The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 152

EXPOSITION. that is not puffed up with pride or utterly CHAPTER IX. insensate and sunk in o.po.thy. Vers. 1-SS.-Job, in answer to Bildad, Ver. 3.-If he will contend with him; admits the troth of his arguments, but rather, if he should de,ire. to contend with him; ie. if, notwithstanding bis knowledge cleclincs to attempt the justification which of bis own weakness and guilt, he should can alone entitle him to accept the favour• nevertheless be mad enough to desire to able side of Bildad's alternative. Man can- contend with God, then be will find the.t not absolutely justify himself before God. he cumot answer him one of a thousand, It is in vain to attempt to do so. The contest Of the charges which God might in bis omniscience bring against him, he could not is too unequal. On the one side perfect me.ke a se.tisfactory reply to one in a thou- wisdom and absolute strength (ver. 4); on sand. It is not that Job admits any special the other, weakneBB, imperfection, igoorauce, guilt in himself; but such he feels to be the guilt (vers. 17-20). And no "dayB1Dll.ll," universal condition of humanity. "All have sinned," in ten thousand ways, "and come or umpire, between them; no third party to short of the glory of God" (Rom. iii. 23). hold the balance even, and preside authori- Ver. 4.-He is wile in heart, and mighty tatively over the controversy, and see that in strength. The sense is strengthened if justice is done (vers. 33--35). Were it other- we omit "he is," and render, Wise in heart, wise, Job would not shrink from the contro- and mighty in strength, who hath hardened, versy; but he thinks it ill e.rguing with etc. ? God's combination of perfect wisdom with infinite strength renders it hopeleBB omnipotent power. What be seems to lack for any man to contend with him. Who is the absolute conviction expressed by hath hardened himself against him, and Abraham in the emphatic words, .. Shall not bath prospered t Job fully admits the the Judge of ell the ee.rth iuJ rightf., wisdom of all that Eliphaz (eh. iv. 17) and Bildad (eh. viii. 3-6) have said, or hinted, (Gen. xviii 25). with respect to his inability wholly to justify himself. No one has ever taken this line of Vere. 1, 2.-A.nd 1 ob answered and said, absolute self-justification, and prospered, - I know it is so of e. truth. "I freely admit," i e.," o.11 tbat baa been so.id." God would Vera. 5-13.-A magnificent description not cast e.we.y a perfectly righteous me.n ( eh. of the might and majesty of God, transcend- viii. 20); e.ud, of course, he punishes evil- doers. But, applied practically, what is the ing anything in the Psalms, and comparable result? How should me.n be just with God t to the grandest passages of Iaaiah ( see espe• or, bej01"e God f Apart from any knowledge cially Isa. :xl. 21-24 ; xliii. 15-20). of the doctrine of original or inherited sin, ea.eh man feels, deep in his bee.rt, that he is Ver. 5.-Whioh removeth the mountains, sinful-"a chief of sinners." Bradford looks and they know not ; which overturneth upon the murderer e.s he mounts the scaffold, them in his anger. Earthquakes are com• and says, "Bot for the grace of God, there mon in all the countries adjoining Syria goes John Bradford I" Job has a similar and Palestine, and must always he.ve been conviction, that in the sight of God, right- among the most striking manifestations of eousness, such as it is, s-9rinks e.way into God's power. '!'here are several allwrions insignificance, and is as nothing, cannot to them in the Psalme (Ps. viii. 8 ; civ. 32), RDybow be relied upon. Such must be the and historical mention of them in Numb. attitude before God of every hume.n soul xvi. 32; 1 Kings xix. 11; Amos i. 1;. Zeeb.  Olt, tx. 1-35.] TtIE BOOK OF JOB.