Job comes closer to the question in dispute. This was, Whether outward prosperity is a mark
of the true church, and the true members of it, so that ruin of a man's prosperity proves him a
hypocrite? This they asserted, but Job denied. If they looked upon him, they might see misery
enough to demand compassion, and their bold interpretations of this mysterious providence should
be turned into silent wonder.
Verses 7–16
Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always.
Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of
the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief
reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make
light of God and religion, as if because they have so much of this world, they had no need to look