When I looked for good
As he thought he might reasonably expect it, since he had shown
such a sympathizing spirit to persons in trouble, and such pity
and mercy to the poor: in the time of his prosperity, he looked
for a continuance of the good things he enjoyed, and expected to
have had them for many years to come, and to have died in the
possession of them, ( Job 29:18 ) ; and even in
his adversity, though he had received evil things at the hand of
God, which he took patiently; yet at first he did not think they
would always continue, but that there would be a turn of affairs,
and he should again receive good at his hands; and he had been
looking for it, as good men have reason to expect it; since God
is good and does good, and especially to his own people, and has
laid up goodness for them that fear him, and such an one Job was;
and has promised good things unto them, both temporal and
spiritual; for godliness and godly men have the promise of this
life, and of that which is to come: but Job was disappointed in
his expectation; for, says he,
then evil came [unto me],
the evil of affliction, one upon the back of another, even when
in the height of his prosperity; and since repeated evil, new
afflictions, came upon him by the appointment, order, and
direction of God:
and when I waited for light;
for the light of outward prosperity, such as he had formerly
enjoyed; and for the light of God's countenance, which he most
earnestly sought after, and longed for, and was in a waiting
posture for it, as good men have reason to be; since light is
sown for them in the purposes and decrees of God, in his counsel
and covenant, in his Gospel, and the promises of it; and
therefore should wait for the springing of it up, as the
husbandman does for the springing up of the corn sown in the
earth, and lying under the clods; and seeing that to the upright
there arises light in darkness; and though God hides his face
from them, for a moment, he will have mercy on them, and
therefore should wait his time to be gracious to them; but Job
had waited long, and, as he thought, to no purpose: for
there came darkness;
the darkness of adversity, still thicker and darker, and no
appearance of spiritual light and favour, or any discoveries of
the love of God to him, or enjoyment of his presence; see (
Jeremiah
8:15 ) ( Isaiah 59:9 ) .