Fourthly, He may be said to have multiplied words without knowledge, because he had spoken so much in the aggravation of his afflictions: 'Tis true, his afflictions were very great; yet Elihu censures him deservedly, because he took too much notice of them, complaining often and often, how heavy the hand of God was upon him, yea that God was an enemy to him; whereas he should rather have looked upon the visitation of God, as light and easy,1 or (at least) as but little comparatively, to what the Lord was able to lay upon him, or what his sin might justify God in laying upon him. Elihu having observed Job often and long striking upon that string, heightening his sufferings and troubles, had reason enough not only to call him off from it, but to check him for it. And therefore let us remember and be admonished, that in all our afflictions we should not so much set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of the mercy of God; we should look upon little mercies as great, (it shows an excellent spirit, when we heighten and greaten the mercy and goodness of God, even in little things) but we should speak of, and look upon our greatest chastenings and afflictions as light, and little. Job failed somewhat in all these things, and in some of them his failings were great; and upon some of, if not upon all these grounds, I judge Elihu gave this judgement upon Job; He openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words without knowledge.
Fourthly, He may be said to have multiplied words without knowledge, because he had spoken so much in the aggravation of his afflictions: 'Tis true, his afflictions were very great; yet Elihu censures him deservedly, because he took too much notice of them, complaining often and often, how heavy the hand of God was upon him, yea that God was an enemy to him; whereas he should rather have lookt upon the visitation of God, as light and easie,1 or (at least) as but little comparatively, to what the Lord was able to lay upon him, or what his sin might justifie God in laying upon him. Elihu having observed Job often and long striking upon that string, hightning his sufferings and troubles, had reason enough not only to call him off from it, but to check him for it. And therefore let us remember and be admonished, that in all our afflictions we should not so much set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of the mercy of God; we should look upon little mercies as great, (it shews an excellent spirit, when we heighten and greaten the mercy and goodness of God, even in little things) but we should speak of, and look upon our greatest chastenings and afflictions as light, and little. Job fayled somewhat in all these things, and in some of them his faylings were great; and upon some of, if not upon all these grounds, I judge Elihu gave this judgement upon Job; He openeth his mouth in vaine, and multiplieth words without knowledge.
- 1Inscritam objicit quod pugnantia, saliem non satis inter se cohaerentia conjunaeit. Merl:
