Job 7:3-5 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.… I. USELESS DAYS AND WEARISOME NIGHTS MAY BE THE PORTION OF THE BEST OF MEN. To those who, like Job, are righteous and upright in the sight of God, and have been, like him, healthy, vigorous, and useful, "months of vanity" are months void of health, activity, and usefulness. But this to an aged Christian is not so grievous as that there are months of vanity in which he is capable of doing little for the glory of God and the good of his fellow creatures. An ancient writer calls old age "a middle state between health and sickness." II. MONTHS OF VANITY AND WEARISOME NIGHTS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE APPOINTMENT OF GOD AND TO BE IMPROVED ACCORDINGLY. God intends hereby — 1. To restrain an earthly spirit, and bring His people to serious consideration and piety. In order to restrain the inordinate love of the world, God is pleased to visit men with pain and sickness. He gives them time to think and consider. 2. To exercise and strengthen their graces, especially their humility, patience, meekness, and contentment. It is very difficult habitually to practise these virtues, especially if we have long enjoyed health and ease. But when God toucheth our bone and our flesh, He calls us to and disposeth us for the exercise of them. 3. To promote the good and advantage of others. It is the observation of a lively writer "that God makes one-half of the human species a moral lesson to the other half." Thus He set forth Job as an example of enduring affliction and of patience. 4. To confirm their hopes and excite their desires of a blessed immortality. They tend to confirm their hopes of it. Reflections — (1) They whose days are useful, and their nights comfortable, have great reason to be continually thankful. (2) Learn to expect and prepare for the days of affliction. (3) Let me exhort and comfort those who are afflicted as Job was. (Job Orton.) Parallel Verses KJV: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.WEB: so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me. |
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