The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 145

-or like the snowfall in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever." (Bama.) ID, Tm: MORAL, 1. A gene1'a! principk. God will neither reject a righteous nor Msi~t a wicked man (ver. 20). A good man may be cast down, but he cannot ba cnst off (Ps. xciv. 14; 2 Cof. iv. 9). The character (1 Sam. xii. 22 • u. 29 • Job x:1:iii. 13; Mai. _ii. 16; iii. 6), _the covenan~ (Deut. iv. ~1 ; 1 Kings viii'. 23; 2 Kings xm. 23; Ps. cXI. 5), the prormse (Lev. XXVJ. 44; Isa.. hv. 9; Hos. ii. 19; Rom. xi. 29; 2 Cor. i. 20; Heb. x. 23), the people (Gen. xxiv. 27; Josh. xxiii. 14; 1 Sam. xii. 22, 2 Sa~. x".iii. 5; Rom. xi. 2), of_God, all combine to testify the impossibility of God'~ turnmg bis back upon a truly pious man,-a thought full of comfort for the Christian (John x. 28). Equally do they proclaim the doctrine that God cannot really, however appe,ara.aces may declare the contrary, take a bad man by the hand. Otherwise his Word would be falsified (Ps. xxxiv. 16), his purity tarnished (Hab. i. 13), hie Godhead forfeited. (1 John i. 5),-an idea fraught with warning for the wicked. 2. A particular application.. This being so, on the hypothesis of Job's integrity, Job might with certitude reckon that God would not cast him off, but interpose in his behalf, till prosperity once more dawned upon him, and his mouth was filled with laughing, and his tongue with rejoicing (ver. 21); while the contrary portion would be allotted to all Job's enemies and God's, viz. shame and everlasting destruction (ver. 22). What Bildad here affirms of the respective fortunes of the righteous and the wicked is only true when we take into reckoning the eternal futures of both, the everlasting happiness (Ps. lxxiii. 24; ls&. xxx:v. 10; Dan. xii. 3; Luke x:. 20 ; xii. 32 ; Rom. ii. 7, 10; viii. 18) of the saint, and the everlasting perdition of the ungodly (Matt. xxv. 46; 2 These;. i 9; Rev. x:xi. 8). Learn : 1. If it is wrong to over-estimate, it is also wrong to depreciate; the men and things of bygone days. 2. It is much safer in our reasonings to rest upon the results of experience than to build upon the speculations of fancy. 3. The brevity of life should stimulate to diligence in pursuit of knowledge. 4. 'l'he teachings of tradition, though not infallible, have a place and value of their own. 5. It is well that the tongue should only speak what the mind and heart have meditated and prepared. 6. Covet not material prosperity, which may exist without inward piety. 7. Beware of an appearance of religion which has no corresponding reality beneath.' 8. The secret of soul-prosperity, as the source of spiritual vitality, is frequent meditation upon God. 9. The entire world of common things is full of parables of heavenly truth to them who can interpret tbe same. 10. It is possible to make a fair promise at the outset of a Christian profession, and yet eventually fall away. 11. The wicked man's joy must ultimately be exchanged for sorrow. 12. The sorrows of earth in the case of God's saints will be succeeded by the hallelujahs of heaven. Ver. 13.-The h:ypocrite's hope. L A BTABTLING DEFINITION. The hypocrite is: 1. An ungodly person. He has an outward pretence of piety, but in reality be is destitute of true religion. 2. A forgetter of God. It is not necessary that hie impiety should take the form of flagrant wickedness. That might be ea~ily detected, and would be altogether inconsistent with an appearance of godliness. It is enough that he simply forgets God. II. AN illAZING REVELATION. The hypocrite finds himself possessed of a hope, i.e. of God's favour and of eternal life; which hope is: 1. Like the papyrus, the fruit of hb prosperity, wholly dependent on external circumstances. 2. Like the spider's web, a flimsy, unsubstantial edifice, deftly fashioned out of his own imagination. 3. Like the gourd, complacently self-satisfying. ill. A FEARFUL PREDICTION. The hypocrite's hope shall perish: 1. Like the papyrus, it may droop suddenly. 2. Like the spider's web, it may be destroyed violently. 3. Like the climbing plant, it will be blasted shamefully. LESSONS. 1. Examine well the grour:.ds on which our hope of heaven rests, 2. Seek to he possessed of that good hope which comes through grace, CR, Vlll. 1-22.] THE BOOK OB' JOB. 147