then, still to hang on and trust God, when we cannot trace him, this is the patience of the saints.
Blessed Saviour! how sweet it is to look unto thee, the Author and Finisher of faith, in such moments!
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
Job justifies his complaints. (1–7)
He wishes for death. (8–13)
Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14–30)Verses 1–7
Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense
of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is
harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on
the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever
burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as
long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of
these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He
complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and
burdensome.
Verses 8–13
Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but
he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God
destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand
against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the
testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God.
Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom
in them, which will be their help in the worst of times.
Verses 14–30
In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed.
This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the
creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence,
have help in the time of need, Heb 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be
ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our
confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns.
The application is very close; “for now ye are nothing.” It were well for us, if we had always such