Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,
Job is still answering his friends, and here he describes what becomes of a wicked man's hoard of silver and clothing. So who ends up owning what a man spends his life collecting?
Why Job Raises This Subject
Job chose to talk about the end of the godless man. He could only touch that theme because his conscience was clear.
William KellyIn the latter part of the chapter Job speaks with great force about a case they had in front of their eyes just as much as he did. But he has to explain it for them, since they had completely failed to set it before him. It is the end of the godless, a theme he would have avoided if his conscience were not good. They had trifled with the matter. He would teach them about God's hand, and not hold back what is with the Almighty... His treasures go to strangers who are worthy.
Silver That Cannot Deliver
Silver can be stacked as high as a dust heap. It still cannot steady a man when the storm comes.
Hamilton SmithWhat cannot quiet the heart in a storm cannot entitle a man to blessedness. Piles of earthly goods cannot calm a troubled heart, so they cannot make anyone blessed. When Saul was in deep distress, could all the jewels of his crown comfort him? "They cast their silver into the streets… their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD" (Ezek. 7:19).
The Hoard Changes Hands
One writer ties this heap to the rich man in Jesus' parable. He laid up goods for many years and got one night.
Leslie M. GrantHe may heap up an abundance of riches, like the rich man of Luke 12:16-21. That man said to himself, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" So one may pile up riches, but others, less foolish than he, will reap the benefit. The absolute folly of mankind is certainly clear in all this… What is 100 years compared to eternity?
Laid Up for the Righteous
There is another side to this. What the wicked man stores up does not vanish — God keeps it for the just.
William KellyA good man resembles Him who found him evil and by grace made him a partaker of a divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. Blessed of God, he leaves an inheritance — if not of gold and silver, then something better still, lasting to his children's children. The wealth of the sinner, great as it may seem, is laid up for the just. Ungodliness may prepare, plan, and pass it on; but God cares for those who serve Him. So the just shall put on the clothing meant for others, and the innocent shall divide the silver if He sees fit.
Job's Own Case Is Different
Job had lost his children and his goods too. So how was his case different from the one he describes?
Samuel RidoutJob dwells here on a sorrow in some ways like his own, and yet how different. He too had lost his children, but was it under the punishing wrath of God? And did Job act like these wicked men he describes here? They may gather silver and wealth like dust, only to have the righteous enjoy it — "the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous."… Job can speak this way about the perishing things of this world's greatness. That shows he was conscious of a far different heritage for himself. Let moth and rust destroy — he seems to say that he knows he has a better and lasting possession.
The Only Wealth That Transfers
So which riches does a man keep? One writer says they are the ones he gives away.
William KellyRiches before God cannot exist without what men short-sightedly call impoverishing yourself. It means using what we have not for ourselves, but for others. Only such people are rich toward God, whether their means are great or small. If their means are small, they are still large enough to let them think of others in love and provide for needs greater than their own. If their means are great, their responsibilities are that much greater.
Summary
- Heaped. Job's subject is the end of the godless man, and he handles it openly because his own conscience is clear.
- Worthless. Silver gathered like dust cannot quiet a troubled heart or deliver anyone in the day of wrath.
- Handed on. He prepares the clothing and the silver. One night ends his plan, and others reap the benefit.
- Inherited. The heir is not random. God cares for those who serve Him, so the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
- Enduring. Job could watch all this because his heritage lay elsewhere. The wealth that lasts is what a man spends on others, which alone makes him rich toward God.