The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 23

Vers. 1-'-22.-The first trial of the patrid!rch. I. TBE PREPARATION FOR THB TRIA_L, The pati-iarch at the height of his prosperity. The season pitched upon for makmg ~n as~ult upon the patriarch was a day of: 1. Festive _re;'oicing; when the patrmrcb s family were convened at a banquet of unusual magmficence "eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;" such a sumptuous ~ntertainment doubtless as became the firstborn to provide. 2. Busy i?idustry; when the whole household of the patriarch was astir with unwonted activity: the ploughmen driving furrows through the soil with the assistance of the patieut oxen, while the she- asses cropped the pastures in their vicinity ; the shepherds tending the vast droves of sheep which spread themselves across the plain; and the camel-drivers going and returning with their caravans of costly merchandise. 3. Unmingled happiness; in which the patriarch, it may well be imagined, surveying his earthly lot, observing the loving unity and innocent gladness of his children, and beholding the :fidelity and diligence of his servants, realized that his cup of terrestrial felicity was full and even overflowing. 4. Fancied 1Jecu,rity; in which not a cloud appeared in all the wide and clear horizon ; not a shadow dimmed the brightness of the sky, not a speck of trouble anywhere could be debected to excite the patriarch's alarm. It was such a day as seldom falls to the lot of God's people on earth to enjoy ; and the selec- tion of that day above all others for casting down the patriarch from the pinnacle of his greatness and the summit of his felicity was doubtless craftily designed that the very loftiness of the patriarch's elevation might intensify the depth and severity of his fall. II. THE llAKAGEMEl>"T OF THE TRUL. The patriarch's prosperity overthrown; 1. The swiflly completed ruin. (1) Sudden in its coming; the citadel of Job's integrity bcing more likely to be carried by a coup de main than by a leisurely and deliberate attack, inasmuch as to be forewarned is also to be forearmed, and dangers that men see they can usually adopt measures to avert. (2) Universal in its sweep; the devii falling not a step behind, if he could not advance a step beyond, the Divine permission, with one terrible avalanche of disaster descending on the fair scene of the patriarch's prosperity, and leaving not a spot unvisited by his devouring rage. (3) Pitiless in its devastation; exempting only four domestics (not sons I which might have been a mitigation ; but the devil's mercies are generally cruel), consigning all the rest to one overwhelming, remorseless destruction. (4) Cunning in its contrivance; beinn- effected not directly and immediately by the devil himself, but by natural agencies-Sabe.ans and Chaldeans, lightniugs and hurricanes--so that it might appear to be the work of God's ordinary providence, and be ascribed by the stricken man to the Deity whom he served and adored. 2. The skilfully arranged report. (1) Messenger following upon messenger, like Ahimaaz speeding after Cushi (2 Sam. xviii. 22), so that the full tale of IIlliifortunes might not be declared at once, but with exquisite torture protracted to the utmost. (2) Calamity heaped upon calamity; not a. sing!e messenger arriving with happy tidings, but each one with a heavier burden than hl8 predecessor. (3) Stroke descending upon stroke; not one speaker having the grace, like Ahim.aaz when reporting Absalom's death to David, to mitigate the blow to the old man; but, like Cushi. each one with excruciating minuteness of detail dwelling on his tale of II1IBery, and with something like selfish satisfaction emphasizing the fact of his own escape to be the bearer of the appalling news, not perceiving that that might only be an aggravation of the patriarch's distress; and with no interruption in the awful torrent of adversity, not so much as a moment to breathe in, but on and on in one incessant stream : "While he was yet speaking;" and, "While he was yet speaking;" and, "While he was yet speaking." Clearly if Satan's craft was con- spicuous in his preparation for the trial, it WEIS equa1ly apparent in his management of the same. III. 'l'HE 186UE or 'l1lE TRUL. The patriarch'• reception of the news. I. With peni£ential sorrow; expressed in the symbolic actions of rending his garments (cf, Gen. xxxvil. 34; Josh. vii. 6; 2 Sam. i. 11; ill. 31) and shaving his head {cf. Isa. xv, 2 ; xx:ii 12; Jer. vii, 29; :xli. 6; Micah i. l.6) • the :first revealing the vehemence and OIL L 1-22,] THE BOOK 01!' JOB. 13