Job 4:3

Behold, thou hast instructed many,.... This is introduced with a "behold", either as a note of admiration, that such a man, who had instructed others, should act the part he now does; or as a note of

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Weak hands - (Isaiah 35:3; 2 Samuel 4:1).

Thou hast instructed many; teaching them those lessons which thou hast not learned, and wilt not practise, to wit, patiently to bear afflictions, and to submit to God’ s will and providence in all things, which thou most shamefully refusest to do. Thou hast strengthened the weak hands, by administering supports and comforts and counsels to such as were unable to bear their burdens, or to do their duty.

Job 4:3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.Ver. 3. Behold, thou hast instructed many] sc. To do each day’ s duty with Christian diligence, and to bear each day’ s crosses with Christian patience thou hast done it well. But how comes it now to pass, quod dicta factis erubescant, that thy present doings shame thy former sayings? (Tertul.); and that (as it was noted of Demosthenes the orator) thou art better at praising of virtue than at practising of it? Turpe est Doctori, &c. Should not the physician first heal himself? and ought not the preacher’ s word be Spectemur agendo; let our profiting appear to all men, let our lives be a true transcript of our sermons? What a shame was it that Hilary should complain that the people’ s ears were holier than the preachers’ hearts, Sanctiores sunt aures plebis quam corda sacerdotum (Hilar.), and that Erasmus, by a true jest, should be told that there was more goodness in his book of the Christian soldier than in his bosom! Eliphaz from this ground would here argue that Job was little better than a hypocrite; a censure overly rigid, it being the easiest thing in the world, as a philosopher observed, to give good counsel, and the hardest thing to take it. Dr Preston, upon his death bed, confessed, that now it came to his own turn, he found it somewhat to do to practise that which he had oft pressed upon others. And thou hast strengthened the weak hands] Loose and lax, feeble and infirm, through many terrors and troubles: to these thou hast spoken words which have been as sinews to their hands, and as strength to their joints. Job had comforted the feeble minded, or the dispirited, the sick at heart, and sinking under the sense of sin and fear of wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. This is a harder work than to raise the dead to life, saith Luther; this not one of a thousand can skill of, Job 33:23. He must have feeding lips and a healing tongue that shall do it. O quam hoc non est omnium! The Christian Romans were able to do it, Romans 15:14. And holy Job was both able and apt, for he did it to many. True goodness is diffusive of itself, and is therefore compared to the most spreading things; as fire, water, sunlight, &c.

(3) Behold, thou hast instructed many.—There is a conspicuous want of feeling in Eliphaz. Without any true sympathy, however, he may have given the outward signs of it (Job 2:12-13). He charges Job with inability to derive from his own principles that support which he had expected them to afford to others, and seems almost to rejoice malevolently that one who had been so great a help to others was now in need of help himself. “Calamity touches thee, and thou art overwhelmed by it.”

Verse 3. Thou hast instructed many] Thou hast seen many in affliction and distress, and thou hast given them such advice as was suitable to their state, and effectual to their relief; and by this means thou hast strengthened the weak hands, and the feeble knees-the desponding have been encouraged, and the irresolute confirmed and excited to prompt and proper actions, by thy counsel and example.

3. the weak hands] lit. the hands hanging down, a sign of helplessness and despondency, 2 Samuel 4:1; Isaiah 13:7. Comp. Job’s words of himself, ch. Job 29:15-16.

Behold, thou hast instructed many - That is, thou hast instructed many how they ought to bear trials, and hast delivered important maxims to them on the great subject of the divine government.

3. Instructed — Admonished many. Strengthened the weak hands — He very properly reminds Job of his past offices of consolation by way of compliment; not, as some suppose, in irony.