Vere. 21-24.-Rebellion of the con~cienu again,t this picture of terror. A reaction comes; for the clear testimony of consciousness may he obscured for a time, but cannot be denied. In that clear consciousness, it seems that Job will turn against the injustice (as he thinks) of God, and boldly denounce it. I. A OOOD CONBOIENCE LIFTS THE ]IIND ABOVE ABJECT FEAR. (We take ver. 21 as a declaration of innocence renewed.) II. IT IMPARTS CONTEMPT OF DEATH. (Ver. 21.) III. IT STIMULATES TO BOLDNESS m PLEADING oNE's CAUSE. We most think of Job, according to a. leading conception of the book, as within his right in plea.ding against his (supposed) adversary o.s in a. court. He argues, as again showing that God is merely an absolute Tyrant, that the innocent are punished along with the guilty (ver. 22). There are two examples of this: 1. The scourge, or pest, which quickly sweeps a.way whole populations, making no discrimination between the good and evil, the hoary sinner and the helpless babe (ver. 23). 2. The dominion of the wicked in the world. 'l'heir faces are covered; they do not distin,,CTUish between right and wrong. And who else can be the Cause of this but God (ver. 24) ?-J. Vers. 25-35.-Melancholy reflections. I. SELF-CONTEMPLATION Il!I' REFERENCE To THE PAST. His life has sped swiftly-like e. courier, or the swift boat of the Euphrates or the Nile, or the swooping eagle (vers. 25, 26), and without seeming prosperity. Here he perverts the history of the past ; but memory as well as reason is poisoned. II. IN REFERENCE TO THE FUTURE, (Vers. 27, 2B.) Hope has broken its wing. The effort to remove the gloom from his brow is useless, unless he could remove the weight from his heart. 'l'hat-the sense of the disfavour of God-comes rolling back from every effort, like the stone of Sisyphus. III. THE VANITY OF MORAL ENDEAVOUR. (Vers. 29---31.) He feels himself as under an absolute decree of guilt which no earthly power can possibly remove. Should he use snow-water and lye, i.e. employ all means to justify himself, still his absolute Judge would plunge him back into a state of horrible pollution. IV. THE INEQUALITY OF THE STRIFE BETWEEN MAN AND Goo. Were it between man and man, he has no doubt of the success of his cause. V. THE WANT OF A COURT OF APPEAL, (Vers. 32, 33.) There is no "daysman," or arbitrator, who can lay the hand of authority upon both of us, and, by determining the cause; bring the strife to an end. VI. PASSIONATE APPEAL AND RESOLVE. The appeal is for freedom of speech (vers. 34, 35; eh. x. 1, 2). The last, or one of the last, boons that honourable men can be disposed to deny to the oppressed; one that God will never deny to his intelligent creatures. Yet Job, overcome by the dogmatism of his friends, seems to think it is now denied him. The resolve is that since life has now become a weariness and a disgust, he will give free way to words, regard.less of consequences. In reviewing this wild complaint of an unhinged intelligence, we may learn the following lessons: 1. God is not to be thought of as absolute Power, but rather as absolute Justice and Love. 'l'he former is the conception of a demon, the latter that of the Father of spirits. 2. All sides and aspects of nature must be viewed as equally revelations of God. 3. Man is never weak when he has right on his side, and, though he seems to be crushed, he will be exalted for ever. 4. Darkness in the rea.son is no proof of the withdrawal of God's favour. Our subjection and personal sufferings do not affect the eternal objective re,1lities. The clouds may hide, but cannot efface, the sun. 5. God is merciful to our misumlerstandings, and detects the spark of faith in the heart of sufferers who may be unconscious of it themselves.-J.
Vere. 1-4.-Man unable to a.11swer to God. Job resumes. He knows, as truly as does Bildad, that God doth not pervert justice. His work is always right, while man is erring, vain, and sinful. How shall the creature "answer" to the Crea.tor? Were the Holy One to oondeeoend to enter into controvere7 with his frail cmi.ture man, the {JOO? 1'10 TllE BOOK OF JOB.
11innet would be dumb. Ont or the mouth, even of the guilty, God would extort thll confession of hiR own rigbteousn'888, and by his n:umifeeted glor:,- compel the proud and self-conceited one to acknowledge bis own sinfulness and error. Thie oonfuseion finally comeR from the lips of his faithful "servant Job." The present words are the first notes of that final triumphant confession. The in11.bility of man to answer God arises- I. FROM THE FACT OF TRE ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOU8NBS8 OF THB DIVINE WAYS. Job acknowledges this; and this makes his own suffering lot, as the servant of God, eo inexplicable both to himself and to bis mistaken friends, who are bent, llt all hazards, on finding an answer. It is possible for man to pretend an answer to God; end, with wicked boldness, to enter into contention with him. But, in presence of the perfectly holy work of the Most High, he must ultimately be silenced; , : •, . , IJ. BUT MAK JS EQUALLY UNABLE TO ANSWER TO Goo BY:REABON OF ~:a:·smFOL- 1'"ES8 OF ms DOINGS. Even Job, oommencled of God, does not bide his sinfulness. On the lowest ground, it must be complained of me.n's work that it is imperfect. Bis best deed~, done with his utmost strength and with an intention as pure as he can summon, are but imperfectly done. The strength is bnt feeblene..'IB, the motive lacking in the highest qualities, and the performance but irregular. The unsteadiness of the human hl!nd may be tmced through all. Therefore-- . , III. IT IS IXPOSSIBLE'l"OR MAN TO MAINTAIN BIB OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD. The measure of moral apprehension left "Cven in the most faulty is sufficient to .con- ,·ince every one in presence of the Divine holiness-the true standard-that he is verily guilty. E,·en Job, when he saw·God, abhorred himself, repenting ~•in dust· and ashes." In humility he confesses, "How·should man be just with Gdd?" If vain man, who is foolish -enough at times to attempt any presumptuous work, should dare to" contend" with the eternal Ruler, it must only end iu his utter:defeat; for"he is wise in heart, and mii;hty in strength." IV. 'llm HARDEl.l."IYG OF THE HEART 'l\J .APPEAR IN OONTENTiON MUST ONLY END IN SJIAME A1''D DISGRACE TO mM. To this all experience bears witness; for who bath done so '·and bath prospered"? Man is puny, ignorant, weak, vain; and sinful. .How shall he appear in tbt prt:?sence of tbe Almighty, the All-wise, the Eternal? Lowli- ness and .contrition describe the true attitude for man to assume before God. Then will be bP. gracious, and lift up him that is bowed down. But "if he withdraw not his auger, the proud helpers stoop under hlm."-R. G.