Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Ver. 25. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? &c.] q.d. Egregiam vero laudem, Thinkest thou to get any honour by encountering and overturning me, who was at my best but as a leaf, or as stubble, weak and worthless; and am now, by reason of mine afflictions, but as a leaf blown off, and whirled up and down, Indignum est maiestate tua, ut misellum homuncionem, &c. (Jan.); or as stubble fully dried, which is soon scattered by the wind, Psalms 1:4, or quickly burnt by the fire, Nahum 1:10. David reasoneth in this manner with Saul, 1 Samuel 24:14, "After whom is the king of Israel come forth? after whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea." A great purchase surely! a great victory!
- An gloria tanta est
Insidias homini supposuisse Deum? (Tibul.)
The truth is, God doth not afflict any man (whom he knows to be a thing of nothing) on purpose to try his strength, or to show his power; but either to exercise his justice upon the wicked, or to prove the faith of his people, and to promote their salvation.