Vers. 1-7.-The s11prliratonJ <::r,1/ of deep sorrow. This is the cry of one who declares," My soul is weary of my life." He opens his lips that the stream of hie "complaint" may flow forth unchecked. Yet is he humble and subdued, though he adopts Almost the tone of ~xpostulation. He bllS confessed himself to be unequal to the conteot1on. He cannot give answer to God; he has acknowledged his guilt and impo• teuce. Now he would know" wherefore" God contends with him. This is the desire of even the most n>signed snfferer. Certainly the cry which comes oft from the lips of the deeply afflicted is, "Why am I thus tnacle to suffer?" If ChrisLian principle and calm faith keep back the demand, " Show me wherefore," yet it is heard in the under- tones of amazement and surprise at the unexplained and even severe dealinas of a loving God-" .Ah, it is myste1ious ! " The confession of the mysteriousness of human suffer- in!! is a suppressed cry for the mystery to be cleared up. Job's cry takes the form of- I. A DESIRE TO BE FREED Jl'RO:M OONDEMNATION. "I will say unto God, Do not con- dem11 me." This the first desire of the resigned sufferer. Let it not be as a punish- ment for my tramgression. "Condemn me not" is another form of urging, "Pardon my offence which I confess." It is a prayer for forgiveness. Up to this, the previous confc~ion of nnwortbiness and even of sin Las properly led. It is the first rest of the soul. While the unconfessed condemnation~ of guPt are upon it there can be no peace. Happy he who in the depth of his suffering makes his confession; happier still he who hears the word of gracious forgiveness. This is followed by- 11. TJIE UNBUl'PREBSED LONGING TO DlOW THE REASON FOB THE DIVINE AFFLICTIONS. "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me." How natural to desire this! But the Divine ways are "past finding out." "lie giveth none account of his-ways/' Certainly to Job came no sufficient answer. It remained for later days to learn, "Whom the Lord loveth he chastenetb." To all Job's suggestions a negative reply may be given. L It is not" good" (i.e. pleasing) to God "to oppress," to (appear to) .. despise" bis creatures; or, as it would seem," to shine upon the counsel of the wicked." 2. He bas not "eyes of :6.eeb." He cloes not see "as man seeth "-looking only on the outward appearance, and judging by that alone. God looketh on the heart, and estimates the human act by the mutive whlcb impels it. He makes allowance for human frailty; more the.n even frail. erring man makes for his own brother. He is just in his view, and not warped as is the judgment of feeble flesh. 3. His days are not "as the days of man." His are the days of eternity. He can wait until the future for a justifica-. tion of Job's conduct. He has not to make haste to bring about a crisis in Job's history. He needs not to hurry to put Job to the proof. Our reflections on the Divine dealings may be justly corrected by duly pondering this history. In our assured integrity we may wait. In our conscious sinfulness we are safest in the Lord's bands; from which, indeed, we cannot escape. "There is none that can deliver out of thine hand."-R. G. Vers. S-12.-Man the creature of God. lob now seeks consolation in other courses of reflection, although arising out of the foregoing. He would fain draw what comfort he can from the knowledge of the fact that he iH the creature of God. "Thy hands hs.ve made me and fashioned me together round about." Thy skill and patience, thy thought and attention, have been bestowed on me. Wilt thou for~a.ke the work of thine hands? Is it solely for this time of trouble thou hast brought me forth? .A calm meditation on the truth, " I am the creature of God, created by the Divine ha.udF, the product of hil! activity," is calculated to bring consolation, for- I. 1T IB A PLEDGE OF BLESSING. Even erring man iij thoughtful of hie own work. God's work is perfect. But it is so because he momentarily guards it. He carries forward all the processes which we modern, call "lawn of nature." Job saw the "hand" cm. x. 1-22.) THE BOOK OF JOB. 187
of God in all the changes of the earth and heavens and of human life. Therefore to know I am a creature of God is to know my life is in his hands. I serve his purpose. llo is Lor<l of all. Every act of his hand is pure blessing. He can do no evil. My creatureship is e. sufficient pledge to me of certain blessing He worketh for the good of e.11 the creatures of his hands-sheep and oxen, birds of air and fish of sea. So his work in my life is the truest warrant of good to me. II. IT IS A SOURCE oF COMFORT. No one can calmly reflect on the fact of his creatureship without finding cause for comfort. Each may leave himself in the hands of his Owner. It is the basis of the truest consolation. "I am thine" must warrant the prayer, "Save me." The human life may be left in the Di'line bands. The poor, fro.ii, helpless one ma.y commit himself unto God. There is rich comfort in the know- ledge of the fact that the Lord of the whole earth is my Creator. That he should "destroy," or appear to destroy, the poor sufferer is at once acknowledgc,l to be matter of surprise. Under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty Creator every creature may find refuge. III. IT IS AN ASSURANCE OF DIVINE CARE. "Wilt thou tTien hring me into dust ngain?" 'l'bis is the inevitable thought in the heart of him who recognizes himself as the creature of God-who says, "'l'hou bast made me as the clay." It is the instinct of frail man to care for bis own. How much more is it the Divine method! Already Job bas declared his faith when saying," Dost thou despise the work of thine own hands?" Thou hast raised me from the dust; wilt thou bring me in to dust again? Wilt thou frustrate thine own purpose? Thus Job reasons, and wisely. It is the assurance of calm wisdom, the faith which bas firm foundation. He who has brought me into life, will care for me, will sustain me, will defend me. IV. SucH AN ASSURANCE IS A SUFFICIENT GROUND OF CONFIDENT AND CALM REPOSE. Restful is the spirit of faith; and the more simple faith is in its reasonings, the more assured is its peace. Consciousness of sin would lead to distress of mind and to fear when it is remembered, "Thine hands have fashioned me;" but to the heart assured of its integrity, this truth is the ground of calm repose. Prayer may be based upon this. Faith here ma.y find its support; love, its inspiratioo.-R. G.