Job 16 · John Wesley
Such things - These things are but vulgar and trivial. And so are all creatures, to a soul under deep conviction of sin, or the arrest of death.
End - When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him his charge, chap.15:2,3.
He - God, as appears by the following words. Weary - Either of complaining, or, of my life. Desolate - Hast turned my society into desolation, by destroying my children and servants.
Eyes - Looks upon me with a fierce, and sparkling eye, as enraged persons use to do.
They - My friends. Gaped - Opened their mouths wide against me. In all this Job was a type of Christ. These very expressions are used in the predictions of his sufferings, Psal 22:13. They gaped upon me with their mouths, and Mic 5:1. They shall smite the judge of Israel upon the check.
The wicked - And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands, by the determinate counsel of God.
Shaken - As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he wrestleth with him. Mark - That he may shoot all his arrows in me.
His archers - Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as God's archers, and see him directing the arrow.
I have - So far am I from stretching out my hand against God, chap.15:25, that I have humbled myself deeply under his hand. I have not only put on sackcloth, but sewed it on, as being resolved to continue my humiliation, as long as my affliction continues. Defiled my horn - I have willingly parted with all my wealth, and power, and glory (as the horn often signifies in scripture,) and been content to lie in the dust.
Not - And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing, but for other reasons known to God only. Pure - I do not cast off God's fear and service, chap.15:4. I do still pray and worship God, and my prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart.
Earth - The earth is said to cover that blood, which lies undiscovered and unrevenged: but saith Job, if I be guilty of destroying any man, let the earth disclose it; let it be brought to light. Cry - Let the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God, find no place in the ears or hearts of God or men, if this be true.
Witness - Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness of my integrity.