The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 224

orror, eincerity and hypocriey, righteouenese and unrighteousness, Christ and Belia!, can be confederates, 9. H is better to revere God's holiness on earth than t1J trernhle beforo his glorious power in a future world. 10, It is a poor defence that even a good man finds in lies and deceptions. 11. It is preferable to part with lire than wirh faith in God. 12. It is certain that, though a humble believer may be slain, he never can be lost. Vere. 16, 16.-Faith and aasurance. I. Jou'e FAITH, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in hitn," Mark: 1. The 0b:ject of Job's faith. God, as the Justifier of the ungodly who believe, since Job did not claim to be sinless, and yet expected to be justified. 2. The trial of Job's faith. The intense sufferings, both physical and mental, through which he passed. The faith of God's people is commonly subjected to trial. Yet it is doubtful if any have ever experienced greater difficulties in the way of believing in God than Job did. 3. The intensity of Job's faith. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Job was determined that no amount of hardship should prevent him from confiding in the God of mercy and salvation; in which respect he is well worthy of imitation by Christ's followers. 4. The triwrnph of Job's faith. It was no mere boast on the part of Job that he would cling to God at all hazards, as it has often proved .on the part of over-confident believers ( e.g. Peter); but the issue of his trial established ~he sincerity of his words. His faith was often rudely assaulted, and sometimes appeared to tremble, but it was never overthrown. II. Jou's ABBURANOE, "He also shall be my Salvation" (ver. 16); "I know that I shall be justified." A8surailce of salvation is clearly possible, since it was enjoyed by Abel (Heh. xi. 3), Enoch (Heb. xi. 6), Abraham (Gen. xv. 6), Moses (Exod. xv. 2), David (Ps. xv iii. 2), St. Paul (Phil. i. 21; 2 Tim. iv. 8); it is also extremely desirable for the saint's usefulness, as much as for the saint's comfort, and in every instance in which it is possessed must be based, as Job's was, on: 1. Belie/in th,, Divine testimony. Job knew that he would be justified,. not because he was a sinless man, but because he trusted in God ;,and this is the first ground of assurance to an anxious soul. The sinner that believes is sure of salvation, because "he that believeth shall be saved; " and every one who trusts in him that justifieth the ungodly may with confidence affirm, "I know that I shall be. justified." 2. OonsCUYU,sness of personal sincerity. That is, if a man, after ea.refill self-examination, discovers in himself the tokens of true piety and Christian integrity, he is warranted to conclude that he has passed from death to life, and God will eventually prove his salvation. Job felt he was not a hypocrite, but a sincerely upright man; and hence he knew that God would not condemn him. St. John, in his Epistles, supplies marks by which a man may determine for himself whether or not he is a genuine Christian disciple. Learn: L That without faith there can be no assurance. 2. That wherever there is faith there ought to be'assurance. Vers. 17-28.-Job to God: re/J'IJ,mpti/J7/, of the third controversy: 1. The pleading of a saint with Heaven. I. PaELilUNABIEs TO THE PLEADING. 1. Public audienca invited. Job requests his discomfited friends to be silent spectators of the ensuing trial, and to attentively consider the defence he was about to offer (ver. 17). Intended chiefly for the ear of God, it should yet contain nothing unfit for publication in the hearing of men. Conscious of sincerity, Job had nothing to conceal. Guilelessness is ever a mark of true saintship. "A man with a clear conscience can stand fearlessly before the whole world." Undaunted courage is also characteristic of the godly (Ps. xxvii. 1; Prov. xxviii. 1; 1 John iii. 21), who, however, unlike Job, are emboldened, not by a sense of their own integrity, but by a calm reliance on the righteousness of Christ (Isa. xiv. 24-, 25; 1. 7-9; Rom, viii. 32-34). 2. Perfect readiness expressed. Job asserts (ver, 1B) that he had carefully arranged the several pleas he should urge in vindication of hie outraged integrity. And in this Job's example may be followed with advantage. Neither saint nor sinner should irreverently and presumptuously intrude into God's presence without having first composed his heart and, as far a.s possible, arranged his thoughts (Eccles. v. 2). No man is ready for reasoning with God in prayer until he knows both what he wants and how to plead for it. 3. Hope- ful confidence entertained. "I know that I shall be justified" (ver. 18). This was 110 presumption on the part of Job, who probably based his justification before God, in  fflE BOOK OF JOB. [ou. xm. 1-28.