Vera. 1-5.-~ lot of the foolish. By a skilful turn of thought, Eliphaz exhibits the• consequences of human folly- . .. I. As TREY AFFECT THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FOOLISH ONE. "Wrath killeth· and envy slayeth" him. By his folly he excites the wrath or the envy of others, or: hb folly leads him into deadly courses. ' •. , 11. A.is THEY AFFECT ms LOT AND CONDITION. His prosperity,even if it begin, is but· of temporary dlll'8.tion. If he take root, suddenly his habitation is cursed. , , . III. .A.s THEY AFFECT HIS FAMILY. His children are in danger-" far from safety." They are condemned by the judge sitting in the gate ; are crashed, and are not found.. " The seed of the wicked shall be cut off." IV. As THEY AFFECT ms SUBSTANCE. He soweth, bat a stranger reapeth his l1a.rvests; bis toil may be productive, but a "robber swalloweth" his substance. Dark is the picture thus presented of the judgments which fall upon the ungodly, the foolish," and the vain. If Eliphaz intended this to be a reflection upon Job, it was unmerited and • uncalled for. The Divine judgment npon Job was," My servant Job,a perfect and an upright man." Eliphaz argued from the particular to the general. However true it may be that the foolish suffers, it .is !!lot equally trne .that every sufferer is foolish. This was the error in Eliphaz's mode of arguing. It is a .common error. We know it may be said," He whom thou lovest is sick:."-R. G. Vers. 6, 7.-T/ie oomm(J'II, lot. "Man is born unto trouble.• L IT IS AN INEVITABLE BESULT OF BIS EXPOSED CONDITION, IJ. !T IS EVIDENTLY .A PA.BT OF THE PRESENT OBDEB OF THINGS, • .-But- !Il. IT IS DUE TO THE DEBANGEJIIE:NT OF THE BIGHT BELATIONB OF MAN TO HIS Goo, TO ll18 NEIGHBOUR, TO THE WOBLD A.BOtTh'D. "Affliction cometh not forth of the dust ; neither doth trouble spring out of the ground." , IV. IT IS GRACIOUSLY USED AS A MEANB OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE, OOBBEOTION, AND DEVELOP.KENT, We now know that that which we endure is for chastening-for that culture which every wise father seeks to secure for his sons. And when the afflictions are "not joyous, but grievous," e.-en then "God dealeth with us as with sons." He takes up the sad and dark and painful things of our life, and uses them as instruments, for our discipline, "that we might be partakers of his holiness." Mos_t e.ssuredly we may know that "the peaceable fruits of righteousness" are yielded to them .who patiently endure these afflictions when they are" exercised thereby." Let us, therefore, learn: 1. Not to be ,;urprised if" trouble" overtakes us. We a.re: born in a land where it is very plelltiful. 2. To see to it that our affliction.s come of our frailty, not of o.nr folly. 3. Patiently to await the end, when h11 sh11ll _hav,e· wrought out his _purpose, who maketh "all things work together for good to them tha~. love hlm."-R. (i.
V 1;:rs, S-l,6,-0fld fM true Befw;e in a§lictiqn. "I would s130j[ unto (io4,." Wisely IIB, V. 1-27.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 9'7
did Ellpbaz urgo his friend to seek refuge in the only true and aafe reaort.. "Under bis feaLhers shalt thou trust." In the midst of all sorrows- "God is the Refuge of bis saints, When storms of sharp distress invade; Ere we can offer our complaints, Behold !Jim present with his aid." To seek this Refuge men are encouraged by- I. THE GREATNESS OF THE DrVINE POWEB. He "doeth great things and unsearch- able; marvellous things without number." Of these beautiful illustrations are to be found on every hand-in heaven, earth, the deep seas, in the processes of nature, in the government of men. II .. 'l'nE DrvrnE DENEFI0EN0E. His rich gifts made freely to the sons of men. " He giveth rain upon the earth," which is at once a precious gift and a symbol of al! blessiµ.gs in its abundance, diffusion, preciousness, freeness to all. " He is kiod to the evil and the unthankful, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust." III. THE DivrnE CONTROL OVEn MEN. Especially illustrated in his dealing with the wicked. He r.akes compassion on the needy. "He setteth on high those that be low." He brings down the haughtiness of the foolish. He "disappointeth the devices of the craf~y"-taketh the wicked in their own deceit. IV. 'l'HE DIVINE PITIFULNESS FOR THE POOR is a further encouragement to men to : find their Refuge in God. He guardeth the poor and the feeble. He saveth him from ·.the sword of their mouth, their cruel words, and from the hand of the mighty. The ,Divine Help of the poor, men have sung in all ages. "So the poor bath hope;" "The . poor committeth himself unto thee." In this Refuge he is safe. The day of his trouble j passes away. A Divine hand, unseen, upholds him while the pressure is heavy. Of '. the poor, as of the sparrows, it must be said, " God feedeth them." If men knew the : loving-kindness of the Lord, and hie great pitifulness, they would put their trust in him ' more willingly, and would find help and comfort.-R. G. Vera. 17-23.-The blessedness of the Divine ccrrectirm. This was known even in early times, but only fully taught in New Testament times. It is a great encourage- ment to men to bear pain and sorrow to know that the Lord afflicts. "He maketh sore," but "he bindeth up;" "he woundeth," but his "hands make whole again." Being a Divine correction, a chastisement from his hand will be- I. A WISE CORRECTION. A good purpose will always be held in view. "Not willingly," "not for his pleasure," does he afflict, His aim is to promote our good-" that we may be partakers of his holiness." II. A GBACIOUB COBBECTION. Mercy will temper it. "He remembereth we are but dust." "He will no load of grief impose Beyond the strength that he bestows.• If he brings low in affliction, it is that he may exalt in honour. If he takes away earthly possessions, it is that he may supplant them with heavenly. He weans the heart from the love of the temporal, that he may fix it on the eternal. It is, therefore- 111. A BENIGN COBBE0TION. Happy fruits follow it. If be afflicts, he heals. He delivers in six, yea, seven troubles. He redeems the famishing from death. He hides from the scourge of the tongue. He screens from the stroke of destruction. He draweth men into good ways; then, when they please the Lord, he maketh even their enemies to be at peace with them. Beautifully is this illustrated: "Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.n He who keeps the commandments of God is in harmony with the whole kingdom of God. This encourages to patience under trials. 1. It is tbe Lord's chastisement. 2. lt is controlled and regulated by a Divine hand. 3. It has a wise and worthy end in view. 4. It cometh to its blessed fruition in the sanctity and perfectness of human character, -R.G. V er1. 24-27 .-The final consequencu of the IH11•m chast·imnent. He who in m6l'Cy JOB. II 98 THE BOOK OF JOB. [oe, v._ 1-27.