The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 126

hope of o.ny to euccecd them-i.e. of any days of happiness on earth-an affecting emblem of the vanity and shortness of life. 11. A PITIFUL SUPPLIOATION FROM HUMAN RORROW, 1. The Being addressed. "Oh, remember I" Though not named, God ie meant. It is well, though not always necessary, to invoke God by name in our prayers; but certainly it is better to. leave God's name out altogether than to introduce it too frequently into our dev,btions. That Job called on God in bis calamity was e. sign that his faith was not yet extin- guished, and that he still retained his hold upon the God whom he had formerly professed to serve. It was likewise a more hopeful way of obtaining relief from, or support under, his troubles, since it is always better in our distresses " to cry to God than to complain to creatures" (Caryl). 2. The prayer pre11ented. "Oh, remember!" As applied to God, the word signifies (1) to take notice, to observe, to bear in mind (Ps. luviii. 39); hence (2) to regard with pity (Ps. cxxxii. 1); and (3) to interpose with help (Gen, viii. 1). God remembers when, so to speak, he allows an object to remain in the contemplation of his infinite mind so as to be suitably affected thereby. Job desires tho.t God would (1) consider his case; (2) commiserate hid person; and (3) commute his sorrow. This, however, does not imply that God ever forgets his people (Isa. xlix. 15), though he may sometimes appear to do so (Ps. xiii. 1); or fails to sympathize with them in trouble (Ps. ciii. 13; Isa. !xvi. 13), though afflicted saints may sometimes imagine so (Pa. xliv. 24; Isa. xlix. 14); or is indisposed to succour them (1 Sam. ii. 9 ; Ps. xxxi. 23; xci. 1), thoui!h he frequently, for wise and good reasons, delays his intervention (Exod. xiv. 13; Matt. xiv. 25; xv. 23). 3. The plea ojf1:red. The irrevocableness of life which Job depicts by means of two impressive images, comparing his sorrowful existence to: (1) A passing wind. "Oh, remember that my life is wind I" a breath, a puff of air (Pa. lxxviii. 39; ciii. 16}-an emblem suggestive of the frailty, the rapidity, and (more especially here) the irrevocability of life. Job interprets the metaphor with regard to himself by saying that when once he had departed this life: (a) His eye should never more see good (ver. 7); i.e. it should never more return to enjoy the things that constitute (or are supposed to constitute) earthly felicity (cf. the language of Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 11). Life's pleasures, opportunities, privileges, can only be enjoyed once. Yet good in the highest sense does not terminate with death. When a saint departs from this mortal scene he enters upon the chief good, the experience of nobler pleasures and loftier privileges than ever he possessed on earth (eh. xix. 27; Phil. i. 21). (b) Men's eyes should never see him (ver. 8); i.e. he should never more mingle in the society of the living, never more participate in the friendships and associations of time, having bid farewell to all companions and loved ones (cf. Eccles. ix. 9, 10)-an argument for Jiving peacefully and lovingly arnong11t friends, companions, and neighbours, since we must soon be parted from them and they from us. (c) Even God's eye should fail to see him (ver. 8); i.e. God would not be able to do him good after he was dead, the present life being the only season in which man has an opportunity of receiving "gracious" visitation from God. It is too late to give a man a cordial when he is in his grave; and much more is it post horam to look for salvation when life is ended (2 Cor. vi. 2). (2) A vanishing cloud. "The cloud dissolves and disappears" (ver. 9). The metaphor is appropriate, as setting forth tl!,e unsubstantial, transitory, and irrevocable character of human life (cf. Jas. iv. 14). Like the cloud which is quickly dispersed (often by a gentle puff of wind), vanishing into a realm where human vision cannot follow it, so man goeth down into Sheol, the unseen abode of departed spirits. And as the scattered cloud never llc,"llin gathers itself upon the face of heaven, so never more does man revisit the upper air when once he has descended into "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns." In particular, he never again returns to his house, neither shall his place in the family circle, nt the social banquet, on change, and in the public o.ssembly, know him any more (ver. 10). Though the doctrine of immortality and the hope of a resur~3ction are n,Jt here insisted on, it does not follow that they were unknown to either Eliphaz or Job (eh. xix. 26). Learn : 1. Since life, and especially the Christian life, is e. war-service (1 Tim. vi. 12), it becomes saints not unnecessarily to entangle themselves with the affairs of this world (2 Tim. ii. 4), but to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. ii. 3). 2. Since God will faithfully recowpense his servants (Prov, xii, 14; Rom, ii, lO ;  126 THE BOOK OF Jon. [on. vn. 1-21