The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 196

again and again illustrated in Divine things the truth that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Ill. CHALLENGE TO HUM AN IGNORANCE: THE UNBEAR0HA BLENEBS 01!' Goo. (Vere. 7-9.) All measures of vastness, all ideas of infinity, a.re called in to impress this thought. The might and the wisdom of God are high as the unscalable heaven, deep as the dark lower world (comp. eh. xxii. 12; xxvi. 6). The infinity of God embraces the whole earth, and reaches beyond; it is longer than the firm land, broa.der than the broad see., so that before it there is nothing too lofty, too obscure, too remote. It is the fixed thought-embrace of the universe. Will mortal man, then, be guilty of the folly of quarrelling with God's wisdom and power, and so incur the full weight of his judgment? Rather let him be dumb, and open not his mouth, and say, "Thou hast done it," IV. HUMAN IGN0RANOE CONVICTED AND ABASHED BEFORE THE DIVrNE JUDGMENT. (Vers. 10-12.) If God holds judgment with this supreme wisdom and power, theu plainly man, be he never so stupid and obstinately ignorant of his guilt, must forthwith become conscious of it; and though he were furious and wild as a wild ass (comp. eh. xxxix. 5, 8), be must be subdued by that omnipotent power into tameness and docility. "The wild ass is now born as a man," converted by the terror of that moment of judgment. So speaks Zophar with caustic rebuke of what he considers the contumacy of Job. He seems to turn the language of Job, in eh. ix. 11, et seq., to his own purpose. Thus the arrival of the Judge to execute judgment is in the rush of a rapid storm (ver. 10). He "passes by," and thereupon follows the "shutting-up" or arrest of the accused, that he may not escape during the judgment; and then the "gathering together" of the people to hear the judgment. V. WORDS OF HOPE AND PROMIBE. (Vere. 13-20.) Severe as are the speeches of the three friends, they yet have a clear apprehension of the eternal gospel of God's mercy, and insist on the unfailing hope set before the true penitent in that gospel. 1. Conditions. (1) (Ver.13.) The "direction," or" preparation," or setting straight, of the heart. This is the first thing. Crooked feelings, perverted principles, must be rectified. There must be sincere penitence, Happiness does not begin with the outward life to pass into the inward; the process is the reverse. And the restoration must be in the same order. If the inward life be purified, the outward will flow into peace. (2) Along with this there must be the "spreading forth of the hands to God;" in other words, true prayer. The symbol is put for the thing signified, the rite for the reality. Very signi- ficant and beautiful was the Hebrew attitude of prayer. It expressed longing, urgency, the effort of the soul to seize and hold fast the unseen power and grace in time of need. (3) (Ver. 14.) 'l'here must be the removal of l\ll previous iniquity from the home as well Bl! the heart. Every vestige and association of it must be swept away-all that might r.emind the soul of forbidden pleasures, and tempt it into renewal of its sin. It might be well for a man in the endeavour to make his repentance thorough and sincere, and might help his mind to form new associations, to renew the face of his dwelling from top to bottom, and cast out all articles of furniture, pictures, utensils, etc., that might bring; up the thought of former evil. For some minds it would at- least be a wholesome discipline. At all events, let nothing be left undone to cleanse the heart, the imagination, the inward chambers of the soul, in preparation for the coming of the gracious renewing, consecrating presence of the Divine Guest. 2. The CC/'Tl,sequences of return to God. (1) Courage (ver.15), fresh, calm, and strong. Referri:ig to Job's complaint (eh. x. 15) that he is compelled to bow his head in ignominy before the unworthy, bis friend declares that he will be enabled to lift it up in the face of day. How serene the face, how clear the glance, how assured the step of the man who has no coward secret of ill in his heart, who by confession and repentance has made the mighty God his Friend! (2) Oblivion of sorrow. (Ver. 16.) Is memory on the_ whole a greater blessing or torment? Alas I Job has lately found it to be the latter. The "remembering happier things" has proved bis "crown of sorrow." Like a returning tide, it has cast his wrecked treasures at his feet. But on the turning of his heart to God these bitter memories shall be carried away, as on a flowing stream, till they pass out of sight and disappear. Thank God that we can remember; but thank God, too, that we can forget! (3) .A season of brightnes,. (Ver. 17 .) Even if the darkness come, it will be comparatively bright like the moming---exactly opposite to eh. x. 22. For there is no darknes~ to him who has God aa the Guest of his soul. (4) Rest unbroken by danger (vers. 18, 19);  202 THE BOOK O'F JOB. [CIH, xr. 1-20.