Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped,
20, 21. Job’s demeanour under his sorrows. As became a man of his rank Job had received the messengers sitting. When the full extent of his misery came home to him he arose and gave way to the liveliest expressions of grief. He rent his mantle, in token that his heart was rent with sorrow, as Joe 2:13 says, “Rend your heart and not your garments;” he shaved his head, putting off, in token of his mourning, every adornment, even that which nature had supplied; and he cast himself upon the ground, laying his forehead on the dust, in deepest submission before God. Grief has its rights, which religion stands by to see fulfilled, and then comes forward to hallow it and cast its peace over it. The “mantle” (me‘eel) was not a detached garment as the word might suggest, but a tunic, the uppermost of the garments proper. It was worn by women of the higher rank, 2Sa 13:18, as well as men; was of linen or later of cotton, with arms, and reaching to the ankles. It was often either richly embroidered or perhaps made up of pieces of cloth of various colours, Gen 37:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Then Job arose – The phrase to arise, in the Scriptures is often used in the sense of beginning to do anything. It does not necessarily imply that the person had been previously sitting; see 2Sa 13:13.
And rent his mantle – The word here rendered mantle meyl means an upper or outer garment. The dress of Orientals consists principally of an under garment or tunic – not materially differing from the shirt with us – except that the sleeves are wider, and under this large and loose pantaloons. Niebuhr, Reisebescreib. 1. 157. Over these garments they often throw a full and flowing mantle or robe. This is made without sleeves; it reaches down to the ankles; and when they walk or exercise it is bound around the middle with a girdle or sash. When they labor it is usually laid aside. The robe here referred ire was worn sometimes by women, 2Sa 13:18; by men of birth and rank, and by kings, 1Sa 15:27; 1Sa 18:4; 1Sa 24:5, 1Sa 24:11; by priests, 1Sa 28:14, and especially by the high priest under the ephod, Exo 28:31. See Braun de vest Sacerd. ii. 5. Schroeder de vest. muller.
Hebrew p. 267; Hartmann Ilcbraerin, iii. p. 512, and Thesau. Antiq. Sacra. by Ugolin, Tom. i. 509, iii. 74, iv. 504, viii. 90, 1000, xii. 788, xiii. 306; compare the notes at Mat 5:40, and Niebuhr, as quoted above. The custom of rending the garment as an expression of grief prevailed not only among the Jews but also among the Greeks and Romans. Livy i. 13. Suetonius, in Jul. Caes. 33. It prevailed also among the Persians. Curtius, B. x. c. 5, section 17. See Christian Boldich, in Thesau. Antiq. Sacra. Tom. xii. p. 145; also Tom. xiii. 551, 552, 560, xxx. 1105, 1112. In proof also that the custom prevailed among the Pagan, see Diod. Sic. Lib. i. p. 3, c. 3, respecting the Egyptians; Lib. xvii. respecting the Persians; Quin. Curt. iii. 11; Herod. Lib. iii. in Thalia, Lib. viii. in Urania, where he speaks of the Persians. So Plutarch in his life of Antony, speaking of the deep grief of Cleopatra, says, perierrecato tous piplous ep’ auto. Thus, Herodian, Lib. i.: kai recamene estheta. So Statius in Glaucum:
Tu mode fusus humi, lucem aversaris iniquam,
Nunc torvus pariter vestes, et pectora rumpis.
So Virgil:
Tune pins Aeneas humeris abscindere vestem,
Auxilioque vocare Deos, et tendere palmas.
Aeneid v. 685.
Demittunt mentes; it scissa veste Latinus,
Conjugis attonitus fatis, urbisque ruina,
Aeneid 12:609.
So Juvenal, Sat. x.:
ut primos edere planctus
Cassandra inciperet, scissaque Polyxena palla.
Numerous other quotations from the Classical writers, as well as from the Jewish writings, may be seen in Ugolins Sacerdotium Hebraicum, cap. vi. Thesau. Antiq. Sacrar. Tom. xiii. p. 550ff.
And shaved his head – This was also a common mode of expressing great sorrow. Sometimes it was done by formally cutting off the hair of the head; sometimes by plucking it violently out by the roots, and sometimes also the beard was plucked out, or cut off. The idea seems to have been that mourners should divest themselves of that which was usually deemed most ornamental; compare Jer 7:29; Isa 7:20. Lucian says that the Egyptians expressed their grief by cutting off their hair on the death of their god Apis, and the Syrians in the same manner at the death of Adonis. Olympiodorus remarks on this passage, that the people among whom long hair was regarded as an ornament, cut it off in times of mourning; but those who commonly wore short hair, suffered it on such occasions to grow long. See Rosenmuller, Morgenland, in loc. A full description of the customs of the Hebrews in times of mourning, and particularly of the custom of plucking out the hair, may be seen in Martin Geier, de Hebraeorum Luctu, especially in chapter viii.
Thesau. Antiq. Sacra. xxxiil. p. 147ff. The meaning here is that Job was filled with excessive grief, and that he expressed that grief in the manner that was common in his day. Nature demands that there should be some external expression of sorrow; and religion does not forbid it. He pays a tribute to the nature with which God has endowed him who gives an appropriate expression to sorrow; he wars against that nature who attempts to remove from his countenance, conversation, dress, and dwelling, everything that is indicative of the sorrows of his soul in a time of calamity. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus; and religion is not designed to make the heart insensible or incapable of grief. Piety, like every kind of virtue, always increases the susceptibility of the soul to suffering. Philosophy and sin destroy sensibility; but religion deepens it. Philosophy does it on principle – for its great object is to render the heart dead to all sensibility; sin produces the same effect naturally. The drunkard, the licentious man, and the man of avarice, are incapable of being affected by the tender scenes of life. Guilt has paralyzed their feelings and rendered tthem dead. But religion allows people to feel, and then shows its power in sustaining the soul, and in imparting its consolations to the heart that is broken and sad. It comes to dry up the tears of the mourner, not to forbid those tears to flow; to pour the balm of consolation into the heart, not to teach the heart to be unfeeling.
And fell down upon the ground – So Joshua in a time of great calamity prostrated himself upon the earth and worshipped, Jos 7:6. – The Orientals were then in the habit, as they are now, of prostrating themselves on the ground as an act of homage. Job seems to have done this partly as an expression of grief, and partly as an act of devotion – solemnly bowing before God in the time of his great trial.
And worshipped – Worshipped God. He resigned himself to his will. A pious man has nowhere else to go in trial; and he will desire to go nowhere else than to the God who has afflicted him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Job 1:20
And worshipped.
The grand victory
This is the grandest scene that human nature has ever presented. The world had never seen anything to compare to it. The greatest conqueror that ever won his triumph in Rome was as a pigmy beside the giant.
I. The triumph of mind over matter. Jobs soul seems to soar above what is material. Things which were seen faded from his view, and things which were not seen grew bright and distinct. The dying Stephen saw the Lord Jesus in his vision. But Job was not a dying man. He was in full strength and vigour. It is possible, then, so to triumph over that which is seen and temporal, that even in this world heaven is a reality.
II. The triumph of principle over selfishness. Principle and selfishness are always antagonistic. There is a constant warfare going on between these in the universe, in the world, in the soul. Self is too often the victor. But in Job religious principle was supreme. He rose up and worshipped! Selfish human nature would have raved and cursed. The worldly man would have cursed his luck, cursed his foes, cursed the Chaldeans, and cursed everything. There does not seem to have been any struggle in the mind of Job. He seems, by constant patience and by the unceasing habit of giving principle the first place, to have been raised almost above strife and contention. There is a time when contest ceases. Sometimes self, after a few weeks or years, obtains the mastery, and then to self the man habitually yields. But we do occasionally find cases wherein principle is victor, and then homage is paid hereafter unquestioningly to its sovereignty.
III. The triumph of religion over worldliness. The world passed out of Jobs ken as a factor in his fate. Many would have said, What a strange combination of circumstances! What a terrible coincidence! What an unlucky man! The Lord hath taken away. Here is a pattern for causalists, who look to minor details instead of to the prime Ruler of all things. This is the true sphere of religion–to east out all else from a mans life–all except God. Then, and then alone, has it triumphed over the world, and sin, and temptation.
IV. The triumph of Divine grace over the devils temptations. (Homilist.)
The humble saint under an awful rod
1. The best of men are often exercised with the sorest troubles. Job was a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil. Those who are nearest Gods heart may smart most under His rod.
2. When things go best with us as to this world, we should look for changes. Presumption of continued prosperity is unwarrantable; for who can tell what a day may bring forth? If any man in the world had reason to promise himself a security from poverty and distress, surely it was this eminent servant of God. The Lord had blessed him with large possessions, and a numerous offspring. He could appeal to heaven as to the integrity of his conduct, that he had got his wealth without oppressing the poor or injuring his fellow creatures. Let us therefore take care how we say our mountain shall stand strong and cannot be moved, for who can tell what is in the womb of providence? This will, in a great measure, prepare us for the trial, if God should call us to it. On the other hand, we should be cautious how we sink under our burdens when the Lord is contending with us, and entertain gloomy apprehensions that deliverance is impossible. Our wisdom lies in the medium, between resting in and boasting of blessings, and limiting the power and goodness of God, as if He could not support us under trouble, or make a way for our escape.
3. The grace of God is given us, not to erase or destroy our natural passions and affections, but to correct, restrain, and purify them. Job arose, rent his mantle and shaved his head, and this before he set himself to worship. The grace of God is designed to regulate, refine, and spiritualise our natural affections, which, if left to themselves, are ready to run rote riot and excess.
4. Saints under trouble usually find that relief at the throne of grace, when pouring out their souls to God in prayer, which they meet with nowhere else.
5. Seriously to reflect on what we once were, in a state of infancy, and what we shall be when laid up in the grave, is a good means to reconcile our minds to afflictive emptying providences. Pride is the mother of discontent. Humility gives the sweetest relish to all our enjoyments, and prepares the mind with a becoming resignation to part with them at the will of our original Proprietor, who is the Sovereign Disposer of all things.
6. Good men desire to look beyond second causes to the hand of God in all their mercies and afflictions. Job mentions not a word of his own industry or care in obtaining, or of the Sabeans and Chaldeans in robbing him of his substance, but, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Means and instruments have their influence, but it is under a Divine agency or permission. Those which are best suited to promote a desirable end will certainly miscarry without His concurrence, and the most envenomed enemies of God and His people can do no more than He is pleased to suffer.
7. Satan, the accuser of the brethren, narrowly watches the saint when oppressed with affliction, and if anything can be pleasing to a spirit so completely miserable, it would be to hear him speak unadvisedly with his lips, and charge God foolishly. It is hard work, but how very reasonable! For a saint cannot be in that situation not to have much to bless God for. More and better is always left than is taken away, such as God Himself, His unchangeable love, the glorious Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, an everlasting covenant, the blessings of redemption and sanctification, with grace and glory. And who does not see that all the sufferings and losses of this world are not worthy to be compared with any one of these, much less than with them all! (S. Wilson.)
Right behaviour in times of affliction
1. That when the hand of God is upon us, it becometh us to be sensible of it, and to be humbled under it.
2. That in times of affliction we may express our sorrows by outward gestures, by sorrowful gestures.
3. That when God afflicteth us with sufferings, we ought to afflict ourselves, to humble our souls for sin.
4. That thoughts of blasphemy against God should be cast off, and rejected with the highest indignation. (J. Caryl.)
Afflictions turned into prayers
1. A godly man will not let nature work alone, he mixes or tempers acts of grace with acts of nature.
2. Afflictions send the people of God home unto God; afflictions draw a godly man nearer unto God.
3. That the people of God turn all their afflictions into prayers, or into praises. When God is striking, then Job is praying; when God is afflicting, then Job falls to worshipping. Grace makes every condition work glory to God, as God makes every condition work good to them who have grace.
4. It becometh us to worship God in an humble manner.
5. That Divine worship is Gods peculiar. (J. Caryl.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 20. Rent his mantle] Tearing the garments, shaving or pulling off the hair of the head, throwing dust or ashes on the head, and fitting on the ground, were acts by which immoderate grief was expressed. Job must have felt the bitterness of anguish when he was told that, in addition to the loss of all his property, he was deprived of his ten children by a violent death. Had he not felt this most poignantly, he would have been unworthy of the name of man.
Worshipped] Prostrated himself; lay all along upon the ground, with his face in the dust.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Then Job arose from his seat, whereon he was sitting in a disconsolate posture.
Rent his mantle, to testify his deep sense of and just sorrow for the heavy hand of God upon him, and his humiliation of himself under his hand. See Gen 37:34. Shaved his head, i.e. caused the hair of his head to be shaved or cut off, which was then a usual ceremony in mourning, of which see Ezr 9:3; Isa 15:2; 22:12; Jer 7:29; 41:5; Mic 1:16.
Fell down upon the ground, in way of self-abhorrency, and humiliation, and supplication unto God.
And worshipped, to wit, God, who is expressed in the following verse, and who is the only object of religious worship. Instead of cursing God, which Satan said he would do, he adored him, and gave him the glory of his sovereignty, and of his justice, and of his goodness also, in this most severe dispensation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. Job arosenot necessarilyfrom sitting. Inward excitement is implied, and the beginning to doanything. He had heard the other messages calmly, but on hearing ofthe death of his children, then he arose; or, as EICHORNtranslates, he started up (2Sa13:31). The rending of the mantle was the conventional mark ofdeep grief (Ge 37:34).Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons; and over thesea flowing mantle (especially great persons and women). Shaving thehead was also usual in grief (Jer 41:5;Mic 1:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Job arose,…. Either from table, being at dinner, as some think, in his own house; it being the time that his children were feasting in their eldest brother’s house; or from the business in which he was employed, which he stopped on hearing this news; or from his seat, or chair of state in which he sat; or rather the phrase only signifies, that he at once, with strength of body, and rigour of mind, which were not lost, as often they are in such cases, went about the following things with great composure and sedateness. It is indeed generally observed, that there is an emphasis to be put on the word “then”, which may be as well rendered “and”, as if Job sat and heard very sedately, without any perturbation of mind, the loss of his substance; but when tidings were brought him of the death of his children, “then” he arose, as being greatly moved and distressed; but it should be observed till now there was no stop or intermission in the messengers, but before one had done speaking, another came and began to tell his story, and so there was no opportunity, as well as not the occasion, of arising and doing what follows; and which he did, not through the violence of his passion, or excess of grief, but as common and ordinary things, which were used to be done in that country for the loss of relations, and in token of mourning for them:
and rent his mantle; or “cloak” k, as Mr. Broughton; but whether this was an outward garment, as each of these seem to be, if the same with ours, or an interior one, as some think, it is not very material to know; both were rent by Ezra upon a mournful occasion, Ezr 9:3, and it was usual to rend garments for deceased relations, or when they were thought to be so, see Ge 37:29, though some think that this was on the account of the blasphemous thoughts the devil now suggested into his mind, being solicitous to gain his point, and work upon him to curse God; upon which he rent his garment to show his resentment and indignation at the thought of it, as the Jews used to rend their garments at hearing of blasphemy; but the first sense is best:
and shaved his beard; either he himself, or his servant by his orders; and which was done among the eastern nations as a sign of mourning, see
Isa 15:2 and among the Greeks, as appears from Homer l; nor was this contrary to the law in De 14:1, where another baldness, not of the head, but between the eyes, is forbidden for the dead; besides this was before that law was in being, and, had it been, Job was not bound by it, being not of the Israelitish nation: some, as Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and other Jewish writers, interpret this of his plucking or tearing off the hair of his head; but this neither agrees with the sense of the word here used, which has the signification of shearing or mowing, rather than of tearing or plucking, nor with the firmness and composure of Job’s mind, who betrayed not any effeminacy or weakness; and though he showed a natural affection for the loss of his substance, and children, as a man, and did not affect a stoical apathy, and brutal insensibility, yet did not give any extraordinary vent to his passion: he behaved both like a man, and a religious man; he mourned for his dead, but not to excess; he sorrowed not as those without hope, and used the common tokens of it, and rites attending it; which shows that mourning for deceased relations, if done in moderation, is not unlawful, nor complying with the rites and customs of a country, in such cases, provided they are not sinful in themselves, nor contrary to the revealed and declared will of God:
and fell down upon the ground; in veneration of God, of his holiness and justice, and as sensible of his awful hand upon him, and as being humbled under it, and patiently submitting to it; he did not stand up, and curse God to his face, as Satan said he would, but fell upon his face to the ground; he did not curse his King and his God, and look upwards, see Isa 8:21 but prostrated himself to the earth in great humility before him; besides, this may be considered as a prayer gesture, since it follows:
and worshipped; that is, God, for who else should he worship? he worshipped him internally in the exercise of faith, hope, love, humility, patience, c. and he worshipped him externally by praising him, and praying to him, expressing himself as in the next verse: afflictions, when sanctified, humble good men, cause them to lie low in the dust, and bring them near to God, to the throne of his grace, and instead of arraigning his providence, and finding fault with his dealings, they adore his majesty, and celebrate his perfections.
k “pallium suum”, Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schultens “tunicam suam”, Munster, Cocceius, Schmidt, Jo. Henric. Michaelis. l , &c. Odyss. 4. ver. 198. & Odyss. 24. ver. 46.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Conduct of Job:
20, 21 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.
The first three messengers Job has heard, sitting, and in silence; but at the news of the death of his children, brought by the fourth, he can no longer overcome his grief. The intensity of his feeling is indicated by rising up (cf. Jon 3:6); his torn heart, by the rending of his mantle; the conscious loss of his dearest ones, by cutting off the hair of his head. He does not, however, act like one in despair, but, humbling himself under the mighty hand of God, falls to the ground and prostrates himself, i.e., worshipping God, so that his face touches the earth. , se prosternere , this is the gesture of adoration, .
(Note: Vid., Hlemann’s Abh. ber die biblische Gestaltung der Anbetung, in his Bibelstudien, Abth. 1 (1859).)
is defectively written, as Num 11:11; cf. infra, Job 32:18. The occurrence of here is remarkable, and may have given rise to the question of Nicodemus, Joh 3:4: . The writer of Ecclesiastes (Ecc 5:14) has left out this difficult . It means either being put back into a state of unconsciousness and seclusion from the light and turmoil of this world, similar to his former state in his mother’s womb, which Hupfeld, in his Commentatio in quosdam Iobeidos locos, 1853, favours; or, since the idea of may be extended, return to the bosom of mother earth (Ew., Hirz., Schlottm., et al.), so that is not so much retrospective as rather prospective with reference to the grave (Bttch.), which we prefer; for as the mother’s bosom can be compared to the bosom of the earth (Psa 139:15), because it is of the earth, and recalls the original forming of man from the earth, so the bosom of the earth is compared to the mother’s, Sir. 40:1: . The writer here intentionally makes Job call God . In the dialogue portion, the name occurs only once in the mouth of Job (Job 12:9); most frequently the speakers use and . This use of the names of God corresponds to the early use of the same in the Pentateuch, according to which is the proper name of God in the patriarchal days, and in the later days, to which they were preparatory. The traditional view, that Elohim describes God according to the attribute of justice, Jehovah according to the attribute of mercy, is only in part correct; for even when the advent of God to judgment is announced, He is in general named Jehovah. Rather, ( plur. of , fear), the Revered One, describes God as object; or , on the other hand, as subject. describes Him in the fulness of His glorious majesty, including also the spirits, which are round about Him; as the Absolute One. Accordingly, Job, when he says , thinks of God not only as the absolute cause of his fate, but as the Being ordering his life according to His own counsel, who is ever worthy of praise, whether in His infinite wisdom He gives or takes away. Job was not driven from God, but praised Him in the midst of suffering, even when, to human understanding and feeling, there was only occasion for anguish: he destroyed the suspicion of Satan, that he only feared God for the sake of His gifts, not for His own sake; and remained, in the midst of a fourfold temptation, the conqueror.
(Note: In Oliver Goldsmith’s Vicar of Wakefield (vid., Jul. Hamberger, Gott und seine Offenbarung, S. 71), there is much that reminds one of the book of Job, especially the repeated misfortunes which befall the worthy clergyman, his submission under all, and the issue which counterbalances his misfortune. But what is copied from the book of Job appears to be only superficial, not to come from the depth of the spiritual life.)
Throughout the whole book he does not go so far as to deny God ( ), and thus far he does not fall into any unworthy utterances concerning His rule.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Job’s Sorrow and Submission. | B. C. 1520. |
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The devil had done all he desired leave to do against Job, to provoke him to curse God. He had touched all he had, touched it with a witness; he whom the rising sun saw the richest of all the men in the east was before night poor to a proverb. If his riches had been, as Satan insinuated, the only principle of his religion now that he had lost his riches he would certainly have lost his religion; but the account we have, in these verses, of his pious deportment under his affliction, sufficiently proved the devil a liar and Job an honest man.
I. He conducted himself like a man under his afflictions, not stupid and senseless, like a stock or stone, not unnatural and unaffected at the death of his children and servants; no (v. 20), he arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, which were the usual expressions of great sorrow, to show that he was sensible of the hand of the Lord that had gone out against him; yet he did not break out into any indecencies, nor discover any extravagant passion. He did not faint away, but arose, as a champion to the combat; he did not, in a heat, throw off his clothes, but very gravely, in conformity to the custom of the country, rent his mantle, his cloak, or outer garment; he did not passionately tear his hair, but deliberately shaved his head. By all this it appeared that he kept his temper, and bravely maintained the possession and repose of his own soul, in the midst of all these provocations. The time when he began to show his feelings is observable; it was not till he heard of the death of his children, and then he arose, then he rent his mantle. A worldly unbelieving heart would have said, “Now that the meat is gone it is well that the mouths are gone too; now that there are no portions it is well that there are no children:” but Job knew better, and would have been thankful if Providence had spared his children, though he had little of nothing for them, for Jehovah-jireh–the Lord will provide. Some expositors, remembering that it was usual with the Jews to rend their clothes when they heard blasphemy, conjecture that Job rent his clothes in a holy indignation at the blasphemous thoughts which Satan now cast into his mind, tempting him to curse God.
II. He conducted himself like a wise and good man under his affliction, like a perfect and upright man, and one that feared God and eschewed the evil of sin more than that of outward trouble.
1. He humbled himself under the hand of God, and accommodated himself to the providences he was under, as one that knew how to want as well as how to abound. When God called to weeping and mourning he wept and mourned, rent his mantle and shaved his head; and, as one that abased himself even to the dust before God, he fell down upon the ground, in a penitent sense of sin and a patient submission to the will of God, accepting the punishment of his iniquity. Hereby he showed his sincerity; for hypocrites cry not when God binds them, ch. xxxvi. 13. Hereby he prepared himself to get good by the affliction; for how can we improve the grief which we will not feel?
2. He composed himself with quieting considerations, that he might not be disturbed and put out of the possession of his own soul by these events. He reasons from the common state of human life, which he describes with application to himself: Naked came I (as others do) out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither, into the lap of our common mother–the earth, as the child, when it is sick or weary, lays its head in its mother’s bosom. Dust we were in our original, and to dust we return in our exit (Gen. iii. 19), to the earth as we were (Eccl. xii. 7), naked shall we return thither, whence we were taken, namely, to the clay, ch. xxxiii. 6. St. Paul refers to this of Job, 1 Tim. vi. 7. We brought nothing of this world’s goods into the world, but have them from others; and it is certain that we can carry nothing out, but must leave them to others. We come into the world naked, not only unarmed, but unclothed, helpless, shiftless, not so well covered and fenced as other creatures. The sin we are born in makes us naked, to our shame, in the eyes of the holy God. We go out of the world naked; the body does, though the sanctified soul goes clothed, 2 Cor. v. 3. Death strips us of all our enjoyments; clothing can neither warm nor adorn a dead body. This consideration silenced Job under all his losses. (1.) He is but where he was at first. He looks upon himself only as naked, not maimed, not wounded; he was himself still his own man, when nothing else was his own, and therefore but reduced to his first condition. Nemo tam pauper potest esse quam natus est–no one can be so poor as he was when born.–Min. Felix. If we are impoverished, we are not wronged, nor much hurt, for we are but as we were born. (2.) He is but where he must have been at last, and is only unclothed, or unloaded rather, a little sooner than he expected. If we put off our clothes before we go to bed, it is some inconvenience, but it may be the better borne when it is near bed-time.
3. He gave glory to God, and expressed himself upon this occasion with a great veneration for the divine Providence, and a meek submission to its disposals. We may well rejoice to find Job in this good frame, because this was the very thing upon which the trial of his integrity was put, though he did not know it. The devil said that he would, under his affliction, curse God; but he blessed him, and so proved himself an honest man.
(1.) He acknowledged the hand of God both in the mercies he had formerly enjoyed and in the afflictions he was now exercised with: The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. We must own the divine Providence, [1.] In all our comforts. God gave us our being, made us, and not we ourselves, gave us our wealth; it was not our own ingenuity or industry that enriched us, but God’s blessing on our cares and endeavours. He gave us power to get wealth, not only made the creatures for us, but best owed upon us our share. [2.] In all our crosses. The same that gave hath taken away; and may he not do what he will with his own? See how Job looks above instruments, and keeps his eye upon the first Cause. He does not say, “The Lord gave, and the Sabeans and Chaldeans have taken away; God made me rich, and the devil has made me poor;” but, “He that gave has taken;” and for that reason he is dumb, and has nothing to say, because God did it. He that gave all may take what, and when, and how much he pleases. Seneca could argue thus, Abstulit, sed et dedit–he took away, but he also gave; and Epictetus excellently (cap. 15), “When thou art deprived of any comfort, suppose a child taken away by death, or a part of thy estate lost, say not apolesa auto—I have lost it; but apedoka—I have restored it to the right owner; but thou wilt object (says he), kakos ho aphelomenos—he is a bad man that has robbed me; to which he answers, ti de soi melei—What is it to thee by what hand he that gives remands what he gave?“
(2.) He adored God in both. When all was gone he fell down and worshipped. Note, Afflictions must not divert us from, but quicken us to, the exercises of religion. Weeping must not hinder sowing, nor hinder worshipping. He eyed not only the hand of God, but the name of God, in his afflictions, and gave glory to that: Blessed be the name of the Lord. He has still the same great and good thoughts of God that ever he had, and is as forward as ever to speak them forth to his praise; he can find in his heart to bless God even when he takes away as well as when he gives. Thus must we sing both of mercy and judgment, Ps. ci. 1. [1.] He blesses God for what was given, though now it was taken away. When our comforts are removed from us we must thank God that ever we had them and had them so much longer than we deserved. Nay, [2.] He adores God even in taking away, and gives him honour by a willing submission; nay, he gives him thanks for good designed him by his afflictions, for gracious supports under his afflictions, and the believing hopes he had of a happy issue at last.
Lastly, Here is the honourable testimony which the Holy Ghost gives to Job’s constancy and good conduct under his afflictions. He passed his trials with applause, v. 22. In all this Job did not act amiss, for he did not attribute folly to God, nor in the least reflect upon his wisdom in what he had done. Discontent and impatience do in effect charge God with folly. Against the workings of these therefore Job carefully watched; and so must we, acknowledging that as God has done right, but we have done wickedly, so God has done wisely, but we have done foolishly, very foolishly. Those who not only keep their temper under crosses and provocations, but keep up good thoughts of God and sweet communion with him, whether their praise be of men or no, it will be of God, as Job’s here was.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
FIFTH PART OF INTRODUCTIONTHE RESULT OF SATANS ATTEMPTS
I. Jobs grief (Job. 1:20). Then Job arose. Probably found by the tidings in the usual posture of Orientals. Aroused from wonted calmness. His nature now stirred to its depths. Deeply moved, but not prostrated by his calamities.Rent his mantle, or robe; long outer garment worn by men of rank (1Sa. 15:27; 1Sa. 18:4), and by priests (1Sa. 28:14; Exo. 28:13); still worn by wealthy Arabs. Rent it in token of sorrow and humiliation (Gen. 37:34). Job neither too insensible to feel grief, nor too proud to acknowledge it. Piety not stoicism; sharpens rather than blunts sensibility. As little virtue in not feeling sorrow as in being overcome by it. Not to feel is to be either more or less than a man. Jesus wept. Insensibility under chastening reproved as a sin (Jer. 5:3; Hos. 7:9). When God afflicts us we should afflict ourselves (Jer. 31:18). Grace teaches us, not to be without sorrow, but to moderate it, and to connect with it penitence and submission, faith and hope (2Co. 7:11; 1Th. 4:13).Shaved his head. Another token of mourning (Ezr. 9:3; Isa. 15:2; Isa. 22:12; Jer. 7:29; Jer. 41:5). Forbidden by the law only in certain cases and in certain forms (Lev. 19:27; Lev. 31:5; Deu. 14:1). Nature demands some external sign of grief, and religion does not forbid it.Fell down upon the ground.
(1) In grief; so Joshua (Jos. 7:6);
(2) In humiliation;
(3) In adoration. Trouble a blessing when it leads to self-abasement before God. Satan expected to see Job standing on his feet and cursing the author of his troubles.
II. His piety (Job. 1:20-21). And worshipped. Praised God and acknowleged his sovereignty. Bowed submissivly to His will and dispensations. Instead of cursing God Job adores His justice, goodness, and holiness. Afflictions draw a godly man nearer to God instead of driving him from Him. A sign of a gracious state to be worshipping when God is chastising. The best way to bear and be benefited by trials is to take them to God. That trouble cannot but be blest which brings us to our knees. Faith calms the crushed spirit by conducting it to a God in Christ.And said. Job opens his mouth, but not as Satan expected. Serious and suitable considerations to be employed under trouble. Truths suggested by religion to quiet the spirit and preserve it in patience.Naked came I forth, &c. Jobs first consideration. Nothing originally ours. Man by nature destitute even of clothes for his body. The truth in the text the apostles argument for contentment (1Ti. 6:7).Naked shall I return thither. Second consideration. Earth not our home. We return to our parent dust. Reference to Gen. 3:19. These words probably copied or referred to in Ecc. 5:14; Ecc. 12:7. Our condition in this world of less consequence as we are so soon to leave it.Third consideration. We must leave the world naked as we entered it (1Ti. 6:7). Death strips Dives of his fine linen and Lazarus of his filthy rags. Grace the only riches we can carry out of the world with us. To be stripped of earthly possessions only a question of time. Thither,unto my mothers womb, used figuratively for the earth. So the lower parts of the earth used for the womb (Psa. 139:15). The same term sometimes used both literally and figuratively in the same sentence. So Mat. 8:22.The Lord gave. The language of truth and piety. Contrasted with that of pride and atheism,My own hand hath gotten me this wealth (Deu. 8:17). Heathens by the light of nature called God the Giver of good things. Power to get wealth the gift of God (Deu. 8:18; Pro. 10:22). Gave, and therefore has the right to withdraw at his pleasure. What we possess we hold only as stewards of mothers goods (Luk. 16:1-12; 1Pe. 4:10.)The Lord hath taken away. Gods hand in our losses as well as our gains. Divine philosophy. So Joseph Gen. 45:5-8; David, Psa. 39:9; Eli, 1Sa. 3:18. The Lord,not the Sabeans and Chaldans, the lightning or the whirlwinds. The philosophy that rests on second causes or natural laws a philosophy falsely so called. Satan only the author of Jobs calamities as he received permission from God. The arrows Gods, whoever shoots them. Evil as well as good from God either directly or permissively (Isa. 45:7; Amo. 3:6). Mans and Satans sin overruled by God for good; not therefore the less sinful (Act. 2:23). Gods hand in trouble seen by the eye of faith, an alleviation; otherwise an aggravation.
III. The Victory
1. Positive side. Job blesses God instead of cursing Him (Job. 1:21). Blessed be the Name of the Lord. The word chosen with reference to Satans charge. The same word used, but in its opposite and proper sense. Satan thus entirely defeated. Every word of Job gives the lie to his slander. Power of grace that teaches us to bless God in troubles and adversities (2Sa. 15:26). No ground, even in the worst times, to murmur against God, much to bless Him. Such grounds are:
(1) Often greater love and richer blessing when He takes away than when He gives. Our greatest trials and losses often our richest mercies. For all I bless Thee, most for the severe [Young].
2. In the greatest sufferings and losses the believers main interests are secure. The pieces of silver may be lost, the casket of jewels remains safe.
(3.) The sufferings of believers are seeds to bear precious fruit both here and hereafter (Rom. 8:24; Heb. 12:10-11). Believers therefore strengthened unto all patience and long sufferings with joyfulness (Col. 1:11). True Christian piety the purest heroism. Widely different from stoical insensibility and pride. Believers weep, but bless God through their tears. Jobs blessing God must have sent an echo through the heaven of heavens. Unprecedented trials, heightened by the contrast of unprecedented prosperity, meet not merely with submission, but with blessing on the Author of both. To bless God in prosperity is only natural; to bless Him in adversity and trouble is music that fills heaven and earth with gladness. Jobs calamities appeared only to argue God against him. Mighty faith that blesses God while smiting our comforts to the ground. The grace enjoined on N.T. believers, exemplified in this O.T. saint (1Th. 5:18). To bless God in our comforts the way to have them increased; to bless Him in our afflictions the way to have them removed [Augustine]. A thankful and pious spirit the true philosophers stoneturns all things into gold. Faith gilds our crosses and sees a silver lining in the darkest cloud.Matter for praise under the most trying dispensations:
(1) The past enjoyment of undeserved mercies so long continued;
(2) The present enjoyment of some mercies however few;
(3) The possession of God Himself as in Christ our God and portion;
(4) The assurance that the heaviest trials work together for our good;
(5) The hope of a better and enduring inheritance reserved for us in heaven.The name of the Lord,the Lord Himself as revealed to us in the Word. Here Jehovah, the everliving faithful covenant God of His people. The name here thrice repeated. Perhaps not without a mystery, like Num. 7:24-27, compared with Mat. 28:19; 2Co. 13:14; 1Jn. 5:7. The name fondly dwelt upon by the afflicted patriarch. The name of the Lord the tried believers sweetest consolation and strongest support. A strong tower into which the righteous runs and is sale (Pro. 18:10.)
2. Negative side of victory. In all these trials Job kept from sinning (Job. 1:22.) Sinned not, as Satan desired and declared he would. Glorious triumph of grace to keep from sinning in such circumstances. Sinned not, either by impatience or passion. Reference to the case in hand. Grace given to keep us from sin, not absolutely, but relatively and comparatively. Sin more or less in all a believers actions, though all his actions not sinful. Scripture written that the believer sin not (1Jn. 2:1). Looking to Christ, Peter walked on the water; looking to the wind, he began to sink in it (Mat. 14:28-31). The flesh or old nature in a believer must sin; the spirit or new nature in him cannot. (1Jn. 3:9). A constant struggle between the spirit and the flesh (Gal. 5:17). A believers duty and privilege to walk in the spirit, and so be kept from fulfilling the desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). I feel and grieve, but by the grace of God I fret at nothing [John Wesley].Nor charged God foolishly.
(1) Imputed no folly, injustice, or impropriety to God;
(2) Vented no foolish and impious murmurs against Him. Ascribed nothing to God unworthy of His justice, goodness, and wisdom. Entertained no dishonourable thought, uttered no murmuring word against Him. Impiety the greatest folly. To murmur against Gods dealings is as foolish as it is wicked. To misconstrue Gods character and conduct, the great sin to be guarded against under heavy trials.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
5. Job maintains his integrity. (Job. 1:20-22)
TEXT 1:2022
(20) Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; (21) and he said, Naked came I oat of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. (22) In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
COMMENT 1:2022
Job. 1:20Job had received the agonizing news while seated. Then according to Near Eastern custom, he arose and rent his robe as a sign of grief (Gen. 37:29; 2Sa. 13:31). The robe (meil) was the mantle worn over the tunic by men of high social rank (1Sa. 15:27), or by the high priest (Exo. 28:31). Then follows the rite of mourning, i.e., shaving his head (Isa. 15:2; Isa. 22:12; Jer. 7:29; Amo. 8:10; Mic. 1:16). Now Job falls to the ground in reverential awe, not in despair (2Sa. 1:2; 2Ch. 20:18). Job has defeated Satan in the first series of catastrophes and now bows himself submissively to Yahwehs merciful grace.
Job. 1:21Job now reveals his complete resignation to his tragedy. Satans oath to God has thus far been completely broken. Gods faith in his servant Job has been vindicated. Jobs triumphant shout of victory blessed be the name of the Lord contains the tetragrammaton, i.e., the only name for God in the Old Testament. In the dialogue sections, Yahweh is avoided and El, Eloah, and Shaddai appear. Whereas the prologue and epilogue freely employ the name Yahweh. Jobs friends never use the name Yahweh. Though Job is not a Jew, he is always presented as a worshipper of Yahweh (Job. 1:1), and Job. 1:8 plainly declares that God accepts him as such. Job employs the name Yahweh in the prologue only in his expression of resignation Job. 1:21. Only once in the dialogue does the name Yahweh appear (Job. 12:9), and here it is uttered by Job. In the rubrics introducing the speeches of Yahweh and Jobs replies (Job. 38:1; Job. 40:3-4) the name Yahweh appears.
Job. 1:22In all these threatening circumstances, Job did not sin, either mentally or by some overt act like charging God with foolish (tiplahmakes perfectly good sense in spite of efforts to amend the word. The Hebrew term means reproach or blame) behavior. The entire universe is intrinsically interrelated. Systems, analysis, the ecological crisis, etc. suggest a staggering interdependence exemplified by both nature and all social systems. This should provide a fundamental insight into the cause, responsibility, and explanation of misfortune. Neither classical fatalism nor contemporary radical determinism, both genetic and environmental, can explain that evil as well as good is intentional. Dostoevsky asks the more penetrating questionWhy is there any good?, not why is there evil? in the world. Job has pronounced Yahwehs name three times, which otherwise he avoids. Now we turn to Satans more drastic measures. Will Job betray Yahweh?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(20) And worshipped.Compare the conduct of David (2Sa. 12:20) and of Hezekiah (2Ki. 19:1). Moments of intense sorrow or trial, like moments of intense joy, force us into the immediate presence of God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
THE TRIUMPH OF JOB, Job 1:20-22.
20. Then Job arose Thus far he has borne unmoved the successive shocks of adverse fate. But now nature triumphs. As the tidings of the last great grief break upon him he rises, and yielding to the more tender impulses of our common nature, resigns himself to sorrow, but not one moment to suspense of faith in God.
And rent his mantle There was no custom among the Orientals corresponding to that among ourselves, of putting on of mourning attire in token of heavy grief. They, on the contrary, instead of changing their outer dress, rent it in twain. This custom was common among the nations of antiquity. The , me’hil, mantle made of linen, in later times also of cotton, was an outer garment worn by priests, kings, and the very rich, and sometimes by the daughters of kings. That of the high priest was, according to Josephus, a long vestment of a blue colour woven in one piece, but with openings for the neck and arms. ( Antiquities, iii, chap. Job 7:4.) In the opinion of some, Christ, as high priest, wore a similar garment, for which the soldiers cast lots at the foot of the cross. (Joh 19:23.)
And shaved his head This was forbidden among the Jews to the priests. (Lev 21:5.) The people were prohibited (Deu 14:1, and Lev 19:27) from rounding the corners of their heads, etc., which had, perhaps, respect to some idolatrous custom among neighbouring nations. Herodotus (ii, 36) says of the Egyptians, who “wear no hair at any other time, that when they lose a relative they let their beards and the hair of their heads grow long. Elsewhere it is customary in mourning for near relatives to cut their hair close.” The custom among the Greeks, according to Plutarch, was similar to that of the Egyptians. The shaving of his head is decisive that Job could not have been an Egyptian. This deliberate and protracted act shows in a striking manner Job’s mastery over himself and his sorrow.
Fell down upon the ground, and worshipped (Compare 2Sa 12:20.) “That he might not show pride by his insensibility he fell down at the stroke; but that he might not estrange himself from Him who strikes, he so fell down as to worship.” ST. GREGORY, Moralia. “He arose,” says Origen, “and at length prostrated himself. He arose for battle; he prostrated himself for peace. He arose for the perfection of victory; he prostrated himself for the reception of the crown.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 451
TRIALS AND RESIGNATION OF JOB
Job 1:20-21. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
BEHOLD, the invisible world is here opened to our view. We here see an assembly of the sons of God, (whether of angels, or of glorified saints, is not certain,) and Satan himself intruding in among them, in the very presence of their God. We are informed also of a conversation passing between Jehovah and Satan in reference to Job; God commending him as the most eminent of the saints on earth; and Satan traducing his character, as a mercenary hypocrite, who would even curse his Maker to his face, if only he should be tempted to do so by a withdrawment of his temporal prosperity. We are told also that God permitted Satan to put the piety of Job to the test which he had proposed.
There would be no inconsistency in this, if we were to interpret it literally: but we apprehend that it is a kind of parabolic representation, like that of Micaiah, who saw in a vision a spirit coming into the presence of Jehovah, and proposing to go forth as a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahabs prophets, in order to persuade Ahab to go up to Ramoth-Gilead [Note: 1Ki 22:19-22.]. In this view it is intended to shew us the malignity of Satan, and the restraints imposed upon him by Almighty God, who will suffer him to proceed no further than shall ultimately lead to his own confusion.
In whichever way we take this account, whether literally or mystically, it appears that Satan was permitted to assault Job with the most grievous temptations, and that the piety of Job was victorious in the conflict. In considering this account of Job, we shall notice,
I.
His trials
These were beyond measure great
[Their number and variety; their rapid succession, without one moment allowed him for reflection and prayer; the extent of them, comprehending the loss not only of all his worldly property, but of all his children, and that too in a season of mirth, when he was peculiarly apprehensive that they might be least fit to die; and particularly the certainty of all these calamities, every one of them being reported by an eye-witness; all of these coming so suddenly, were sufficient to overwhelm any one, more especially when the hand of God himself appeared, not in the language of the reporters only, but in the events themselves, to have been thus awfully directed against him.]
In them we see,
1.
How great the power of Satan is
[How speedily he found instruments to execute his will! The minds of Sabeans and Chaldeans received in a moment the impulse which he chose to give them; and they performed exactly the service to which he destined them: the time, the manner, the measure of their actions were perfectly subject to his control, The elements also were alike obedient to his command, and performed precisely what he directed them to effect: the lightnings flashed, the winds blew, and, by their ready compliance with his will, proclaimed him to be indeed the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that worketh in all the children of disobedience. True it is, he could not have done these things if God had not permitted him: but from what he did we may easily see what he both could and would do, if all restraint were withdrawn from him; and what he will do in the eternal world to those who shall be delivered into his hands.]
2.
How uncertain is all worldly good
[When Job arose in the morning, he was the richest man in all the east; and before night he was bereft of all that he possessed. And such changes are by no means unfrequent in the world. Not to mention the restless desires of a gamester, the unfortunate speculations of a merchant, or the misplaced confidence of a surety, (all of which are fruitful sources of misery and ruin,) let us contemplate those other sources of calamity which are more out of the reach of human prudence, such as earthquakes, inundations, shipwrecks, invasions, conflagrations; alas! alas! how many thousands are from time to time reduced by these from a state of ease and opulence to the most abject and destitute condition! Verily there can be no one so ignorant as not to know, as well from observation as report, that riches make themselves wings, and fly away.]
3.
That the most eminent saints are not exempt from even the heaviest calamities
[If ever any man could venture to say, I shall die in my nest [Note: Job 29:18.], it was Job; because, whilst he possessed more wealth than others, he had a mind more under the influence of piety, and consequently more free from those snares and temptations to which others are exposed. Yet, though there was no one like him upon earth in respect of piety, there never was a man so oppressed as he by overwhelming calamities. Let no man then ever venture to say, My mountain standeth fast; I shall not be moved: for all things come alike to all. Of the righteous in particular the afflictions are many: as in the case of Job, God often sends troubles to try and prove the sincerity of their faith, to strengthen their graces, to purify their hearts, to display before the world the efficacy of his grace, and to fit his people for a better world. If God have given faith to any, they may expect that it shall be tried, in order that it may be to the praise and honour and glory of their God at the appearing of Jesus Christ [Note: 1Pe 1:7.].]
But in the midst of all his trials we behold, and admire,
II.
His resignation
He felt, and deeply too, the heavy load of his afflictions; and hence he rent his mantle, and shaved his head, as customary expressions of deep anguish of mind [Note: Gen 37:29; Gen 37:34. with Job 2:12 and Isa 22:12. with Mic 1:16.]. But still he was composed and tranquil, not charging God foolishly, or uttering any thing hasty or unadvised. Let us notice,
1.
The considerations with which he quieted his mind
[These were two; namely, that what he had lost, was not properly his own; and, that he had taken it, whose property it was. He felt himself now only reduced to the state in which he was when he came into the world, and in which he must at all events soon be, when he should be called to go out of the world again. Why then should he repine and murmur at being stripped of all, when he was so lately, and must so soon again be, altogether naked, without any thing that he could properly call his own? So just and important is this idea, that St. Paul has actually quoted the very words of Job, to shew that godliness with contentment is the only desirable gain [Note: 1Ti 6:7-9.].
Moreover, the use and enjoyment of those things had been given him by God alone: whether they came by inheritance, or had been the fruits of his own industry, God was equally the giver of them [Note: Jam 1:17.]: and, whether men or devils or elements had deprived him of them, they were no other than as instruments in the hand of God, who had accomplished by them his own sovereign will [Note: Isa 45:7. Amo 3:6.]. How then could he presume to reply against God? No: he would be dumb, and not open his mouth, because the Lord had done it.
What astonishing grace was here, that could suggest at a moment such thoughts as these, and give them such an efficacy to compose and tranquillize his soul!
But let us notice more particularly,]
2.
The manner in which he expressed his resignation
[He fell on the ground and worshipped his God with the profoundest humility. O what submission of heart was here! How meekly did he receive at the Lords hands the strokes of his chastening rod! But he went further still, and blessed the name of the Lord, yea, blessed him for that very dispensation which Satan expected to have called forth only the language of cursing and blasphemy. Job was convinced in his judgment that the Judge of all the earth could not but do right; and that however clouds and darkness might be round about him, yet judgment and justice were the basis of his throne. He knew that whether he could see the reason of Gods dealings now, or not, he should see reason to adore him for them in the eternal world; and therefore he would bless and adore him for them here. Thus did he adopt exactly the line of conduct which God approves; neither despising the chastening of the Lord, on the one hand, nor fainting under his rebukes, on the other hand [Note: Heb 12:5.]. He walked by faith, and not by sight, and excelled all the saints, whether of that or any other age. David was not the least eminent of men; yet when the Amalekites had invaded Ziklag, and taken away his wives and property, he wept till he had no more power to weep [Note: 1Sa 30:3-4.]: and when he lost his rebellious son Absalom, he so fainted under the loss as to be altogether forgetful of all his mercies, and of all his duties [Note: 2Sa 19:4-6.]. But Job lost not for a moment his self-possession: his principles operated instantly to the full extent that the occasion required: Shall we receive good at the hands of God, says he, and shall we not receive evil [Note: Job 2:10.]? Any other conduct appeared to him to be highly unreasonable: and hence he is proposed by God himself as a pattern for our imitation to the end of time [Note: Jam 5:11.].]
From contemplating this exalted character, let us learn,
1.
To sit loose to earthly things
[We deny not but that a competency in earthly things is a blessing for which we have great reason to be thankful: but when we see how uncertain the possession of them is, and, above all, how happy we may be in God without them, we have no occasion to covet them, or to set our hearts upon them. St. Paul, when he had nothing, yet possessed all things [Note: 2Co 6:10.], because he had God for his God and portion. Let us in like manner learn in every state to be content, whether we be full or hungry, whether we abound or suffer need [Note: Php 4:11-12.]. Let us, if we have a wife, be as though we had none; if we weep, be as if we wept not; if we rejoice, be as if we rejoiced not; if we buy, be as though we possessed not; and altogether use this world as not abusing it, because the fashion of it so quickly passes away [Note: 1Co 7:29-31.].]
2.
To stand prepared for trials
[Truly we know not what a day or an hour may bring forth; what losses we may have in our property, or in our dearest friends and relatives; or what calamities may come upon us. We are sure that Satan, that roaring lion, is going to and fro throughout the earth, seeking whom he may devour: and, if he have obtained permission to exercise his power against us, how soon may he bring us down to the ground, and even sift us as wheat! Who amongst us can have any idea what storms he may be preparing for us, or what instruments he may be stirring up against us? Knowing then his malignity and his power, let us stand upon our guard against him; let us arm ourselves with the mind that was in Christ Jesus [Note: 1Pe 4:1.]; and let us so endeavour to realize our principles, that we never give way to discontent or impatience, but bless in every thing the name of our God.]
3.
To seek the things which neither men nor devils can take away from us
[Spiritual blessings are out of the reach of all our enemies: Our life is hid with Christ in God; and not all the powers of darkness combined can destroy it. Moth and rust may corrupt our earthly treasures, or thieves may break through and steal them: but if we lay up treasure in heaven, it will be inaccessible to them all. That is substance [Note: Pro 8:21.], whilst all else is vanity and vexation of spirit. Let us then labour for the meat that endureth to everlasting life; and choose the good part, that never can be taken away from us.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
(20) Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, (21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job’s renting his mantle and shaving his head, were becoming signs that he was humbled, under the reverse of circumstances come upon him. And his worshipping God upon the ground, a like token that he viewed the Lord’s hand in the affliction. Nature gives vent to the bursting within, with those signs of real grief. No doubt the agony of his soul was beheld in his looks. And indeed had he not felt, it would have argued a hard insensible heart. Jesus himself grieved at the tomb of Lazarus. Joh 11:35 . But while nature wept, grace triumphed. What, but grace indeed, could have induced the sentiment, which Job here uttered? Whether God gave blessings, or recalled them when he had given them, still his love was the same, and Job could and did bless him. Reader! look within. Have your lesser trials this blessed effect? Do you eye Jesus in all? Do you justify him in all? Do you approve of him in all? Do you cleave to him in all? Oh! how sweet is it, to have Job’s grace under Job’s exercises; and when the providences of the Lord frown, still to rest upon the love that is in the Lord’s heart. Though he slay me (said Job), yet will I trust in him. Job 13:15 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Ver. 20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle ] He stirred not at the three first doleful tidings, but this fourth startleth him; for he was neither a Stoic nor a stock. His strength was not the strength of stones, nor his flesh of brass, Job 6:12 , that he should bear blows, and never feel pain, or make moan; that he should be silent in darkness, 1Sa 2:9 , and not cry when God bound him, Job 36:11 . This Stoical apathy or indolency (condemning all affections in that their wise man, who, as Cicero very well saith, as yet was never found) Jeremiah justly complaineth of, Jer 5:3 , and the Peripatetics utterly disliked; teaching, that wisdom doth not remove affections, but only reduce them to a mediocrity. Job kept the mean between despising the chastening of the Lord, and fainting when rebuked by him, Heb 12:5 . See my Love Tokens, pp. 37, 38, &c.
And shaved his head
And fell down upon the ground
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
shaved his head. Symbolic of mourning (Lev 21:5. Jer 7:29; Jer 16:6. Mic 1:16).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 1:20-22
Job 1:20-22
THE WAY THAT A RIGHTEOUS MAN DEALS WITH DISASTER
“Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
“Naked shall I return thither” (Job 1:21). Job did not mean that he would return to his mother’s womb, but that he would return to “mother earth.” This analogy is expressed in Psa 139:15, making it quite clear that man has two mothers, his fleshly mother, and the earth itself.
Here is revealed the manner in which a righteous person should accept disaster. He accepted it as coming from the hand of God. Everything that occurs on earth or in heaven may happen only with God’s permission.
He worshipped God. Whatever misfortunes, disasters or calamities may overwhelm us, prostrating us with grief and tears, the right answer is always and forever, “Worship God.”
He did not blame God, nor charge him foolishly. One of the saddest things ever witnessed by this minister of the gospel in some sixty-six years of preaching is the reaction, now and then, on the part of some bereaved or distressed Christian that resulted in the very sins Job here avoided. In my memory, there still stands the angry and belligerent couple who, having lost a beloved child in death, loudly condemned God for allowing it, vowing never to worship him again!
“The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away! Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). How priceless are these ringing words of faith! Christians of all ages have stood by the cold bodies of their beloved dead and repeated through falling tears these holy words. What a victory over his malicious enemy, Satan, did Job register in these words of sorrowful resignation! There are indeed righteous and holy men who love God and who serve him honorably and faithfully, regardless of their earthly circumstances, even in poverty, distress and bereavement. Such persons find the moral strength to do this because, like Job, they know that, “My Redeemer liveth,” … and that the God of all grace will, in the resurrection, reward the faithful with eternal life and glory.
The primary focus of the true Christian is not upon this world, but upon that which is to come. “If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable” (1Co 15:19).
E.M. Zerr:
Job 1:20. But Satan was doomed to disappointment on this occasion. Job arose and rent his mantle. That was an established custom in olden times when one was in great distress or anxiety. It thus did not indicate any spirit of resentment. Instead, if Job does the right thing even after having torn his garment, it will prove his self-control more certainly than if he had made no demonstration. In other words, a calm and respectful behaviour after such a customary demonstration would mean more than if he had not first put on the demonstration. We are therefore eager to see how he conducts himself afterwards. The record states that he fell down upon the ground and worshipped. What a masterful exhibition of self-control mingled with profound respect for God!
Job 1:21. Even Nicodemus knew that a man could not return to his mother’s womb (Joh 3:4), and Job did not mean it that way. The thought really is in the word naked, and means that, as “we brought nothing into this world, it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1Ti 6:7). This truth agrees with the fact that what we have was given us by the Lord. And if the Lord gave us all that we have, it would certainly be all right for him to take it back whenever he saw fit. Job was completely resigned to that consideration and praised the Lord that he had permitted him to have these blessings for even a part of his life.
Job 1:22. Job would have had no way to prevent, the loss of his posessions had he been so minded, and thus the sin of which he could have been guilty was that with his lips. Had he accused God of acting foolishly it would have been a sin. The same principle holds true today. We are warned not to criticize the wisdom of God. (Rom 9:20.)
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
rent: Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34, Ezr 9:3
mantle: or robe
fell: Deu 9:18, 2Sa 12:16-20, 2Ch 7:3, Mat 26:39, 1Pe 5:6
Reciprocal: Gen 17:17 – fell Exo 33:4 – and no Lev 10:3 – Aaron Lev 13:45 – his clothes Lev 21:10 – uncover Num 14:6 – rent their clothes Jos 7:6 – rent Jdg 11:35 – rent his clothes 2Sa 12:20 – arose 2Sa 13:31 – arose 2Sa 15:26 – let 2Sa 15:32 – he worshipped 2Ki 2:12 – rent them 2Ki 18:37 – with their clothes rent 2Ki 19:1 – he rent 2Ch 20:18 – fell before Est 4:1 – rent Job 2:12 – they rent Pro 18:14 – spirit Isa 15:2 – all Isa 20:2 – naked Isa 22:12 – to baldness Isa 37:1 – and went Jer 7:29 – Cut Joe 2:13 – your garments Mic 1:16 – bald Rev 4:10 – fall
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 1:20. Then Job arose From his seat whereon he had been sitting in a disconsolate posture; and rent his mantle In token of his deep sense of, and just sorrow for, the heavy hand of God upon him, and his humiliation of himself under that hand: see Gen 37:34; and shaved his head Caused the hair of his head to be shaved or cut off, which was then a usual ceremony in mourning: of which see Ezr 9:3; Isa 15:2; Isa 22:12; Jer 7:29; Jer 41:5; Mic 1:16. And fell down upon the ground In self-abasement, contrition, and supplication unto God; and worshipped Instead of cursing God, which Satan said he would do, he adored him, and gave him the glory of his sovereignty, of his justice, and of his goodness also, in this most severe dispensation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 1:20-22. In the preceding section the narrative surged forward, depicting the unbridled rage of the Satan. Here on the contrary we have a beautiful picture of complete rest and resignation, and are taught how a truly pious man bears trials. Job rises: as a man of rank he had received the messengers sitting. He rends his mantle and shaves his head, making himself like a beggar or a slave in token of his humiliation. Then he abases himself to the ground in silent prayer, acknowledging his submission to the decree of God.
Jobs words (Job 1:21) are not to God, but to man. This sentence and the related Job 2:10 may well be described as the creed of all Oriental piety (Duhm). Observe, however, that in the poem the attitude of resignation is not that of Job, but of the friends, especially Eliphaz (Job 5:8, Job 22:21). Note also that Job does exactly the opposite of what the Satan expectedhe does not curse, but blesses God. The lesson of this chapter is that, as suffering is not always the result of sin, so in the case of a pious man it is not even a temptation to sin.
Job 1:22. The exact meaning of the second clause is uncertainperhaps we should follow Syr, and translate offered God no irreverence.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
1:20 Then Job arose, and {a} rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
(a) Which came not from impatience, but declares that the children of God are not insensible like blocks, but that in their patience they feel affliction and grief of mind: yet they do not rebel against God as the wicked do.