《Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary - Job》(Robert Hawker)
Commentator
Robert Hawker (1753-1827) was a Devonian vicar of the Anglican Church and the most prominent of the vicars of Charles Church, Plymouth, Devon. His grandson was Cornish poet Robert Stephen Hawker.
Hawker, deemed "Star of the West" for his superlative preaching that drew thousands to Charles to hear him speak for over an hour at a time, was known as a bold evangelical, caring father, active in education and compassionate for the poor and needy of the parish, a scholar and author of many books and deeply beloved of his parishioners.
He was a man of great frame, burly, strong and with blue eyes that sparkled and a fresh complexion. His humour was deep and razor sharp and his wit popular although he had a solemn exterior and in conversation would resort to silence while contemplating a difficult retort. He played the violin well and was an excellent scholar. Almost as soon as he arrived as curate he started writing and poured out over the year a long list of books, volumes of sermons, a theological treatise, a popular commentary, a guide to communion and also books of lessons in reading and writing for the schools. For a work of his on the divinity of Christ (combating the rise of Unitarianism) the University of Edinburgh conferred upon him a degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1792. He also produced the "Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions" that were used long after his death.
00 Introduction
THE BOOK OF JOB
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
IN my entrance upon every part of the Sacred Writings, I desire to keep constantly in view, the same solemn charge from the Lord as he delivered to Moses from the bush; and to take off the shoe, in token of profound humiliation, as one conscious that the place where I tread is holy ground. Lord! grant me every suited grace at all the steps I take, that my feet may not slide.
In opening this book of God, the Reader will, no doubt, be led to remark with me, how very different the stile of writing is, from any of the former scriptures we have hitherto noticed in this Commentary. It forms, indeed, a beautiful manner of conveying divine truths in the variety which the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to make use of upon this occasion; serves to manifest the riches of his grace in this particular, that while the methods are various for carrying on his gracious design, all result from one and the same Spirit, who divideth to every man severally as he will.
Respecting the writer of the book of Job, various have been the opinions of studious men on this point. Some have ascribed it to Job himself: others have pronounced Moses to have been the writer of it. Some have thought that it was Elihu; and a few others have fancied it was Isaiah. But I should think the thing impossible, respecting the latter. The antiquity of the book of Job is unquestionable; for the very latest period could not bring it further down than to about 1540 years before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; and certain it is, that Isaiah lived not at a greater distance from that era than 750 years. But I do not think it necessary to detain the Reader in this place with any further observations respecting the writer of the book of Job, or the period in which it was written. In the very opening of this commentary, I have (according to the best of my ability) stated the order in which the several books of the Bible, as appears to me, should be placed; to which therefore I refer.
I think it, however, more important to ascertain the reality of Job's character; as some have ventured to raise questions on this point, and have supposed that no such a person as Job ever lived. But that Job was a real person, and the writings which bear his name inspired, I venture to conclude, are both undeniably proved from other parts of the Bible. The apostle Paul makes a quotation from this book, and doth it in the same manner as is usually done, whenever one sacred writer borrows from another. It is written, saith the apostle; meaning in the word of God: see 1 Corinthians 3:19. And as to the existence of Job, the apostle James, refers to him as an illustrious example of patience, which would have been absurd, upon the presumption that Job never had existed. James 5:11. Nay, God himself, by his servant the prophet Ezekiel, classes Job with two others of his faithful servants, which puts us beyond all doubt of the reality of his person. Ezekiel 14:14, etc.
The great object intended by the Holy Ghost from this book in the church of God, as far as our discoveries have hitherto led, is, to manifest the sovereign grace and love of a faithful God to his exercised people, notwithstanding all the outward circumstances with which they are surrounded; and at the same time, to demonstrate, in the conduct of his afflicted ones, to what an extent of patience, and even joy, in trial, his grace can lead them. But, beside these general blessings, intended to be held forth to the church, there is a yet far more important purpose, to which the book of Job, and the character of Job, was intended to minister. I mean, in the beautiful representation he makes, as a type of the ever-blessed and adored Redeemer of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. In the sufferings of Job, and his patience under them, as far as grace enabled him to be victorious in his sorrows, the representation of Jesus may be considered. And, after his recovery, when the Lord appointed Job as an advocate for his friends, we may behold some sweet resemblance to our Lord's exaltation at the right hand of power, and becoming the glorious Intercessor for his people. Here it is, therefore, I would pre-engage the Reader's more awakened attention, when prosecuting the perusal of the book of Obadiah For, supposing (what I venture to believe was the case) that the Holy Ghost, in his blessed office of glorifying Jesus, was pleased, at so early an age of the church, to sketch some outlines of the Redeemer in a typical representation; surely it is our interest, and our duty, to be on the lookout for the sweet traces, that while our eyes behold, our hearts may be warmed in the gratifying discovery.
I think it only necessary to detain the Reader one moment further, to remind both myself and him, of the necessity of prayer, with suitable watching at the mercy-seat, that the minds of both may be under the divine teaching, that the further we enter into the study of these treasures of heavenly truth, our souls may be made more made more heavenly-minded from their blessed influence; and from breathing an atmosphere above the perishing things around us here below, we may, like the apostle, manifest the gracious effects these divine things, which are above, leave upon us, in having our conversation more in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
01 Chapter 1
Verse 1
CONTENTS
The Book opens with an account of Job, his piety, riches, integrity, and religious care of his children. Next follows, an account of Satan's malice against Job, and his permission to tempt him. The Chapter closes with the melancholy relation of the death of his children, and the calmness of mind Job manifested under these afflictions.
Job 1:1
(1) ¶ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
The name of Job carries with it somewhat of signification, for, according to some writers, it is derived from an Hebrew root, implying love. And, no doubt, the character of Job made him eminently so. If the Reader be not much acquainted with the scripture relation of places, it may not be amiss to tell him, that Uz was situated to the East of Chaldea; and though it probably was not the same with Ur of the Chaldees, from whence Abram was called, yet it could not be far from it. So that, in the very opening of the book of Job, a sweet thought ariseth, both from his name, and the place of his birth; namely, in the gift of the Gentile church to the Lord Jesus by the Father, from the earliest ages souls were to be gathered from the heathen world, to form a numerous train in the throng of the redeemed. Psalms 2:8; Isaiah 49:6. By the expression of perfect and upright, is not meant sinless perfection, but a general sincerity of conduct.
Verse 2-3
(2) And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. (3) His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
Here follows an account of the blessings of the Lord upon Job: so that what with his children, substance, and servants, Job classed very high indeed. The introduction of this man's history in this matter is beautifully chosen, in order to prepare the mind for the several most interesting pages in his life, which are to follow.
Verse 4
(4) ¶ And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Though I am very ready to allow, that in those feasts of Job's children, there are certain amiable qualities worth remarking; such as the love which, as brethren, they lived in together, their affection for their sisters also, and their societies in their own houses, far preferable to public-houses, and the taverns of modern times, wherein the carnal indulge too often their lusts and pleasures; yet Job's children would have been more like their father, had they feasted less, and given more. Oh! thou heavenly Samaritan! what a feast would that be, if followed up by our great ones; and what a very different world would it make the present, from what it now is, if, when they made a feast, they called in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. The imagination is not competent to form the full blessedness of such a mind, who would thus spread the Lord's bounties for the Lord's poor; and while the table was surrounded with such guests, and the hungry bellies of the perishing supplied, the generous lord of the feast seasoned his entertainment for the body, with sweet and gracious discourse for the soul. Such was thy feast, dearest Jesus! and I hope there are still some of thine, following thy example. Luke 14:13. and Luke 15:2.
Verse 5
(5) And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
How truly amiable doth Job appear in this short, but most interesting account of him. Observe the piety manifested towards God in this religious act. And observe the tenderness of affection manifested towards his children. Parents cannot command grace for their children: but gracious parents will pray for ungracious children. And observe that this was a daily act of Job's. He presented them thus continually before the Lord. And observe, moreover, that the burnt offerings he presented for them had an eye to everyone of them, according to the number of them all. Oh! ye parents of ungodly children, how are ye here taught to make personal and particular supplication before the mercy-seat daily, hourly, that each child may have a separate remembrance at the throne; that, like another Hannah, at a future day, when a gracious God hath heard and answered prayer, ye might be able to say, it was for this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition. 1 Samuel 1:27. But, Reader, when you have paid due attention to this lovely part of Job's character, as the pious man and the tender father, I pray you to look at him in a still more exalted view, as a true believer in Christ Jesus. For, surely, Job's sacrifices were all with an eye to Jesus. Nay, doth not the Holy Ghost intend to represent Job himself as a type of the ever blessed Jesus, who thus acted as a Priest in his family, and presented them all with sacrifice? Oh! how blessed it is thus to trace thee, thou glorious great High Priest, typified and shadowed forth in those early ages of the world.
Verse 6
(6) ¶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
I cannot detain the Reader of this humble Commentary with a large and circumstantial account of what the scripture relates concerning the great enemy of souls, neither of the work and agency of the devil, as there set forth in his devices for the destruction of men. I take for granted that my Reader is too well established by grace, in the perfect conviction both of the reality of his person, and of the malice of his designs, to need any observation on these points. That he hath, from the first seduction of Adam in the garden to the present hour, had access to the hearts of men, is a truth too sad to be thought on, but with sorrow; and too true, but to be lamented with tears. It is his devilish work and delight to seduce sinners to their ruin. He filled the heart of Judas to betray Christ, and of Ananias to lie unto the Holy Ghost; and to lead poor sinners captive at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26; Acts 5:3. No doubt as he is a vanquished foe, all that he is permitted to exercise upon the minds of God's people, as the case of Job, is only to afford thereby a larger opportunity for the manifestation of God's sovereign grace, Jesus's victory, and his peoples happiness.
Verses 7-12
(7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? (10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. (12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.