Matthew Henry Commentary Job 14
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 14
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 14
"Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Look away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day." — Job 14:1-6 (ASV)
Job enlarges upon the condition of man, addressing himself also to God. Every man of Adam's fallen race is short-lived. All his show of beauty, happiness, and splendor falls before the stroke of sickness or death, as the flower before the scythe; or passes away like the shadow. How is it possible for a man's conduct to be sinless, when his heart is by nature unclean?
Here is a clear proof that Job understood and believed the doctrine of original sin. He seems to have intended it as a plea that the Lord should not deal with him according to his own works, but according to His mercy and grace. It is determined, in the counsel and decree of God, how long we shall live. Our times are in his hands, the powers of nature act under him; in him we live and move.
And it is very useful to reflect seriously on the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and the fading nature of all earthly enjoyments. But it is still more important to look at the cause, and remedy of these evils. Until we are born of the Spirit, no spiritually good thing dwells in us, or can proceed from us. Even the little good in the regenerate is defiled with sin.
We should therefore humble ourselves before God, and cast ourselves wholly on the mercy of God, through our Divine Surety. We should daily seek the renewing of the Holy Ghost, and look to heaven as the only place of perfect holiness and happiness.
"For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? [As] the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up; So man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep. Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live [again]? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come. Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands." — Job 14:7-15 (ASV)
Though a tree is cut down, yet in a moist situation, shoots come forth and grow up as a newly planted tree. But when man is cut off by death, he is forever removed from his place in this world. The life of man may aptly be compared to the waters of a land flood, which spread far but soon dry up.
All Job's expressions here show his belief in the great doctrine of the resurrection. Job's friends proving miserable comforters, he pleases himself with the expectation of a change. If our sins are forgiven and our hearts renewed to holiness, heaven will be the rest of our souls, while our bodies are hidden in the grave from the malice of our enemies, feeling no more pain from our corruptions or our corrections.
"But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin? My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And thou fastenest up mine iniquity. But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place; The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man. Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. But his flesh upon him hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth." — Job 14:16-22 (ASV)
Job's faith and hope spoke, and grace appeared to revive; but depravity again prevailed. He represents God as carrying matters to an extreme against him. The Lord must prevail against all who contend with him. God may send disease and pain; we may lose all comfort in those near and dear to us; every hope of earthly happiness may be destroyed, but God will receive the believer into realms of eternal happiness.
But what a change awaits the prosperous unbeliever! How will he answer when God calls him to his tribunal? The Lord is still on a mercy-seat, ready to be gracious. Oh, that sinners would be wise, that they would consider their latter end!
While man's flesh is upon him, that is, the body he is so loath to lay down, it will have pain; and while his soul is within him, that is, the spirit he is so loath to resign, it will mourn. Dying is hard work; dying pangs are often sore pangs. It is folly for men to defer repentance to a deathbed and to have that which is the one thing needful still to do when they are unfit to do anything.
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