John Gill Commentary Job 22:29

John Gill Commentary

Job 22:29

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Job 22:29

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble person he will save." — Job 22:29 (ASV)

When [men] are cast down
Wicked men are brought down from a state of prosperity to a state of adversity, are in low circumstances, great straits and difficulties:

then you shall say, [there is] lifting up ;
that is, for himself and his; when others are in adversity, he should be in prosperity; when others are cast down into a very low estate and distressed condition, he should be exalted to a very high estate, and be in affluent circumstances, see (Psalms 147:6) ; or else the sense is, when you and yours, and what belong to you, are humbled and brought low, then you may promise yourself a restoration and change for the better; and boldly say, they will be lifted up, and raised up again, since God's usual method is to exalt the humble, and to abase the proud, (Luke 14:11) ; or rather, this may respect the benefit and advantage that humble persons would gain by Job, and his prayers for them, and may be rendered and interpreted thus: "when they have humbled" F17 themselves, and bowed themselves low at your feet, and especially before God, "then you shall say", pray to God for them, that "there [may be a] lifting up", raising them up out of their low estate, and you shall be heard:

and he shall save the humble person ;
that is, "low of eyes" F18, humble in his eyes; who is so pressed with troubles and distress, that he hangs down his head, looks upon the ground, and will not lift up his eyes, but is of a dejected countenance; or that is low in his own eyes, has humble thoughts of himself, esteems others better than himself, and lies low before God under a sense of his sinfulness and unworthiness, and casts himself entirely upon the grace and mercy of God;

such an one he saves, in a spiritual sense, out of his troubles and afflictions; he does not forget the cry of such humble ones, but remembers them, and grants their desires: and he saves the lowly and humble with a spiritual and eternal salvation; gives more grace unto them, and outfits them for glory, and at last gives glory itself; raises them on high to sit among princes, and to inherit the throne of glory; the meek shall inherit the earth, the new heavens and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, (James 4:6) (Matthew 5:5) .


FOOTNOTES:

  • F17: (wlypvh yk) "quum humiliaverint", Montanus, Cocceius, Michaelis.
  • F18: (Mynye xv) "demissum oculis", Montanus, Beza, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "humilem oculis", Vatablus.