The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 38

for other resources of bleseedneee the.n those fonnd in the cha.ngeful conditions of the present life. 'l'he hand must not gre.sp earthly riches too firmly. All that is of earth fadeth: how needful to seek "durable riches" I 3. The whole surroundings and pos- aeesione of life may be mllde the occasions of the testing of virtue. 4. The necessity for such o. view of one's life, and such a habit of obedience, as to be able to bow to the Divine will in the midst of our heaviest trials.-R. G. Ver. 8.-The righteous man. Righteousness as descriptive of human character illustrated in Job, A few words only used. 'rhe Divine description. Highest testi- mony. Generally "my servant,"-the most honourable distinction. There is no higher calling in life than to serve God. But Job stands in special distinction-be is unequalled amongst men. His is the typical example of righteousness till a Greater than he appears. "There is none like him in the earth." A truly honourable position to be the first man of one's age. Job has the special honour of this Divine judgment. Needful for us to know the elements of so exalted a character. They are stated. The righteousness of Job is displayed in- I. INWARD SANCTITY. Freedom from evil; "perfect"-wholeness, completeness of character; not to be supposed free from human frailty, but free from blemishes of chara.cter and conduct; a just man, having a well-balanced, self-controlled, law-a.biding spirit. II. UPRIGHTNESS. Conformed to that which is right; holding a. right relation to God and ma.n; correct and honourable in his dealings; a man of probity, truth, and honour. "One that feareth God." III. REVERENCE TOWARDS Goo. Pious; fulfilling religious duties; devotional. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;"" the root of the matter" in Job. IV. ABHORRENOE OF EVIL. Having fear of God, he stands aloof from everything on which the Divine disapprobation rests. A pure mind withdraws from foulness, as a charitable man from selfishness, and an upright man from baseness. Such a character is fitted to be a servant of God. On such the blessing of the Lord rests. But such are not exempt from trial. Even virtue must be tested. Into the hands of the dark a.gent of human probation even Job mnst be cast. This book reveals this truth, and illustrates and answers the difficulties suggested by it,-R. G. -• Vera. 20-22.-The· triumph of faith. The tiial in its great severity has fallen upon Job. His oxen and asses have been rapaciously torn a.way from him by the Sa.beans; many of his servants have been sis.in with the edge of the sword; the fire of God has consumed the sheep and the shepherds who took charge of them ; the camels the Chaldeans have stolen, and slain the camel-keepers; the house of the eldest son, in whieh Job's sons and daughters were feasting, has been smitten by a great wind, and it has fallen, crushing the young men beneath its ruins. Could greater calamities happen to any man? This picture of desolation is complete. Surely every quality of character is tested. What ctlll fo1· passionate, impatient complaining! What is Job's conduct in this hour? He presents the example of the triumphant victory of faith. l. THE VIC'l'ORY OF FAITH HAS ITS FOUNDATION IN A RECOGNITION OF THE DlVl~E SUPREMAOY. "The Lord gave, and the Lord ha.th taken away." To live in the a.bid- ing acknowledgment of the Divine supremacy is the first requisite in a pure au~ a triumphing faith. It sees all things to be God's. He is Lord of all. Job feared God, and he trusted in God. Fear supports faith as truly as it sanctifies love. II. THE VICTORY OF FAITH IS PROMOTED BY REVERENTIAL DEVOTION. Even the keen pangs of sorrow did not pl'event Job from lowly worship. He sought the Lc-rd in the day of his calamity, and be was helped. One allows his affliction to withdraw him from God; but he is driven to despair, for there is no helper; and the poor smitten spirit ce.nnot stand alone. Another is driven to God, and finds a Hiding-place and Ro-ck of defence. When we make God our Refuge, he becomes our Strength. It is foolish to forget God in the time of our need. - He can help us when all other help fails. He will not see his feeble creatures come to him with lowly prayer, asking his aid with heart sincere, and yet leave them to their own resources. He who before God confesses his want gains for himself the Divine riches. ' Ill. 'fBE VICTORY OF FAITH IS CONSISTENT WITH GREAT PAINFULNESS AND SORBOW.  28 THE BOOK OF JOB. [ott, I, 1.._:!12 - - - - - ·--- -·· Job rent his mantle and shaved otr his hair-Eastern methods of representin"' eorro1v. The great Exemplar was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." He al~o "~uffered" -was pre-eminently "a Man of sorrows." The godly in all ages have been fut to the proor. "It came to pass that God did tempt Abraham," This is to be eai of every aon of Abraham. IV. THE VICTORY OF FAITH IS THE LOWLY BUT BEOOM:ING TRIDUTB OF THE HUMAN HEART TO THE SUPREMACY, THE WISDOM, AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD. V. THE VICTORY OF FAITH ENSURES THE UTMOST DIVINE APPROVAL; and, as this completed history is designed to show, ends in a final reward which hides the recollec- tion of the toil and suffering by which it is attained. The great lesson of all: "Have faith in God."-R. G.