Chap. 34. An Expofïtiora upon the BaolZ,ofJ o B. Verf. who in traitscry to him for relief and deliverance: For if we will not give a manour eye,we will hardly give him our hand ; if we will nor fo much as look upon him, we will hardlyallifi him. When God hides his face, 'tis as much as his denyal of fuccour; Thus Davidbemoanedhim f If, (Pfa'. 13. r.)whyhideft thou thy face ? chat is, Lord, why withdrawel thou thy help fromme ? That he was fenuible of fuchwirhdraws,is plain by the prayer which hemade, (verf. 3,) Confider, and hear me, O LordmyGod ; and by the reafonof it given (verf. 4.) Left mine enemies fay, I have prevailedagainfl him. We finde David deprecatirg the hiding of Gods face upon the fame ground, (Pfal, 44.24. Pfal, 69. 17.) The Prophet is very exprefs in this point, (Ifa. g). r, z.) 7he Lords hand is not fhortned that it cannotfave, neither his ear heavie that it cannot hear ; but your iniquities havefeparated betweenyou, and your God, andyourfinshavehid his face from you, that he will not hear : that is, ashe difiafieth, and is difpleafed with you, fo he denyeth you his ufual help and a(lìflance,becaufe ye have great- tinned againl him. Thirdly, the hiding of God's face,notes not only forne diftaf}e, and a denyalof help; but a total flight, or refufal of any care concerning us, (Ifa. 4o. 27.) whyfayeft thon,O facob,andffreak- c, O Ifrael, my way is hid from the Lord, andpay judgement ispaf- fed overfrommy God ; that is,Why fayefi thou, the Lord takes no care at all of me, and in that fenfe job fpake, (chap. 24.. 1.) why feeing timesare not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know himnot, fee his dayes ? that is, why feeing God cloth not neglect times, and feafons, and how things go in the world,(there time is put for things done in time, why (I fay) feeing God bath not cal off thecareof the things of this world) is it thus with me ? Why am I as a man forlorn, andutterly cal off ? Wemay expound Elihu in all orany of thefe fnfes ; when he hideth his face,or withdrawethhis favourthat is,when God is difpleafedand refuleth ro help, whenGod throweth up the care of a mans per- fon, or condition, it cannot but go and be ill enough with him ; for as it followech, who then can beholdhim ? The face of God as taken for his effential being, cannot at all be feen, nor can we at all behold him ; There (hall no man (faith the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=