(8) For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? (9) Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? (10) Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
This is a fine unfolding of the hypocrite's character. It is but short, but it is unanswerably striking and conclusive. The questions rise out of one another; and the last serves to unfold the whole, and finally to determine the point. What can be the hope of the hypocrite? Surely, having acted but as a deceiver, he only finds his hope a deception, when GOD enters into judgment. But will he cry unto GOD? Yes, he may; for hypocrisy doth not prevent this. The Prophet hath pointed out such characters as remarkable for prayer. Thou art near, saith the Prophet (speaking to the LORD), in their mouth, and far from their reins: Jeremiah 12:2. Here the hypocrite is described, under a double view: first, in what he is; and then, in what he is not. He is near to GOD in mouth, but he is far from GOD in his heart. Therefore the hypocrite may, and the hypocrite will, cry unto GOD when trouble cometh upon him. But another question ariseth out of this. Will he always call upon GOD? Yes, when trouble is upon him: for so saith the Prophet. 'LORD, in trouble have they visited thee: they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them:' Isaiah 26:16. But the third question settles the matter: Will he delight himself in the Almighty? No: that is impossible. He may pray, he may cry unto GOD with the mouth when the arrows of GOD are in him; but to take pleasure in GOD, never did a hypocrite do this, nor ever will to the end of the world. So that Job in these verses decidedly settles the matter.