The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 46

atlll 11,ppeo,rs enthroned amidst the principo,litles and powers of heaven-the devils also being subjeot to him (cf. 1 Pet. iii. 22); (2) the permanence of moral obligation in the heavenly world and amongst 11ngels as well as on the earth, neither lapse of time nor change of circumstances having the slightest effect in releasing God's intelligent creatures from the bonds of responsibility; and (3) the constancy and cheerfulness with which the inhabitante of the upper world delight to do God's holy will-an example of obedience proposed for the study and imitation of believers (Matt. vi. 10). 2. The reappearance of the adversOIT'y. If, on the former occasion, the entrance of Sate.n amongst God's celestial sons might permissibly be regarded as an impertinent intrusion, in the preAent instance his return must be held as having taken place in accordance with a tacit understanding that, in due course, he should appear to report the result of his experiment with the patriarch, which, perhaps, may explain the intro- duction of the words, " to present himself before the Lord," omitted from the account of the first assembly. II. TBE OLD 0ONTROVEBBY RESUMED, 1. The patriarch's enemy interrogated. "From whence comest thou?" Note (1) God's universal copiizance of things that transpire on earth (eh. xxviii. 10, 24; xx.x:iv. 22); (2) God's perpetual surveillance of the devil in bis movements; and (3) God's constant watchfulness against his attacks (Rev. iii. 10). 2. The patriarch's piety commended. "Hast thou consitlered my servant Job?" (see homiletics on eh, i. 1, 8). Whether or not containing "a. covert sneer at the baffled adversary," the question reminds us of: (1) God's faithfulness towards his people. Nothwithstanding all that had occurred, Job was still God's servant, and God as ready to own him for his servant as when the patriarch was rejoicing in the fulness of prosperity (Isa. xliv, 21; !iv. 10). (2) Hod's judgment con- cerning his people. God can always distinguish between a man and his surroundings. The Omniscient judges no one by his material environment, but by the character of his heart (1 Sam. xvi. 7; 2 Sam. vii. 20; Ps. vii. 9). (3) God's affection for his people. .As Job's afflictions had not destroyed his piety, so neither had they alienated God's love, Never in the day of calamity does Jehovah renounce his saints, but rather, because of tribulation, clings to them with fonder affection (1 Sam. xii. 22; Ps. xci. 15; Rom. xi. 2; 2 Tim. ii. 19; Rev, ii. 9). 3. The patriarch's sincerity attested. (1) '!'he Divine satisfaction with the patriarch. "He still holdeth fast his integrity." Constancy in piety is a rare jewel in the saint's casket, lends a special lustre to his other virtues, is ever highly prized by its possessor, and never fails to elicit Heaven's commendation. The Divine approbation also, besides being an ample recompense for all the saint's trials (Rom. viii. 18), is the only sure test of genuine religion (2 Cor. x:. 18), the greatest honour a saint can receive (Matt. x. 32), and the final portion of those who hold fast their integrity to the end (Mai. iii. 17; Rev. iii. 5). (2) The Divine indignation against Satan. "Although thou movedst me to destroy him." See the widely differing estimates of trouble taken by God and Satan. What the devil called a touch God calls a swallowing up: that marks the tenderness of God's heart. Note the different relations in which God and Satan stood to Job's affliction-God acting, and the devil tempting; marking God's sovereignty, but Satan's responsibility. " God's afflicting of his people is (so to say) a blowing of the bellows to kindle his displeasure against wicked instruments (Isa. xlvii. 5, 6; Zech. i. 15)" (Hutcheson). (3) The Divine sorrow about himself. "Thou movedst me . . . without cause." Indicating the reluctance with which God in any case proceeds against a saint (Lam. iii. 33), and the regret which he felt in this case, since he knew so well there was no sufficient reason for entertaining a suspicion against the patriarch's piety. Let it teach us that "though all men have sins enough to be the meritorious cause, yet oftentimes sin is not the moving cause of their afflictions" (Caryl). III. THE OLD 0ALUMNY REVIVED. Job's victory in the previous con:6.ict is by the devil: 1. Tacitly admitted. SattJ.n finds it impossible to repel the statements advanced by Jehovah concerning his servant. Saints should study to live so that their piety cannot be contradicted, however much it may be aspersed by Satan and wicked men, and that God, whon he speaks in commendation of their integrity, may be justified. 2. Re:•sonably explained. Un the ii;round that the trial was not severe enough. "Skin fur skin," e~c.-a proverb, which, however explained (see Exposition), practically charges tha patriarch with unnatural barbarity in disregarding the loss of his children  SS THE BOOK OF JOB. [oa, u. 1-13, ----------------------------------- since hia own skin was saved, as well as with intense and revolting selfiehnesa in mnking the supreme consideration, in all his thoughts and ce.lculatione, the preservation of his own life. 8. Wholly ttnder'llalued. As in his (the devil's) estimation, proving nothing and contributing nothing to the solution of the grand problem in debate, Hence he does not besite.te to suggest that the matter should a second time be aub, mitted t-0 the ordeal of t~ial. re THE OLD PROPOSITION REPEATED. .. But put forth thine hand now;" which demand wa.s certainly : 1. Presumptri-0us ; considering by whom it was me.de, Satan a.nd to whom it was addressed, Jehovah; thus showing the illimitable pride of th~ del"il (Isa. xiv. 12, 18, 14). 2. Unnecessary; remembering the person against whom it was directed, and the issue of the preceding trial to which he had been subjected ...3, Gruel; seeing that Job had 11.lready been afflicted by the double stroke of baQkruptoy an~ bereavement, and ~his was a request that God would aggravate his misery by laymg bis hand upon bis person. But who would ever look for humane and tender feelings in a d~vil ~ 4. MaligMnt; when regard is had to its object and, moti:ve-:--the latter being hostility to God and haired of piety; the former the overthrow of Job's religion and the damnation of Job's person. V. 'l'Hs OLD PERMISSION REJ>'EWED. "Behold, he is in thine hand.". The patriarch wu again delivered up into the power of the adversary. 1. Sovereignly; God havin<r a perfoct right to dispose of the persons of his people, no less than their properties. 2~ Ileall!f; to be tried in whatever manner his Satanic ingenuity might devise, alway,s, of course, within the prescribed limits. 3. Immediatel,y; from this time forward being rendered accessible to the hostile assaults of the adversary. Yet: .4. Reservedly; with cert&in restrictions as to bis life, which was not to be taken from him. And also, one cannot help thinking: 6. Oonfidentl,y; without the slightest apprehension of an unfavourable issue to the trial, so high was the estimation in which God held his servant. Learn : 1. Concerning the devil. That he is seldom satisfied with only one attempt ag&illfit the virtue of a saint; that he is exceedingly unwilling to admit himself defeated on the field of spiritual conflict; and that he ever plants his fiercest batteries against the citadel of a saint's integrity. 2. Concerning the saint. That he need hardly anticipate -a long period of exemption from either trials or temptations; that whatever calami~ies befall him, he should labour to discern God's providentia\ hB.l)d in their occurrence; and that he may confidently trust God will not give him o:ver·oompletely to the devil. 3. Concerning God. That though he may suffer his saints' to be tried, he does not cease to love them ; that though he may lengthen Satan's chain, he doesn't loosen it ; •and that, though he may sometimes listen to Satan's charges against the sa.ints, he: never j believes them. • ' ., Vei. 4.-The 'llal'Ue of life. L MoRE V.ALU.AllLE THAN MATEHL\L,POSSEBSIONS. • 1 .• In origin; being the breath of God's Spirit, while they are only the work of God's hand . .2. In =tore; being conscious of its own existence, while they are only dead, insensate things. 3. 1n capacities ; being possessed of -intellect, reason, conscience, will, while they have only properties and qualities peculiar to mat_ter. 4. In de$ign; being intended for the conscious enjoyment of God, while they can never consciously enjoy, but ouly obediently and passively glorify, their Mak.er. n. LESS "\".ALU.ABLE THAlf SPIRITUAL POSBESfilONB, 1. In cluvracter .; being a natural endowment, while these are essentially gifts of grace. 2. In 'U8efulness; without these being a failure so far as realizing its appropriate end ie concerned, whereas these enhance the diguity and capabilities of life. 3. In happir.e68; life with grace. being immensely more enjoyable than mere existence without it. 4. In dwation; life being doomed ito decay and diBBOlution,. while the riches of the soul endure .for ever. LEeSOlil8. L Prize life as a gift of God. 2. Adorn life with the grace of God. 3. Use life for the glory of God. 4. Betum life (when it ie called for) into the hands o!God. Ver. 4.-Ba.t,an', yro,,,,rb. L 'l'llE llrD'OBT OP IT. That a man will part with every• thing about him to save his life. IL THE FA.LSEJIOOD OF IT. L Men will pa.rt with all outward .things to save life.  TBE BOOK OF JOB. 39