The wise are not always wise:--All the ways of sin and error are ways of folly.
But was not Job censorious and rigid, too bold and adventurous to speak thus concerning men of such gravity, authority, and reputation for wisdom and learning, yea for holiness too, as these three were? Job did not speak this from any ill-will to his friends.
1. It is no fault to speak of men as we find them.
2. A wise man may do or speak that which is a just forfeiture of his present reputation for wisdom.
3. Wise men are rarely to be found. There are store of subtle men, and crafty men there are too many; but the wise man is a rare jewel.
4. Wise men are apt to show themselves unwise in expounding and judging the providences and dealings of God towards men. The works of the most wise God are all right, but few men are wise enough to pick out the right meaning of them. This arises--
(1) From the seeming confusions which are in the world. God doth not keep a method, nor govern Himself by precedents. No man can tell the way He will go, by looking into the way which He hath gone.
(2) From the narrowness of man’s heart, who, measuring God by his own line, and comparing what God hath done by what he would do, cannot attain unto the righteousness of God in what He doth. It is excellent wisdom to know how to interpret and improve the dealings of God with ourselves or others. The grossest misinterpretation of his dealings is, to conclude from them the guilt or innocency of men, or the love and hatred of God. (Joseph Caryl.)