Verse 1

CONTENTS

This chapter is but short, yet it contains precious truths. It forms the reply of Bildad to what Job had before said. It is not at all in reproof, but only an account of God's holiness, and the uncleanness of all created excellency in his view.

Verses 1-3

(1) ¶ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, (2) Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. (3) Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

These verses form a short but striking description of GOD'S sovereignty. Bildad, it should seem, was grown tired of the controversy, and therefore, instead of contending any longer with Job, he contents himself in joining with Job, in following up what the man of Uz had keen dwelling upon, of the greatness and holiness of GOD, in the preceding chapter. The terms are very striking the Shuhite makes use of, to set forth the brightness and glorious excellency of GOD. The shining of his light, so universal; the vast and incalculable number of his armies, and, of consequence, the unlimited sovereignty of his government: all these are happily chosen to set forth the infinite majesty of the Almighty. How great must he be, and how glorious, who ruleth in heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, who sitteth (as one of the sacred writers represent him) upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are but as grasshoppers; Isaiah 40:22. If the Reader would see a further account of this High and Lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, he will find more to the same amount, in a stile infinitely sublime and magnificent, from the 12th verse of the same chapter onward. But I beg of him, when he hath so done, to compare with it that illustrious prophecy concerning the LORD JESUS, Daniel 2:44-45. and what a flood of light and glory will pour in upon his soul, if so be he hath been taught the truth, as it is in JESUS, that this is He whom both prophets describe; and who is at one and the same moment, in his glorious person, one with the FATHER, over all, GOD blessed forever; and one with his people, their Sovereign LORD and Redeemer. Amen.

Verses 4-6

(4) How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? (5) Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. (6) How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

How very sweet and just do these observations follow what went before? After having pointed to GOD'S glory, how proper the transition to man's meanness. What can be more suitable, or profitable, than, in the view of his holiness, to contrast our pollution. Behold, as the HOLY GHOST hath commanded in this scripture, behold the brightness of the heavenly bodies, those glorious lights above! Yet even these are not pure in the sight of their Maker. Compared to his glory, they do not shine. And what then must be man, in point of cleanness and purity in the sight of GOD! who is born of a woman, born in sin, and shapen in iniquity! Reader, have you ever considered this? have you ever laid it to heart? If so, surely your language will correspond to that of the prophet Isaiah, when the LORD favoured him with that glorious vision; the very view of which made him cry out, Woe is me, for I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Hosts. Isaiah 6:5.

Verse 6

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE, my soul, over this short but sweet chapter; for very great and important are the improvements, which, under GOD the HOLY GHOST, may be gathered out of it. And first, mark in strong and solemn characters what is here said, of the greatness, sovereignty, and holiness, of Almighty GOD. Can any language be stronger in proof, what an infinitely great and glorious GOD, this GOD is, with whom thou hast to do! This is He, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, neither can any evil dwell with him? Next, ponder over the marked and glaring nature of sin and transgression; for as the LORD is infinitely holy, so thou art altogether vile; and in thee, that is in thy flesh, dwelleth no good thing, Next consider, and let it be a most solemn consideration, what the Shuhite here saith, How can man be justified with GOD? How shall he be clean that is born of a woman? Are these questions, my soul, solemnly, seriously, anxiously, brought home to thee? Dost thou feel their vast importance, as if the HOLY GHOST, in his convincing thee of sin, had stamped them upon thee never to be worn out, until an answer of peace be found to them? Pause, my soul, over the inquiry. Wilt thou seek a qualification in any purifications of thine own? Can thy tears and repentance make thee clean? Will these, with all thy best promises of amendment, cause thee to appear justified before GOD? Wouldest thou trust in these now, much less depend upon them at the bar of GOD'S judgment? No, my soul, these are miserable comforters all, all physicians of no value. Look then to JESUS. His blood is a fountain to cleanse from all sin. And, what endears it still more, it is of GOD'S own appointing. In that day (saith GOD, speaking of the gospel day) there shall be opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain for sin, and for uncleanness. Here then, and here only, seek a cleansing. As it is a fountain of GOD'S own appointing, how sure is it that the cleansing in it shall be effectual. And as it is an open fountain, why wouldest thou for a moment be prompted to fear that it is not open to thee. Beg of GOD the SPIRIT to do by thee as he did by Hagar at the well, and give thee to see that this fountain is both open and nigh to thee; that there thou mayest be cleansed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. And oh! the inconceivable rapture to a soul cleansed in JESUS'S blood, and made holy and bright in his righteousness: he shall shine forth (for so the promise runs) as the sun in the kingdom of his Father. Precious JESUS! is this thy grace, thy righteousness, thy favor, to poor guilty sinners? Didst thou, holy LORD, condescend to become a worm, and no man, that thy people, who are sons of men, and but worms indeed, might be made the righteousness of GOD in thee! Oh! then, I shall behold thy glory, Holy LORD, when clothed in thy holiness: and in that day, as the Prophet hath said, the Moon shall indeed be confounded, and the Sun ashamed, when thou, the LORD of Hosts, shalt reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before thine Ancients gloriously.