Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 5:17

17. Behold , happy is the man whom God correcteth ; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty .

For what I am saying, though most true, will not be believed without serious consideration.

Heb. Blessednesses (i. e. various and great happiness, as the plural number implies) belong to that man whom God rebukes, to wit, with strokes, Ch. 33. 16, 19. Those afflictions are so far from making thee miserable, as thou complainest, that they are and will be, if thou dost thy duty, the means of thy happiness: Which though a paradox to the world, is frequently affirmed in holy Scripture; and the reason of it is plain, because they are pledges of God's love, which no man can buy too dear; and though bitter, yet necessary physick to purge out that sin which is deeply fixed in all mens natures, and thereby to prevent far greater, even infinite and eternal miseries. Without respect to which this Proposition could not be true or tolerable. And therefore it plainly shews, that good men in those antient times of the Old Testament, had the prospect, and belief, and hope of everlasting blessedness in Heaven after this life.

i. e. Do not abhor it as a thing pernicious and intolerable, nor refuse it as a thing useless and unprofitable, nor slight it as a mean and unnecessary thing; but on the contrary, prize it highly as a favour and vouchsasement of God: for such negative expressions oft imply the contrary, as 1 Thes. 5. 20. 1 Tim. 4. 12. See Prov. 10. 2. & 17. 21.

Or, of the alsufficient God, who is able to support and comfort thee in thy troubles, and to deliver thee out of them, and to add more calamities to them, if thou art obstinate and incorrigible.

Marginal references: Prov. 3. 12▪ Heb. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 5. James 1. 12▪ Rev. 3. 19.