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Verse 3. Is not destruction to the wicked? And a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
In this Verse, Job insists more particularly to ex∣plain the force of this reason; and having intimated, v. 2. That he looked to what might be Gods porti∣on and reward of his walking, and having insinuated in general, that the portion appointed for this sin was not desirable; He proceeds now in particular (as it were in answer to that question, v. 2.) to shew•• that destruction, and some tragical calamity, are the portion that are due to such sinners. Where it is to be considered,
1. That he propounds this assertion by way of question, intimating how certain and undeniable it is, and what need men have to be excited to consider it well.
2. Instead of speaking particularly of Fornication, or unchast thoughts and looks, (which are the sub∣jects he is treating of) he expresseth, in more ge∣neral tearms, that this portion is due to the wicked, and, workers of iniquity. Not only because indeed this is the portion of all wicked men, though they fall not into this particular sin; But hereby, also, he would shew, that he looked upon these evils which he declined, v. 1. as wickedness, and working of iniquity.
3. By this strange punishment (or, strangeness, as the Original hath it only) some understand an estrangement from God by their sin; which, indeed, is a plague sad enough. But it is safer here to under∣stand it of some stroke of justice (all of which, par∣ticularly, when they are inflicted upon the godly, are called Gods strange act, Is. 28.21.) not every ordinary stroke, but some odd and singular stroke, whereby destruction is brought upon such, and not like these strokes which are inflicted upon the people of God. For such a stroke is the desert of all such transgressours, though it be not inflicted upon all of them.
From this Verse, Learn, 1. It is the duty of men to abhorr and avoid all sin, and not these sins only which, possibly, are most odious, and prejudicial to their interests, in the times wherein they live; Therefore doth Job here speak in general, of the wicked, and, workers of iniquity, and not of that particular sin only of which he is now purging himself.
2. Even wanton looks and thoughts, if men de∣light and persist in them, are wickedness, and works of iniquity, and so prove men to be wicked; For the scope of Jobs discourse doth import, that he avoided these evils, v. 1. left he should run the hazard which the wicked, and workers of iniquity do incurr, as judging that, by these acts, he would have put himself among the number of such. This is not so to be understood, as if truly godly men were not ob∣noxious to tentations and failings of that kind; But that such practices, being delighted and persisted in, do argue a wicked disposition, and will draw men to act visible wickedness. Hence vain thoughts are ac∣counted wickedness, from which the heart should be washed, Jer. 4.14. And it were good men would give sins their right names; For then these courses would appear to be ugly, wherewith they are less af∣fected, because they have learned to extenuate them, as if they were only infirmities.
3. Though men use to forget the hazard that fol∣loweth upon sin, while they dally with sin it self; Yet sin, and destruction for sin, are inseparable in Gods appointment (unless the mercy of God in Christ interpose, which is only in the case of re∣pentance and faith) nor are they to be separated in our thoughts; And, particularly, we are to believe, that, as all the wicked, so, they who give way to uncleanness in wanton looks and thoughts, do de∣serve destruction from the Lord; For, Job asserts it as an undeniable truth (and therefore propounds it by way of question, as defying any to disprove it) That destruction is to the wicked, &c. Which he speaks here with a particular eye to the sin of unclean∣ness, as hath been said.
4. Beside eternal destruction, or bodily death, it pleaseth God, sometimes, to testifie his displeasure against wicked men, and particularly, unclean per∣sons, by some remarkeable judgements; such, as bodily diseases, and odd plagues upon Persons and Nations; For, there is a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity, and to these in particular. So∣dom, Benjamin, Judg. 20. Zimri and Cosbi, &c. are remarkeable instances and proofs of the truth of this. Yea, David, though a Saint, and a penitent, smarts for this fault, 2 Sam. 12.
5 Such as consider the punishment due to sin, and particularly to uncleanness, will tremble and be afraid to run so great a hazard; And men do there∣fore rush upon sinful courses, because they forget to study this hazard: For, these questions (Is not de∣struction to the wicked? And a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?) do import, not only the evidence of the truth it self, but, that many have need to be excited by such rowzing questions, to con∣sider it; And that these who seriously do so, will be afraid to sin, as Job was, v. 1. when he considered this. And it is a sad case, when men have nothing but inadvertency, and forgetfulness of these and the like considerations, betwixt them and dreadful hor∣rour, which the conscience of their sinful wayes would raise in them.