Read Scripture In A Year: December 6

(Job 8:1) Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and saide,

(Job 8:2) Howe long wilt thou talke of these things? and howe long shall the wordes of thy mouth be as a mightie winde?

(Notes Reference) How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth (a) [be like] a strong wind?

(a) He declares that their words which would diminish anything from the justice of God, are but as a puff of wind that vanishes away.

(Job 8:3) Doeth God peruert iudgement? or doeth the Almightie subuert iustice?

(Job 8:4) If thy sonnes haue sinned against him, and he hath sent them into the place of their iniquitie,

(Notes Reference) If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their (b) transgression;

(b) That is, has rewarded them according to their iniquity, meaning that Job should be warned by the example of his children, that he not offend God.

(Job 8:5) Yet if thou wilt early seeke vnto God, and pray to the Almightie,

(Notes Reference) If thou (c) wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

(Job 8:6) If thou be pure and vpright, then surely hee will awake vp vnto thee, and he wil make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous.

(Job 8:7) And though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter ende shall greatly encrease.

(Notes Reference) Though thy beginning (d) was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

(d) Though the beginning is not as pleasant as you would like, yet in the end you will have sufficient opportunity to please yourself.

(Job 8:8) Inquire therefore, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thy selfe to search of their fathers.

(Notes Reference) For (e) enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

(e) He wills Job to examine all antiquity and he will find it true which he here says.

(Job 8:9) (For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant: for our dayes vpon earth are but a shadowe)

(Notes Reference) (For we [are but of] (f) yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow:)

(f) Meaning, that it is not enough to have the experience of ourselves, but to be confirmed by the examples of those who went before us.

(Job 8:10) Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and vtter the wordes of their heart?

(Job 8:11) Can a rush grow without myre? or can ye grasse growe without water?

(Notes Reference) Can the rush (g) grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

(g) As a rush cannot grow without moisture, so the hypocrite because he does not have faith which is watered with God's Spirit.

(Job 8:12) Though it were in greene and not cutte downe, yet shall it wither before any other herbe.

(Job 8:13) So are the paths of al that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall perish.

(Job 8:14) His confidence also shalbe cut off, and his trust shalbe as the house of a spyder.

(Notes Reference) Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a (h) spider's web.

(h) Which is today and tomorrow swept away.

(Job 8:15) He shall leane vpon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall holde him fast by it, yet shall it not endure.

(Job 8:16) The tree is greene before the sunne, and the branches spread ouer the garden thereof.

(Notes Reference) He [is] (i) green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

(i) He compares the just to a tree, which although it is moved from one place to another, yet flourishes: so the affliction of the godly turns to their profit.

(Job 8:17) The rootes thereof are wrapped about the fountaine, and are folden about ye house of stones.

(Job 8:18) If any plucke it from his place, and it denie, saying, I haue not seene thee,

(Notes Reference) If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall (k) deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.

(k) That is, so that there remains nothing there to prove whether the tree had grown there or not.

(Job 8:19) Beholde, it will reioyce by this meanes, that it may growe in another molde.

(Notes Reference) Behold, this [is] the joy (l) of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

(l) To be planted in another place, where it may grow as it pleases.

(Job 8:20) Behold, God will not cast away an vpright man, neither will he take the wicked by the hand,

(Job 8:21) Till he haue filled thy mouth with laughter, and thy lippes with ioy.

(Notes Reference) Till he fill thy mouth with (m) laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

(m) If you are godly, he will give you opportunity to rejoice and if not your affliction will increase.

(Job 8:22) They that hate thee, shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling of the wicked shall not remaine.

Passage 2: Micah 3-4

(Mic 3:1) And I sayd, Heare, I pray you, O heads of Iaakob, and yee princes of the house of Israel: should not ye knowe iudgement?

(Notes Reference) And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; [Is it] not for you to know (a) judgment?

(a) That thing which is just and lawful, both to govern my people properly, and also to clear your own conscience.

(Mic 3:2) But they hate the good, and loue the euill: they plucke off their skinnes from them, and their flesh from their bones.

(Notes Reference) Who hate the good, and love the evil; (b) who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;

(b) The Prophet condemns the wicked governors not only of covetousness, theft, and murder, but compares them to wolves, lions, and most cruel beasts.

(Mic 3:3) And they eate also the flesh of my people, and flay off their skinne from them, and they breake their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

(Mic 3:4) Then shall they crye vnto the Lord, but he will not heare them: he wil euen hide his face from them at that time, because they haue done wickedly in their workes.

(Notes Reference) Then (c) shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

(c) That is, when I will punish their wickedness: for though I hear the godly before they cry (Isa 65:24), yet I will not hear these even though they cry; (Isa 1:15) (Eze 8:18; Jam 2:13; 1Pe 3:11-12).

(Mic 3:5) Thus saith the Lord, Concerning the prophets that deceiue my people, and bite them with their teeth, and cry peace, but if a man put not into their mouthes, they prepare warre against him,

(Notes Reference) Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that (d) bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

(d) They devour all their substance, and then flatter them, promising that all will go well. But if someone does not feed them, then they invent all ways to do evil.

(Mic 3:6) Therefore night shalbe vnto you for a vision, and darkenesse shalbe vnto you for a diuination, and the sunne shall goe downe ouer the prophets, and the day shalbe darke ouer them.

(Notes Reference) Therefore (e) night [shall be] unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

(e) As you have loved to walk in darkness, and to prophesy lies, so God will reward you with gross blindness and ignorance, so that when all others will see the bright beams of God's grace, you will as blind men grope as in the night.

(Mic 3:7) Then shall the Seers bee ashamed, and the southsayers confounded: yea, they shall all couer their lippes, for they haue none answere of God.

(Notes Reference) Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover (f) their lips; for [there is] no answer of God.

(f) When God will reveal them to the world, they will be afraid to speak: for all will know that they were but false prophets, and did give a false notion of the word of God.

(Mic 3:8) Yet notwithstanding I am full of power by the Spirite of the Lord, and of iudgement, and of strength to declare vnto Iaakob his transgression, and to Israel his sinne.

(Notes Reference) But truly I am full (g) of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

(g) The Prophet being assured of his vocation by the Spirit of God, sets himself alone against all the wicked, showing how God gave him gifts, ability and knowledge, to discern between good and evil, and also steadfastness and endurance to reprove the sins of the people, and not to flatter them.

(Mic 3:9) Heare this, I pray you, ye heades of the house of Iaakob, and princes of the house of Israel: they abhorre iudgement, and peruert all equitie.

(Mic 3:10) They build vp Zion with blood, and Ierusalem with iniquitie.

(Notes Reference) They build up Zion with (h) blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

(h) They will say that they are the people of God, and abuse his name, as a pretence to disguise their hypocrisy.

(Mic 3:11) The heads thereof iudge for rewardes, and the Priestes thereof teache for hyre, and the prophets thereof prophecie for money: yet wil they leane vpon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among vs? no euill can come vpon vs.

(Mic 3:12) Therefore shall Zion for your sake bee plowed as a field, and Ierusalem shalbe an heape, and the mountaine of the house, as the hye places of the forest.

(Notes Reference) Therefore shall Zion for your sake be (k) plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

(k) Read (Jer 26:18).

(Mic 4:1) But in the last dayes it shall come to passe, that the mountaine of the House of the Lord shall be prepared in the toppe of the mountaines, and it shall bee exalted aboue the hilles, and people shall flowe vnto it.

(Notes Reference) But in the (a) last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the (b) hills; and people shall flow unto it.

(a) When Christ will come, and the temple will be destroyed.

(b) See Isa 2:2

(Mic 4:2) Yea, many nations shall come and say, Come, and let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Iaakob, and hee will teache vs his wayes, and we wil walke in his pathes: for the Lawe shall goe forth of Zion, and the worde of the Lord from Ierusalem.

(Notes Reference) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will (c) teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

(Mic 4:3) And he shall iudge among many people, and rebuke mightie nations a farre off, and they shall breake their swordes into mattockes, and their speares into sithes: nation shall not lift vp a sword against nation, neither shall they learne to fight any more.

(Notes Reference) And he shall judge among many people, and (d) rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into (e) pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they (f) learn war any more.

(d) By his corrections and threatenings he will bring the people into subjection who are in the utmost corners of the world.

(e) They will abstain from all evil doing, and exercise themselves in godliness and in well doing to others.

(f) Read (Isa 2:4)

(Mic 4:4) But they shall sit euery man vnder his vine, and vnder his figge tree, and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hostes hath spoken it.

(Mic 4:5) For all people will walke euery one in the name of his God, and we will walke in the Name of the Lord our God, for euer and euer.

(Notes Reference) For all people will walk (g) every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

(g) He shows that the people of God ought to remain constant in their religion, even if all the world should give themselves to their superstition and idolatry.

(Mic 4:6) At the same day, saith the Lord, will I gather her that halteth, and I will gather her that is cast out, and her that I haue afflicted.

(Mic 4:7) And I will make her that halted, a remnant, and her that was cast farre off, a mightie nation: and the Lord shall reigne ouer them in Mount Zion, from hence forth euen for euer.

(Notes Reference) And I will make her that halted (h) a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

(h) I will cause that Israel, who is now as one lame and halting, and so almost destroyed, to live again, and grow into a great people.

(Mic 4:8) And thou, O towre of the flock, the strong holde of the daughter Zion, vnto thee shall it come, euen the first dominion, and kingdome shall come to the daughter Ierusalem.

(Notes Reference) And thou, O (i) tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even (k) the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

(i) Meaning Jerusalem, where the Lord's flock was gathered.

(k) The flourishing state of the kingdom, as it was under David and Solomon, which thing was accomplished for the Church by the coming of Christ.

(Mic 4:9) Nowe why doest thou crie out with lamentation? is there no King in thee? is thy counseller perished? for sorowe hath taken thee, as a woman in trauaile.

(Notes Reference) Now why dost thou cry out aloud? [is (l) there] no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

(l) In the meantime he shows that they would endure great troubles and temptations, when they saw themselves neither to have king nor counsel.

(Mic 4:10) Sorow and mourne, O daughter Zion, like a woman in trauaile: for nowe shalt thou goe foorth of the citie, and dwel in the field, and shalt goe into Babel, but there shalt thou be deliuered: there the Lord shall redeeme thee from the hand of thine enemies.

(Mic 4:11) Nowe also many nations are gathered against thee, saying, Zion shalbe condemned and our eye shall looke vpon Zion.

(Mic 4:12) But they knowe not the thoughtes of the Lord: they vnderstand not his counsell, for he shall gather them as the sheaues in the barne.

(Notes Reference) But they (m) know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

(m) He shows that the faithful ought not to measure God's judgments by the braggings and threatenings of the wicked, but by these are admonished to lift up their hearts to God to call for deliverance.

(Mic 4:13) Arise, and thresh, O daughter Zion: for I will make thine horne yron, and I will make thine hooues brasse, and thou shalt breake in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their riches vnto the Lord, and their substance vnto the ruler of the whole worlde.

(Notes Reference) Arise and thresh, (n) O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

(n) God gives his Church this victory, as often as he overcomes their enemies: but the accomplishment of this will be at the last coming of Christ.

Passage 3: Hebrews 13

(Heb 13:1) Let brotherly loue continue.

(Notes Reference) Let (1) brotherly love continue.

(1) He comes to the second table of the law, the sum of which is charity, especially toward strangers and such as are afflicted.

(Heb 13:2) Be not forgetfull to intertaine strangers: for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnwares.

(Heb 13:3) Remember them that are in bondes, as though ye were bounde with them: and them that are in affliction, as if ye were also afflicted in the body.

(Notes Reference) Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as (a) being yourselves also in the body.

(a) Be so touched, as if their misery were yours.

(Heb 13:4) Mariage is honorable among all, and the bed vndefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge.

(Notes Reference) (2) Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

(2) He commends chaste matrimony in all sorts of men, and threatens utter destruction from God against whoremongers and adulterers.

(Heb 13:5) Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse, and be content with those things that ye haue, for he hath said,

(Notes Reference) (3) [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for (b) he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

(3) Covetousness is condemned, against which is set a contented mind with that which the Lord has given.

(b) Even the Lord himself.

(Heb 13:6) I will not faile thee, neither forsake thee:

(Notes Reference) So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what (c) man shall do unto me.

(Heb 13:7) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is mine helper, neither will I feare what man can doe vnto me.

(Notes Reference) (4) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.

(4) We have to set before us the examples of valiant captains, whom we ought diligently to follow.

(Heb 13:8) Remember them which haue the ouersight of you, which haue declared vnto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering what hath bene the ende of their conuersation. Iesus Christ yesterday, and to day, the same also is for euer.

(Notes Reference) (5) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

(5) He repeats the sum of the doctrine, that is, the only ground of all precepts of conduct, and that is this: That we ought to quiet and content ourselves in Christ only: for there has never been any man saved without the knowledge of him, neither is there today, nor shall there be ever.

(Heb 13:9) Be not caried about with diuers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be stablished with grace, and not with meates, which haue not profited them that haue bene occupied therein.

(Notes Reference) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. (6) For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with (d) meats, which have not profited them that have been (e) occupied therein.

(6) He speaks to those who mixed an external worship and especially the difference of meats with the gospel which he clearly condemns as repugnant to the benefit of Christ.

(d) By this one form which concerns the difference of clean and unclean meat, we have to understand all the ceremonial worship.

(e) Who observed the difference of them superstitiously.

(Heb 13:10) We haue an altar, whereof they haue no authoritie to eate, which serue in the tabernacle.

(Notes Reference) (7) We have an (f) altar, whereof they have no right to eat which (g) serve the tabernacle.

(7) He refutes their error by an apt and fit comparison. They who in times past served the Tabernacle, did not eat of the sacrifices whose blood was brought for sin into the holy place by the high priest. Moreover these sacrifices represented Christ our offering. Therefore they cannot be partakers of him if they serve the tabernacle, that is, stand in the service of the law: but let us not be ashamed to follow him out of Jerusalem, from which he was cast out and suffered for in this also Christ, who is the truth, answers that type in that he suffered outside the gate.

(f) By the altar, he means the offerings.

(g) Of which they cannot be partakers, who stubbornly retain the rites of the law.

(Heb 13:11) For the bodies of those beastes whose blood is brought into the Holy place by the high Priest for sinne, are burnt without the campe.

(Heb 13:12) Therefore euen Iesus, that he might sanctifie the people with his owne blood, suffered without the gate.

(Heb 13:13) Let vs goe foorth to him therefore out of the campe, bearing his reproch.

(Notes Reference) (8) Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

(8) He goes on further in this comparison, and shows that this also signified to us, that the godly followers of Christ must go out of the world bearing his cross.

(Heb 13:14) For here haue we no continuing citie: but we seeke one to come.

(Heb 13:15) Let vs therefore by him offer the sacrifice of prayse alwaies to God, that is, the fruite of the lippes, which confesse his Name.

(Notes Reference) (9) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

(9) Now that those physical sacrifices are taken away, he teaches us that the true sacrifices of confession remain, which consist partly in giving thanks, and partly in liberality, with which sacrifices indeed God is now delighted.

(Heb 13:16) To doe good, and to distribute forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

(Heb 13:17) Obey them that haue the ouersight of you, and submit your selues: for they watche for your soules, as they that must giue accountes, that they may doe it with ioy, and not with griefe: for that is vnprofitable for you.

(Notes Reference) (10) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

(10) We must obey the warnings and admonitions of our ministers and elders, who watch for the salvation of the souls that are committed to them.

(Heb 13:18) Pray for vs: for we are assured that we haue a good conscience in all things, desiring to liue honestly.

(Notes Reference) (11) Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

(11) The last part of this epistle, in which he commends his ministry to the Hebrews, and wishes them steadfastness and increase of graces from the Lord: and excuses himself in that he has used but few words to comfort them having spent the epistle in disputing: and salutes certain brethren in a familiar and friendly manner.

(Heb 13:19) And I desire you somewhat the more earnestly, that yee so doe, that I may be restored to you more quickly.

(Heb 13:20) The God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, the great shepheard of the sheepe, through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant,

(Heb 13:21) Make you perfect in all good workes, to doe his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ, to whom be praise for euer and euer, Amen.

(Notes Reference) Make you (h) perfect in every good work to do his will, (i) working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(h) Make you fit or suitable.

(i) From this comes that saying of the fathers, that God crowns his work in us.

(Heb 13:22) I beseeche you also, brethren, suffer the wordes of exhortation: for I haue written vnto you in fewe wordes.

(Heb 13:23) Knowe that our brother Timotheus is deliuered, with whome (if hee come shortly) I will see you.

(Heb 13:24) Salute all them that haue the ouersight of you, and all the Saintes. They of Italie salute you.

(Heb 13:25) Grace be with you all, Amen. [Written to the Hebrewes from Italie, and sent by Timotheus.]