How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Ver. 19. How long wilt thou not depart from me] Here he seems desirous to be rid of God's company, of his afflicting presence, Psalms 139:10; so true is that of the apostle, Hebrews 12:11, "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous," till patience come to have her perfect work, and men be brought to cry out, as one did under a great fit of the stone, The use, Lord, the use; not so much ease of my pain, as a good use of my suffering. This Job came to at length, no doubt; meanwhile, we have in him, as Mercer observeth, mirum ubique specimen, a wonderful instance of that conflict between flesh and spirit that is in the saints.
Yet let me alone, till I may swallow down my spittle?] That is, nor afford me the least intermission, no, not a spitting while. He will not suffer me to take my breath, Job 9:18. Jerome thinks that Job was troubled with a quinsey, or sore throat, which hindered the swallowing of his spittle; neither had he power to spit out the corrupt matter that ran down his throat. Oh what a sweet mercy is health! and how ill able are the best without special support from heaven to bear sickness! The Stoics, who said, that he who lived honestly might live cheerfully though under many bodily weaknesses, senserunt ipsi in morbis se magnificentius locutos esse quam verius, saith Wolfius; that is, when it came to their own turn to be sick, they well perceived that they had spoken rather bravely than truly.