Job 27 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Parable — His grave and weighty discourse.

Who — Though he knows my integrity, yet doth not plead my cause against my friends.

Reproach — With betraying my own cause and innocency.

Let — I am so far from practicing wickedness, that I abhor the thoughts of it, and if I would wish to be revenged of my enemy, I could wish him no greater mischief than to be a wicked man.

Though — Though they prosper in the world. God, as the judge takes it away, to be tried, and determined to its everlasting state. And what will his hope be then? It will be vanity and a lie; it will stand him in no stead.

Delight — When he has nothing else to delight in? No: his delight is in the things of the world, which now sink under him. And those who do not delight in God, will not always, will not long, call upon him.

Have seen — I speak what is confirmed by your own, as well as others experiences. Vain — To condemn me for a wicked man, because I am afflicted.

Remain — Who survive that sword and famine. Widows — For they had many wives. Weep — Because they also, as well as other persons, groaned under their tyranny, and rejoice in their deliverance from it.

As clay — In great abundance.

A moth — Which settleth itself in a garment, but is quickly and unexpectedly dispossessed of its dwelling, and crushed to death. A booth — Which the keeper of a garden or vineyard suddenly rears up in fruit — time, and as quickly pulls down again.

Lie down — In death. Not gathered — Instead of that honourable interment with his fathers, his carcase shall lie like dung upon the earth. One openeth his eyes — That is, while a man can open his eyes, in the twinkling of an eye. He is as if he had never been, dead and gone, and his family and name extinct with him.

Terrors — From the sense of approaching death or judgment. Waters — As violently and irresistibly, as a river breaking its banks, or deluge of waters bears down all before it. A tempest — God's wrath cometh upon him like a tempest, and withal unexpectedly like a thief in the night.

East — wind — Some terrible judgment, fitly compared to the east — wind, which in those parts was most vehement, and pernicious. Carrieth him — Out of his palace wherein he expected to dwell forever; whence he shall be carried either by an enemy, or by death.

Cast — His darts or plagues one after another. Would flee — He earnestly desires to escape the judgments of God, but in vain. Those that will not be persuaded to fly to the arms of Divine grace, which are now stretched out to receive them, will not be able to flee from the arms of Divine wrath, which will shortly be stretched out to destroy them.

Clap — In token of their joy at the removal of such a publick pest, by way of astonishment: and in contempt and scorn, all which this gesture signifies in scripture use. His — In token of detestation and derision.