how they applied to Job. Eliphaz assumed that Job'8 position was thereby condeml:led• Leaving t.his out of account, however, we may see how lofty, true, and important the words that came in the Temanite's vision were. I. 'l'nE oBvrnus FAOTI>. One would hnve thought that no ghost WBS wanted to make such ~elf-evident facts as a.re here na.rrated clear to everybody, As we look at the vision of Eliphaz we are t<-mpted to suspect a pompous pretentiousness in it. And )'et, though the fects referred to are obvious and unquestionable, they cannot be too impressi\·ely insisted on or too profoundly felt. Therefore it may be well that they are brought before us shrouded in the awe of an apparition. 1'heso facts con- cern the littleness of man compared with the greatness of God. At the end.of the poem God himself appeus and brings them home to Job with a force that is not found in the \'ision of Eliphaz, partly because God's dealings with Job himself are ,..-ise aud fair, while the conduct of Eliphaz is unreasonable and unjust. Note three. regions in which man's littleness is contrasted with God's greatness. 1, Moral,. One man may be more pnre or more just than another man. But who can surpass God? Before him the best men shrink a.nd own their utter unworthiness. 2. Intellectual,, Some men are more discerning a.nd wise than others, but the height of human capacity is but folly before God. 3. Vital. Man's life is frail and brief. His ephemeral existence is as nothing compared to the eternity of God. All these truths a.re trite ; their importance lies in the application of them. · II. THEIR JUST EFFECTS. The tremendous mistake people make is to admit the obvious facts, and then to live exactly a.s if they did not exist. But if they a.re they should have great effects upon conduct. Note some of ·the results they should work in us. 1. Humility. We ma.y not understand God, but we should not venture to judge One so infinitely greater than ourselves. Reverence is our right attitude before the mysteries of Providence. 2. Contrition. We may defend ourselves among men, but we cannot do so in the presence of God. Not only can we conceal nothing from God-we should not wish to do that-but further, we see a higher standard in God than that which prevails among men, and judged by that standard the saint is a sinner. 3. Patience. God is infinitely just ; he knows all ; he cannot fail. We do not know what he is doing, nor why he acts. But we can wait.- 4. Trust. This goes beyond' patience. We have a. right to confide in so just, wise, and strong a. God. His great- ness strikes terror in the rebellious soul; but when one is reconciled to God, that very greatness becomes a mighty, invincible rock of refuge. 5. Obedience. Our duty is to do wore than submit without a. murmur, a.nd wait patiently for God. He is our Master, our King, and our business is to follow his great authority. Sin is self-will, pride, distrust, disobedience. The Christian life is one of active service; it is treading humbly in the way which our infinite God assigns to us. His greatness justly commands implicit obedience.-W. F. A.
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER V. the higher sense, is at leBSt a sagacioll8 in- terpreter of God's ways with men, and can Vers. 1-27.-Eliphaz, having ne.rrated very happily forecast the future. his vision, and rehearsed the words which the spirit spoke in bis ear, continues in his Ver. 1.-Call now, if there be any that own person, first (vers. 1-7) covertly re- will e.nswer thee; rather, oall 11ow; is there proa.ching JoL, and then (vere. 8-27) seek- any that will amwer thee f What a.id, that is, wilt thou invoke, if thou tumest away ing to comfort him by the suggestion that, from God, aud reproaehest. _him? Thinkest. if he will pla.ce himself unreservedly in the thou to find any one in heaven or earth to hands of God, it is still poBBible the.t God answer to the ca.11 . and come t.o thy assist~ may relent, remove his cblll!tening hand, a.nee? Utterly vain is any such hope. .ln4 deliver him frorn hiB troubles, and even gi vo to whioh of the ■ainta. wilt thou tum 1 By "the saints" are meant in this place " the him Lack e.11 his for~er prosperity. 'fhe holy angels" (oomJJ, eh. xv. 15 ; Ps. lxxxix. e.nti.eipation is in remrnkable accordance 7; Zech. xiv. 5). The question, " To which with the ultimate event (eh. xiii. 10-17), wilt thou turn?" seems to imply that the.re &lld shows tbe.t Eliphaz, if 11ot a prophet ill waa already in Job'• ti.Qie aome knowledge OR, T. 1-27.) THE BOOK OF JOB. 85