But now, because [it is] not [so]
Because there was not such trust, hope, patience, and quiet expectation in Job that God would appear for him, and do him, justice openly and publicly; for though he had hope and confidence of an interest in his living Redeemer and Saviour, and of eternal life and happiness through him; yet not of his bringing his judgment to the light, and of his beholding his righteousness, as he ought to have had, see ( Psalms 37:5-7 ) ( Micah 7:9 ) ;
he hath visited in his anger;
corrected and chastised in fatherly anger and displeasure, though not in wrath and vengeance, and in a way of punishment in strict justice; but consistent with his invariable love and free favour in Christ; being displeased at his want of faith and patience, failing in the exercise of which is oftentimes resented by the Lord, see ( Numbers 20:12 ) ( Zephaniah 3:2 ) ;
yet he knoweth [it] not in great extremity:
so stupid was Job, that though he was in the utmost extremity of affliction, in his body, family, and substance, yet was not sensible it was his duty to trust in God, and patiently wait for him; he knew that the hand of God was upon him, and that he had visited him in anger, and that his arrows stuck fast in him, and his hand pressed him sore; but was insensible of the cause of the continuance of it, his unbelief, impatience, and non-submission to the will of God. The word for "extremity" signifies "abundance" F4, and may be applied to an abundance and plenty of good things; and therefore some understand it of Job's prosperity, and take the sense to be, that God took no notice of this; it did not hinder him from visiting him, but he destroyed it all: though Mr. Broughton, on the other hand, interprets it of the great plenty of sorrows and distresses Job was attended with, the true cause of which he did not advert to: some F5 think the whole refers to the merciful dealings of God with Job, and read the first clause,
``know now his anger hath visited but a little or noticing;''the affliction is but a light one comparatively speaking, scarce any thing at all in comparison of what sin deserves, being abundantly less than that:
``neither hath he made great inquisition, or inquired out the multitude''of sins; not strictly and severely marking them, and dealing with and for them according to their deserts; see ( Ezra 9:13 ) ( Psalms 103:10 ) ; with which compare ( 2 Corinthians 4:17 ) ; and therefore Job had no reason to complain of God, or of any hard usage from him.