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Job Chapter Twenty-four                            

 

Job 24

Chapter Contents

Wickedness often unpunished. (1-12) The wicked shun the light. (13-17) Judgements for the wicked. (18-25)

Commentary on Job 24:1-12

(Read Job 24:1-12)

Job discourses further about the prosperity of the wicked. That many live at ease who are ungodly and profane he had showed ch. xxi. Here he shows that many who live in open defiance of all the laws of justice succeed in wicked practices; and we do not see them reckoned with in this world. He notices those that do wrong under pretence of law and authority; and robbers those that do wrong by force. He says "God layeth not folly to them;" that is he does not at once send his judgments nor make them examples and so manifest their folly to all the world. But he that gets riches and not by right at his end shall be a fool Jeremiah 17:11.

Commentary on Job 24:13-17

(Read Job 24:13-17)

See what care and pains wicked men take to compass their wicked designs; let it shame our negligence and slothfulness in doing good. See what pains those take who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts of it: pains to compass and then to hide that which will end in death and hell at last. Less pains would mortify and crucify the flesh and be life and heaven at last. Shame came in with sin and everlasting shame is at the end of it. See the misery of sinners; they are exposed to continual frights: yet see their folly; they are afraid of coming under the eye of men but have no dread of God's eye which is always upon them: they are not afraid of doing things which they are afraid of being known to do.

Commentary on Job 24:18-25

(Read Job 24:18-25)

Sometimes how gradual is the decay how quiet the departure of a wicked person how is he honoured and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration that these notions are formed in ignorance from partial views. The providence of God in the affairs of men is in every thing a just and wise providence. Let us apply this whenever the Lord may try us. He cannot do wrong. The unequalled sorrows of the Son of God when on earth unless looked at in this view perplex the mind. But when we behold him as the sinner's Surety bearing the curse we can explain why he should endure that wrath which was due to sin that Divine justice might be satisfied and his people saved.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Job

 

Job 24

Verse 1

[1] Why seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty do they that know him not see his days?

Why — Why (how comes it to pass) seeing times (the fittest seasons for every action and particularly for the punishment of wicked men ) are not hidden from or unknown to the Almighty God (seeing all times and men that live and things that are done or to be done in their times and seasons are exactly known to God) do they that know him (who love and obey him) not see (whence is it that they cannot discern) his (that is God's) days? His times and seasons which he takes for the punishment of ungodly men; which if they were constant and fixed in this life they would not be unknown to good men to whom God uses to reveal his secrets.

Verse 3

[3] They drive away the ass of the fatherless they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

Pledge — Contrary to God's law first written in mens hearts and afterwards in holy scripture Exodus 22:26 27.

Verse 4

[4] They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

Way — Out of the path or place in which these oppressors walk and range. They labour to keep out of their way for fear of their farther injuries.

Hide — For fear of these tyrants.

Verse 5

[5] Behold as wild asses in the desert go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

Wild asses — Which are lawless and fierce and greedy of prey.

Desert — Which is the proper habitation of wild asses.

They — The oppressors.

Go — To spoil and rob.

Verse 6

[6] They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.

They — The oppressors.

Wicked — Of such as themselves: so they promiscuously robbed all even their brethren in iniquity.

Verse 7

[7] They cause the naked to lodge without clothing that they have no covering in the cold.

Naked — Those whom they stripped of their garments and coverings.

Verse 8

[8] They are wet with the showers of the mountains and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

Wet — With the rain-water which runs down the rocks or mountains into the caves to which they fled for shelter.

Rock — Are glad when they can find a cleft of a rock in which they may have some protection against the weather.

Verse 9

[9] They pluck the fatherless from the breast and take a pledge of the poor.

They — The oppressors.

Pluck — Out of covetousness; they will not allow the mother time for the suckling of her infant.

Verse 10

[10] They cause him to go naked without clothing and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

The sheaf — That single sheaf which the poor man had got with the sweat of his brow to satisfy his hunger.

Verse 11

[11] Which make oil within their walls and tread their winepresses and suffer thirst.

Walls — Within the walls of the oppressors for their use.

Suffer — Because they are not permitted to quench their thirst out of the wine which they make.

Verse 12

[12] Men groan from out of the city and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

Groan — Under grievous oppressions.

Soul — The life or blood of those who are wounded to death as this word properly signifies crieth aloud to God for vengeance.

Yet — Yet God doth not punish them.

Verse 13

[13] They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof nor abide in the paths thereof.

Light — As well the light of reason and conscience as the light of Divine revelation which was then in good measure imparted to the people of God and shortly after committed to writing.

Know not — They do not approve nor love or chuse them.

Verse 14

[14] The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy and in the night is as a thief.

Poor — Where he finds nothing to satisfy his covetousness he exercises his cruelty.

Verse 16

[16] In the dark they dig through houses which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

They — The robber: having on that occasion inserted the mention of the adulterer as one who acted his sin in the same manner as the night-thief did he now returns to him again.

Verse 17

[17] For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

Is — Terrible and hateful.

Verse 18

[18] He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

Swift — That is he quickly passeth away with all his glory as the waters which never stay in one place but are always hasting away.

Portion — His habitation and estate which he left behind him.

He — He shall never more see or enjoy his vineyards or other pleasant places and things which seem to be comprehended under this particular.

Verse 20

[20] The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

Womb — His mother that bare him in her womb.

Wickedness — The wicked man.

Broken — Broken to pieces or violently broken down as the word signifies.

Tree — Which being once broken down never grows again.

Verse 21

[21] He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

He — He here returns to the declaration of his farther wickednesses the cause of these judgments.

Barren — Barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach; and so he added affliction to the afflicted.

Verse 22

[22] He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up and no man is sure of life.

Draweth — Into his net.

Verse 23

[23] Though it be given him to be in safety whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

Yet — Yet his eyes are upon their ways: although God gives them such strange successes yet he sees and observes them all and will in due time punish them.

Verse 24

[24] They are exalted for a little while but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

The way — Out of this world.

Other — They can no more prevent or delay their death than the meanest men in the world.

Corn — In its greatest height and maturity.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Job

 

24 Chapter 24

 

Verses 1-25

Job 24:1-25

Why seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty.

Great crimes not always followed by great punishment in this life

I. Great crimes have prevailed on the earth from the earliest times. Amongst the crimes specified in this chapter there is--

1. Theft. There were those who stole from others their lands and flocks and robbed the widow and orphan of their food and clothing (Job 24:2-8). There is--

2. Cruelty. “They plucked the fatherless from the breast ” made “men groan out of the city.” There is--

3. Murder. “The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy.” There is--

4. Adultery. “The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight ” etc.

The fact that these crimes prevailed in Job’s land and times implies--

1. That in those distant scenes and times the same standard of morals existed that we have. They esteemed theft cruelty murder and adultery wrong; so do we.

2. That in those distant scenes and times men had the same sinful propensities as they have now.

II. That although the great God is cognisant of those crimes He does not always visit them with punishment in this life. Job begins with the question “Why seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty do they that know Him not see His days?” The meaning is Why since crimes are not hidden from the Almighty do not His friends see His judgments? He shows that these great criminals fare as well here both in life and death as others. Why is this? Not because the Almighty is ignorant of their crimes or because their crimes are not abhorrent to His nature. Whatever the cause the fact is undeniable; and this fact Job brings out here to refute the doctrine of his friends namely that great suffering implies great crime. (Homilist.)

Consideration for others

“I would rather be a year or two longer in effecting my purposes than reach them by trampling on men’s hearts and hearths.” (J. Ruskin.)


Verses 1-25

Job 24:1-25

Why seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty.

Great crimes not always followed by great punishment in this life

I. Great crimes have prevailed on the earth from the earliest times. Amongst the crimes specified in this chapter there is--

1. Theft. There were those who stole from others their lands and flocks and robbed the widow and orphan of their food and clothing (Job 24:2-8). There is--

2. Cruelty. “They plucked the fatherless from the breast ” made “men groan out of the city.” There is--

3. Murder. “The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy.” There is--

4. Adultery. “The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight ” etc.

The fact that these crimes prevailed in Job’s land and times implies--

1. That in those distant scenes and times the same standard of morals existed that we have. They esteemed theft cruelty murder and adultery wrong; so do we.

2. That in those distant scenes and times men had the same sinful propensities as they have now.

II. That although the great God is cognisant of those crimes He does not always visit them with punishment in this life. Job begins with the question “Why seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty do they that know Him not see His days?” The meaning is Why since crimes are not hidden from the Almighty do not His friends see His judgments? He shows that these great criminals fare as well here both in life and death as others. Why is this? Not because the Almighty is ignorant of their crimes or because their crimes are not abhorrent to His nature. Whatever the cause the fact is undeniable; and this fact Job brings out here to refute the doctrine of his friends namely that great suffering implies great crime. (Homilist.)

Consideration for others

“I would rather be a year or two longer in effecting my purposes than reach them by trampling on men’s hearts and hearths.” (J. Ruskin.)


Verse 12

Job 24:12

Men groan from out of the city.

The groans of the city

The truth is man as he walketh upon the surface of the earth seeth but the surface of its inhabitants. Well is it that we see no more. Were we able to go under the surface though it were but slightly our knowledge might make us go mad. It ought to do so. The thought is terrible in its wonder and astonishing in its terror of the knowledge which the “God of the spirits of all flesh” necessarily hath of the mighty aggregate of the earth’s depravities --embracing in His boundless vision every iniquity that is or ever was meditated or executed from the first entry of evil into the sphere of His dominions to the last accent of defiance that shall be hurled at His throne. The shudder of such a thought sometimes affrighteth saintly souls. It seems here to have been laying hold of the patriarch. His plea is that though men “groan in the city ” God the judge of all appears at present to be calling none of these to account for their misdeeds. With one of the moderns we might exclaim “It is very startling to see so much of sin with so little of sorrow” (Dr. Arnold). But is Job altogether sceptical as to their punishment? Far from it. He is leaving Eliphaz to the inference that if his reasoning be correct that a man must be guilty because he is afflicted these evil-doers must be innocent because they are not afflicted. Did we however know the world as it is not as it seems --could we go under the surface of society we might become acquainted with secrets of wickedness of which some of the wicked never dreamed and with torments the existence of which the virtuous would scarcely believe. What misery would be revealed where we see only the emblems of delight! Yea what an empire of spiritual death in a universe of natural and artificial life! The patriarch’s description of the city is as true and as fearful in its truth at this hour as in the day that he uttered it. As true of London or Paris now as of Babylon or Nineveh of old. The city is a place “from out of which men groan and the soul of the wounded cry out.” “The whole creation ” through the apostasy of man is represented by the great apostle as “groaning”; but the city being ever a vast concentration of guilt what is true of the whole earth is preeminently true of it. In the city transgression is a species of item--an enormous sum indeed in its daily concerns. All great cities are guilty of great sins. Those who inhabit the city are denizens of a place in which every day and every night multiplied iniquities are all but sure to be perpetrated as surely as night and day succeed each other. Dreadful in the city are the groans of conscience. True the world looks gay and thoughtless. Bright eyes and merry lips offer their enchantments on every side. Notwithstanding it will be found that the awful verities of the eternal state have a stronger hold upon the majority of men than is generally imagined. Amongst the groans of the city are the groans of such as have dishonoured a Christian profession by open offences; groans these which for years may be without response but their own echoes; wounds inconceivably painful blushing as they do with the crimson tide of God’s Lamb “crucified afresh.” Among these groans of the city are the groans of saintly men and holy women for the sins of those around them. Think of the world as it is and withhold from it a groan if you can. Hence doth the Christian groan in spirit for the sins of the world; being afflicted for Christ as Christ was afflicted for him. (Alfred Bowen Evans.)


Verse 13

Job 24:13

Rebel against the light.

Light used figuratively

Light may be considered in two ways. Either properly or figuratively.

1. We may understand the text of light in a proper sense and some insist chiefly on that. They rebel against the very light of the sun or the ordinary daylight. Wicked men love darkness; they hate even natural light the light of the sun because it seldom serves but often hinders their occasions.

2. Take light figuratively for the light of knowledge. So it is more true that wicked men rebel against it. The light rebelled against is rather an internal light that light which shines into the soul than that which shines to the eye; and there is a two-fold internal light against which wicked men may be said to rebel.

3. Some understand by the “light” here God Himself who is light. The very reason why the light of nature and the light of reason are rebelled against is because the former hath somewhat of God in it and the latter much of God in it. For as God is light so all light is of God. (Joseph Caryl.)

Rebelling against the light

These evidently had the light and this should be esteemed as no small privilege since to wander on the dark mountains is a terrible curse. Yet this privilege may turn into an occasion of evil. Most of us have received light in several forms such as instruction conscience reason revelation experience the Holy Spirit. The degree of light differs but we have each received some measure thereof. Light has a sovereignty in it so that to resist it is to rebel against it. God has given it to be a display of Himself for God is light; and He has clothed it with a measure of His majesty and power of judgment. Rebellion against light has in it a high degree of sin. It might be virtue to rebel against darkness but what shall be said of those who withstand the light? resisting truth holiness and knowledge?

I. Detect the rebels. Well-instructed persons who have been accustomed to teach others and yet turn aside to evil; these are grievous traitors. Children of Christian parents who sin against their early training; upon whom prayer and entreaty precept and example are thrown away. Hearers of the Word who quench convictions deliberately frequently and with violence. Men with keen moral sense who rush on despite the reins of conscience which should restrain them. Lewd professors who nevertheless talk orthodoxy and condemn others thereby assuredly pronouncing their own doom.

II. Describe the forms of this rebellion. Some refuse light being unwilling to know more than would be convenient; therefore they deny themselves time for thought absent themselves from sermons neglect godly reading shun pious company avoid reproof etc. Others scoff and fight against it calling light darkness and darkness light Infidelity ribaldry persecution and such like become their resort and shelter. Persons run contrary to it in their lives; of set purpose or through wilful carelessness. Walking away from the light is rebelling against it. Setting up your own wishes in opposition to the laws of morality and holiness is open revolt against the light. Many presume upon their possession of light imagining that knowledge and orthodox belief will save them. Many darken it for others hindering its operations among men hiding their own light under a bushel ridiculing the efforts of others etc. All darkness is a rebellion against light. Let us “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.”

III. Denounce the punishment of this rebellion. To have the light removed. To lose eyes to see it even when present. To remain unforgiven as culprits blindfolded for death as those do who resist the light of the Holy Spirit. To sin with tenfold guilt with awful wilfulness of heart. To descend forever into that darkness which increases in blackness throughout eternity.

IV. Declare the folly of this rebellion. Light is our best friend and it is wisdom to obey it; to resist it is to rebel against our own interest. Light triumphs still. Owls hoot but the moon shines. Opposition to truth and righteousness is useless; it may even promote that which it aims to prevent. Light would lead to more light. Consent to it for it will be beneficial to your own soul. Light would lead to heaven which is the centre of light. Light even here would give peace comfort rest holiness and communion with God. Let us not rebel against light but yield to its lead; yea leap forward to follow its blessed track. Let us become the allies of light and spread it. It is a noble thing to live as light bearers of “the Lord and Giver of Light.” Let us walk in the light as God is in the light; and so our personal enjoyment will support our life work. Light must be our life if our life is to be light. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Hatred of the light

The devil fears the light and this is one reason why we should keep it always burning. A governor of the Bahamas who was about to return to England promised to do his best to procure from the Home Government any favour the Colonists might desire. And what think you was their unanimous reply: “Tell them to tear down the lighthouses--they are ruining the Colony.” The men were wreckers and they hated the light! And the devil so hates the light that he would tear down every spiritual lighthouse in the land if he only could. (Sunday Circle.)


Verse 17

Job 24:17

The terrors of the shadow of death.

Death

Scripture speaks of death in two ways. Job calls death “the King of Terrors.” Of a saint and martyr it is said “He fell asleep.”

I. What is it that makes death terrible?

1. It is the rending asunder of what God has joined together. Body and soul. What life is and what death is we know by marked outward signs; but what the soul is whence it comes whither it goes who knoweth except so far as God has taught us?

2. It is the passage to judgment. “After this the judgment.”

3. It is the breaking up of all we love and desire and care for here.

II. Turn to the other side of the picture--what is it that makes death peaceful?

1. The body and spirit shall again be joined. “In Christ shall all be made alive.”

2. The judgment will be the “judgment seat of Christ.” Judgment is terrible where sin is; but sin washed away in the blood of the Cross has no sting no terror left.

3. The Christian’s treasure is above his hope is full of immortality. Death to the Christian is the sure and certain hope of a better life. (Alfred Port B. D.)


Verse 23

Job 24:23

Yet His eyes are upon thy ways.

God observes the ways of the wicked

To call them to account for them. We have here a threefold act of providence about wicked oppressors whom yet God suffereth to prosper.

1. That God’s eye is upon them to mark all their debordings.

2. That after their exaltation for a little while they are cut off.

3. That yet this is done but in an ordinary way as befalls all others. As the tops of the ripe ears of corn are cut down and gathered in.

Learn--

1. Outward safety is in itself a mercy. Therefore men ought to improve this mercy aright and should be sensible of their ill-improvement thereof when they are deprived of it.

2. Safety is from God and gifted by Him. No man can secure himself without God.

3. God in His long suffering and indulgence may set the wicked in safety for a time for a snare upon them.

4. It is a plague upon the wicked that they rest and secure in the enjoyment of outward mercies.

5. It is in particular a plague upon the wicked that their outward security and safety quiets all their fears so that they have no doubt of God’s favour or of their own good estate so long as they are in such a condition.

6. God does not give safety to wicked men because He approves of them or seeth not their wickedness; but He hath an eye upon them all the while and particularly notices how they abuse these providences.

7. Albeit the Lord be not still punishing the wicked yet this is sad that He is still observing and marking all their ways to call them to account for them in a day of reckoning. (George Hutcheson.)

──The Biblical Illustrator