(13) So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
I venture to suppose that this seventh day here spoken of, in which it should seem an interruption was given to the long silence, was in respect to the sabbath day, which those three men no doubt reverenced, as they sprung from stock which could not be ignorant of the sabbath. Eliphaz being a Timanite, sprung from one of the descendants of Esau. And it is probable that the other two were nearly of the same race, or in alliance with it. See Genesis 36:10-11
REFLECTIONS
READER! I would call you, and myself at the same time, in our improvement of what is here related, to a subject which the Holy Ghost graciously intended to be gathered out of it, as well as from the whole tenor of scripture, on the same interesting point. If Job's sufferings were typical of Jesus, and we are commanded to take the example of those, who have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, for our encouragement of suffering affliction, and of patience; well may we look at such of them, as are intended to hold forth to us the outlines of him, who in his victory and triumph over Satan, wrought our deliverance in that accomplishment, and hath conquered both hell and destruction, for the salvation of his people.
Behold then, Reader, the victory of the Lord Jesus bruising the serpent's head, and subduing his kingdom both for his people, and in his people, by his glorious redemption. The original ground of the quarrel against our poor nature, began with our glorious head. Hence Jesus undertook to conquer Satan for us, and drive him out of the kingdom of our hearts where he had taken possession, by conquering him in us. The apostle saith, that forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise took part of the same, that through death be might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage. Hence Jesus triumphed over Satan at his death on the Cross, when the Redeemer's heel was bruised. And the Son of God prosecutes his victory, by converting us his people from the error of our ways, and which is called in scripture, delivering us out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of God's dear Son. And what is yet more, by the grace of his Spirit implanted in our hearts, he gives wisdom as in the case of Job, to escape from Satan's wiles. Thus we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and are made more than conquerors through his grace helping us. And by and by that blessed promise will be completely fulfilled, when in death, by the faith of Christ, the God of peace shall have bruised Satan under our feet shortly.
Hail! then, thou glorious almighty Conqueror, thou Lord Jesus Christ! thou hast indeed spoiled principalities and powers; thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; thou hast taken the prey from the mighty, and even the lawful captive delivered! Thou hast beheld Satan, as lightning, fall from heaven; and, blessed be thy name, thou hast given unto thy people, thy redeemed, power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Oh! precious, precious Jesus! give all thy children grace, that as their day is their strength may be; and to all thy redeemed ones, who are still exercised, as Job was, by reason of the devil's hatred, with trials and temptations, manifest in all our remaining skirmishes with the accursed foe, that greater is He that is in us, than all that are against us. God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but with every temptation will make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. Amen.