An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

In these two verses Elihu proceedeth to show what the issue of those afflictions will be, in a double respect or case.

In these two verses Elihu proceedeth to shew what the issue of those afflictions will be, in a double respect or case.

First, In case the afflicted come up to and answer the forementioned designs of God; that is, if they take knowledge of their sin, if their ears be opened to Instruction, if they return from iniquity; what then? he tells us (v. 11.) If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures; that shall be the issue, the blessed issue of all the afflictions with which they were exercised.

First, In case the afflicted come up to and answer the forementioned designes of God; that is, if they take knowledge of their sin, if their ears be opened to Instruction, if they return from iniquity; what then? he tells us (v. 11.) If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their dayes in prosperity, and their years in pleasures; that shall be the issue, the blessed issue of all the afflictions with which they were exercised.

Secondly, He shows us how those afflictions will issue in case the afflicted come not up to those designs of God, in case they are not brought to a knowledge of sin, nor receive instruction, nor return from iniquity; what then? he tells us that (v. 12.) if they obey not (this will be the consequent of their obstinacy) they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. We have a parallel Scripture to this almost in terms, (Isa. 19.20.) If ye hear and obey, ye shall eat the good of the Land, but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword. This text not only carries the sense, but almost the words, by which Elihu expresseth both the Lords pleasure and displeasure in this place to Job.