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Job 12:7-12

The Pulpit Commentary on Job 12:7-12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The wisdom and tile power of God a truth universally known.

It is not the peculiar possession of those fancied wise friends. It is a truth impressed on all nature and on the experience of man.

I. APPEAL TO THE LIVING CREATURES. (.) The beasts, the birds of the air, the earth with all its living growths, the creatures of the sea,—all bear traces of his skill, all receive from him their life and sustenance, all are subject to his omnipresent power (comp. ).

II. APPEAL TO THE EXPERIENCE OF AGE. As the palate tries and discriminates between the different dishes on the table, so does the ear try the various opinions to which it listens, and selects the best, the ripest, as its guide (). Long life means large experience, and largo experience gives the criterion of truth and the guide of life. Yet experience is but the book of common experiences. It fails us when we have to deal with the peculiar and the exceptional, which is the present situation of Job (verse 12).

III. ELOQUENT DESCRIPTION OF THE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD. (Verses 13-25.) Here Job rivals and surpasses his friends. With repeated blows, as of the hammer on the anvil, he impresses the truth that the might and intelligence of the Supreme are irresistible, and before him all human craft and power must be reduced to impotence. The power and the wisdom of God alternately occupy his thought, appear and reappear in a variety of images.—J.

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Images of the irresistible power of God.

I. THE WALL, OR HOUSE, OR CITY THUS DEMOLISHED CANNOT BE BUILT UP AGAIN. (.) Swept with the besom of destruction, it becomes the possession of the bittern and pools of water (). The ruined walls of Babylon and her charred gates defy the weary toil of the people (); she sinks, and shall not rise from the evil that Jehovah will bring upon her (). Men may build, but he will throw down ().

II. THE PRISON-DOORS WHICH HE SHUTS NO MAN CAN OPEN. (.) He hath the key of David (; ). Vain all human bravery when the Lord hath determined to "deliver a man into the hand of his enemy" (). Yet there is a merciful aspect of this seeming harsh truth, as pointed out by St. Paul: "He hath shut them all up in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all" ().

III. THE DRYING UP AND SENDING OF FLOODS. (.) As illustrated in the ancient story of . and 8; and of the drought in Elijah's time (.). He shuts the heaven (), arid he alone can give showers ().

IV. THE SUBJUGATION OF EARTHLY KINGS. (.) As illustrated in the carrying of Manasseh captive to Babylon (.), and of Zedekiah (.). The thought is repeated in verse 21, and further illustrations may be drawn from the cases of Pharaoh, of Saul, of Ahab.

V. THE DEPRIVATION OF SPEECH AND WISDOM. (Verse 20.) Men's sagacity is turned to folly; their prudence is vain when it pleases him to put forth his power (comp. ). So in verse 24, where we are reminded of the striking judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar (.).

VI. THE INCREASE AND DESTRUCTION OF NATIONS. (Verse 23.) The rise and fall of empires and peoples is determined by constant laws. Obedience to law means increase and prosperity; violation of law, decay and ruin.

VII. CONFUSION AND BEWILDERMENT are evidences of the practical power of God (verses 24, 25). Chaos, wandering, darkness, helpless vacillation, fall upon men and nations from time to time, because they have been unfaithful to the true light and the Divine leading.—J.

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Instances of the overruling wisdom of God.

I. THE DECEIVER AND THE DECEIVED ARE HIS. (.) He can cause the spirit of the faithless prophet to be a lying spirit (.), to be deceived in his oracles, and incur destruction ().

II. So THE JUDGES ARE MADE FOOLS. (.) In short, God hath made from time to time the wisdom of this world foolishness (.), that no flesh might glory in his presence.

III. HE BRINGS NEW DISCOVERIES OF TRUTH TO LIGHT. (.) This is the revelation of God in history, and its page is full of illustrations. The calling of Abraham; the raising up of Moses; the deliverance of Israel; the elevation of David, the "rod out of his stem'" the lowly Messiah; the progress of the gospel and triumph over the wisdom of Greece and pride of Rome; the beginnings of the Reformation,—are but a few of the salient points in this providential history of the world.

The whole description is fitted to teach:

HOMILIES BY R. GREEN

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