‏ Job 12

* Job reproves his friends. (1-5) The wicked often

prosper.(6-11) Job speaks of the wisdom and power of God.

(12-25)

1-5 Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of

their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs

reproaches, and to think ourselves mocked when advised and

admonished; this is our folly; yet here was colour for this

charge. He suspected the true cause of their conduct to be, that

they despised him who was fallen into poverty. It is the way of

the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a

cloud, is looked upon with contempt. 6-11 Job appeals to facts. The most audacious robbers,

oppressors, and impious wretches, often prosper. Yet this is not

by fortune or chance; the Lord orders these things. Worldly

prosperity is of small value in his sight: he has better things

for his children. Job resolves all into the absolute

proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands

from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he

appeals to any fair judgment. 12-25 This is a noble discourse of Job concerning the wisdom,

power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering all the affairs of

the children of men, according to the counsel of His own will,

which none can resist. It were well if wise and good men, who

differ about lesser things, would see how it is for their honour

and comfort, and the good of others, to dwell most upon the

great things in which they agree. Here are no complaints, or

reflections. He gives many instances of God's powerful

management of the children of men, overruling all their

counsels, and overcoming all their oppositions. Having all

strength and wisdom, God knows how to make use, even of those

who are foolish and bad; otherwise there is so little wisdom and

so little honesty in the world, that all had been in confusion

and ruin long ago. These important truths were suited to

convince the disputants that they were out of their depth in

attempting to assign the Lord's reasons for afflicting Job; his

ways are unsearchable, and his judgments past finding out. Let

us remark what beautiful illustrations there are in the word of

God, confirming his sovereignty, and wisdom in that sovereignty:

but the highest and infinitely the most important is, that the

Lord Jesus was crucified by the malice of the Jews; and who but

the Lord could have known that this one event was the salvation

of the world?