An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Hence Note, God will make men see how unable they are to deal with him, when 'tis best with them, or when they are at the best, even when their loins are girt.

Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity: How vain then is man at his worst! Job was low and in a bad condition, as to his outward man especially, when God dealt with him, and how did he carry it, in the day when God dealt with him? Did his heart endure, or were his hands strong (as the Prophet spake to those, Ezek. 22.14.) Did he carry it like a man? In one sense not, but like a child, he had not a word to speak; Once have I spoken, but I will speak no more; yet it must be confessed, he never carried it so like a godly man, as when, like a child, he had a word to speak. God will make man see what a nothing he is in his best condition, when girt and prepared, when armed (Cap-a-pe) all over, for any service for God; even then, man is a vain thing without the present assistance of God; what is he then when he is to contend or plead with God! If the whole world should lay their forces, or, as we say, compare notes together, what could they do in dispute with God? They that think they touch the clouds with their heads, would moulder as dust at his feet.

That such was the contention to which the Lord here calls Job, and bids him gird up his loins, or be in a readiness for, appears plainly in the next words.