Job 1:20,21 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

(20) В¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, (21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job's renting his mantle and shaving his head, were becoming signs that he was humbled, under the reverse of circumstances come upon him. And his worshipping God upon the ground, a like token that he viewed the Lord's hand in the affliction. Nature gives vent to the bursting within, with those signs of real grief. No doubt the agony of his soul was beheld in his looks. And indeed had he not felt, it would have argued a hard insensible heart. Jesus himself grieved at the tomb of Lazarus. John 11:35. But while nature wept, grace triumphed. What, but grace indeed, could have induced the sentiment, which Job here uttered? Whether God gave blessings, or recalled them when he had given them, still his love was the same, and Job could and did bless him. Reader! look within. Have your lesser trials this blessed effect? Do you eye Jesus in all? Do you justify him in all? Do you approve of him in all? Do you cleave to him in all? Oh! how sweet is it, to have Job's grace under Job's exercises; and when the providences of the Lord frown, still to rest upon the love that is in the Lord's heart. Though he slay me (said Job), yet will I trust in him. Job 13:15.

Job 1:20-21

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle,j and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.