Thou art become cruel to me
Or "turned", or "changed" {g}, to be cruel to me. Job suggests
that God had been kind and gracious to him, both in a way of
providence, and in showing special love and favour to him, in a
very distinguishing manner; but now he intimates his affections
were changed and altered, and these were alienated from him, and
his love was turned into an hatred of him; this is one of the
unbecoming expressions which dropped from his lips concerning
God; for the love of God to his people is never changed; it
remains invariable and unalterable, in all dispensations, in
every state and condition into which they come; there may be some
of God's dispensations towards them, which may have the
appearance of severity in them; and he may make use of
instruments to chastise them, which may use them cruelly; but
even then his heart yearns towards them, and, being full of
compassion, delivers out of their hands, and saves them, (
Jeremiah
30:14 ) ( 31:20 ) (
Hosea 11:8
Hosea 11:9 ) ;
with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against
me;
God has a strong hand and arm, and none like him, and sometimes
he puts forth the strength of it, and exerts his mighty power in
afflicting his people, and his hand presses them sore, and they
can scarcely stand up under it; and then it becomes them to
humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and patiently
bear it; and sometimes they take him to be their adversary, an
enemy unto them, and filled with hatred of them, indignation
against them, setting himself with all his might and main to ruin
and destroy them; and this is a sad case indeed, to have such
apprehensions of God, though unjust ones; for, as if God be for
us, who shall be against us? so if he be against us, it signifies
little who is for us; for there is no contending with him, (
Job 9:3 Job 9:4 ) .
F7 (Kpht) "mutatus es", V. L. Tigurine version; "versus es", Beza, Piscator; so Drusius, Cocceius, Vatablus, Michaelis, Mercerus, Schultens.