‏ Job 17

* Job appeals from man to God. (1-9) His hope is not in life,

but in death. (10-16)

1-9 Job reflects upon the harsh censures his friends had passed

upon him, and, looking on himself as a dying man, he appeals to

God. Our time is ending. It concerns us carefully to redeem the

days of time, and to spend them in getting ready for eternity.

We see the good use the righteous should make of Job's

afflictions from God, from enemies, and from friends. Instead of

being discouraged in the service of God, by the hard usage this

faithful servant of God met with, they should be made bold to

proceed and persevere therein. Those who keep their eye upon

heaven as their end, will keep their feet in the paths of

religion as their way, whatever difficulties and discouragements

they may meet with. 10-16 Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hope

of his return to a prosperous estate; he here shows that those

do not go wisely about the work of comforting the afflicted, who

fetch their comforts from the possibility of recovery in this

world. It is our wisdom to comfort ourselves, and others, in

distress, with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his

love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life. See

how Job reconciles himself to the grave. Let this make believers

willing to die; it is but going to bed; they are weary, and it

is time that they were in their beds. Why should not they go

willingly when their Father calls them? Let us remember our

bodies are allied to corruption, the worm and the dust; and let

us seek for that lively hope which shall be fulfilled, when the

hope of the wicked shall be put out in darkness; that when our

bodies are in the grave, our souls may enjoy the rest reserved

for the people of God.