Job 34:28

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him,.... To God; through their oppressions of the poor they are made to cry by reason of them, and who come to God with their cries, and tears, and

Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: The grounds of their punishment in Job 34:26; Job 34:28 states in what respect they "considered not God's ways" - namely, by

So that they cause, Heb. to bring, &c., which is ambiguous, and may be read, either, 1. That he, i.e. God, might bring, &c. So this is a reason why God smote them, &c., as is said, . Or, 2. That they, i.e. those wicked men, might bring, &c.; and so these words contain either, 1. A reason of what was last mentioned, to wit, why they would not consider nor walk in God’ s ways, because they were resolved to oppress the poor, and give them cause to cry unto God; which they neither could nor would have done, if they had thoroughly understood and considered God’ s ways. Or, 2. An evidence or instance of it, wherein it did appear that they had turned back from God, &c. Unto him, i.e. unto God, as the following words imply, it being God’ s work to hear the cry and plead the cause of the afflicted or oppressed. Others, upon him, or upon them, or upon each of them, to wit, of the oppressors; upon whom the cry of the oppressed is said to come, because the vengeance of God is by that cry brought down upon them. He heareth the cry of the afflicted; he delivereth the oppressed by taking the oppressor away.

Job 34:28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.Ver. 28. So that they cause the cry of the poor, &c.] These they compel, by their oppressions, to wash the earth with their tears, and to importune heaven with their complaints, as Senault phraseth it. The wicked do, as it were, bring up to God the cries of the poor oppressed, and so pull upon themselves inevitable destruction, for he is the poor man’ s patron, and heareth the cry of the afflicted. The Grand Signior would have the world take notice, that such as lament unto him shall be sure to have redress and succour from him. Wherefore also he calleth himself, Awlem Penawh, The world’ s refuge, a title far more fit for the God of heaven than for any earthly monarch, were he far more gracious than the Great Turk, from whose courtesy, freely offered him, Luther blessed himself with a Deus me tueatur a tali benefice Domino, God defend me from such a gracious Lord (Joh. Maul. loc. com.).

Verse 28. So that they cause the cry of the poor] They were cruel and oppressive: the poor cried through their distresses, and against their oppressors; and God heard the cry of the poor. Nothing so dreadful appears in the court of heaven against an unfeeling, hardhearted, and cruel man of power, as the prayers, tears, and groans of the poor. In times of little liberality, when some men thought they did God service by persecuting those who did not exactly receive their creed, nor worship God in their way, a certain great man in Scotland grievously persecuted his tenants, because they had religious meetings in private houses out of the order of the establishment; though he never molested them when they spent their time and their money in the alehouse. A holy, simple woman, one of those people, went one morning to the house of the great persecutor, and desired to speak with him. The servant desired to know her message, and he would deliver it; for she could not be admitted. She told him she could deliver her message to none but his master; said it was a matter of great importance, and concerned himself intimately, and alone. The servant having delivered this message, and stated that the woman appeared to have something particular on her mind, his worship condescended to see her. "What is your business with me?" said he, in a haughty, overbearing tone. To which she answered, "Sir, we are a hantle o' puir folk at ___, who are strivin' to sairve God accordin' to our ain conscience, and to get our sauls sav'd: yee persecute us; and I am come to beg yee to let us alane, and in ye dinna, we'll pray yee dead." This rhetoric was irresistible. His lordship did not know what influence such people might have in heaven; he did not like to put such prayers to the proof; wisely took the old woman's advice, and e'en let them alane. He was safe; they were satisfied; and God had the glory. When the poor refer their cause to God, he is a terrible avenger. Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth; but wo to the man that contendeth with his Maker.

28. so that they cause the cry] Rather, thus he causeth the cry of the poor to come before Him; lit. to cause (or, causing) to come. The words sum up the general purpose (or, effect) of God’s destructive judgments on the oppressors; He thus brings before Him and hears the cry of the afflicted.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him - - Their character is that of oppressors.

28. The cry of the poor — Apostasy and neglect of God culminated in the cruel treatment of the poor, which brings down upon the wicked his wrath.