For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
Ver. 9. For he hath said, It profiteth a man not] Did Job ever say so or think so? where? and when? He said indeed, and truly, that in this life it is oft seen, that bad men prosper and good men suffer. But must it needs follow, therefore, that it is a course of no profit to walk with God? Knoweth not Elihu that there is nothing that may not be taken with either hand? and that it is a spiritual unmannerliness to take it with the left? Indeed, it is not amiss to admonish good men, what absurdities may be gathered out of their words; and it is fit that they should prevent it as much as may be. Elihu also was the more to be borne with (and that made Job let him go on, likely, without a reply) because he pleaded for God and the glory of his justice, which Job had somewhat wronged, as cannot be denied, while he gave too much way to his grief and other passions, and now beginneth to be sensible of his outbursts. But, truly, if he should have said as here he is taxed (and yet David and Jeremiah said little less), he would have gone in company with those workers of iniquity, Isaiah 58:3 Malachi 3:14,15, and have lifted at the very foundation of all true religion, Hebrews 11:6, and thence it was that Elihu was so hot. But men must take heed of drawing odious consequences out of other men's speeches; and of forcing them to go two miles when they would go but one. "Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood," &c., Proverbs 30:33 .
That he should delight himself with God] Or, When he runneth with God. Tremellius, When he shall be willing to walk with God, as Genesis 5:22; see Ezekiel 1:14. The Tigurines render the whole verse thus, Dixit enim, vir non faciet paria, si cum Deo cursu contendat. Sure it is nec volentis, nec volantis (as a nobleman gave it for his motto), it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth; no, though he could run as fast as a bird can fly; but in God that showeth mercy.