This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his
providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and
conditions in the world, even, 1. By those that are contrary the one to
the other. Some are poor and forced to borrow; others are rich, have a
great deal of the mammon of unrighteousness (deceitful riches they are
called), and they are creditors, or usurers, as it is in the margin.
Some are poor, and honest, and laborious; others are rich, slothful,
and deceitful. They meet together in the business of this world, and
have dealings with one another, and the Lord enlightens both their
eyes; he causes his sun to shine upon both and gives them both the
comforts of this life. To some of both sorts he gives his grace. He
enlightens the eyes of the poor by giving them patience, and of the
deceitful by giving them repentance, as Zaccheus. 2. By those that we
think could best be spared. The poor and the deceitful we are ready to
look upon as blemishes of Providence, but God makes even them to
display the beauty of Providence; he has wise ends not only in leaving
the poor always with us, but in permitting the deceived and the
deceiver, for both are his (Job xii. 16) and turn to his praise.