The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 225

the strictly forensic aenee of absolution and acoept.ance. not upon his own righteous• nesa, but upon the free favour of God, through the merit of his Redeemer (eh. xix. 26); but merely that inward consciousness of personal integrity which a good man may justly rely on as evidence of a gracious state, and by which he may encourage his fainting spirit when about to appear before God, like Hezekiah (Isa. uxviii. 3), David (Ps. :nvi. 1), St. Peter (John xxi. 17), St. Paul (Rom. ix. 1), and St. John (1 Epist. iii. 21). Of court!8, it would be presumption were a sinful man, standing on his own righteous- TI8811, to expect that be would be justified before God (Ps. cxliii. 2 ; Rom. iii. 20), But.. trusting in the great propitiatory sacrifice of him who is "the Lord our Righteousness" the guiltiest and most unworthy sinner may draw near to God with holy boldne~ (Heh. iv. 16; x. 22), and with absolute assurance of acceptance and salvation (Heh. vii. 25; Rom. viii. 1), saying, "I know that I shall be justified." 4. Sinful impeach- ment chollenged.. "Wbo is he that will plead with me?" i.e. against me, contra- dicting and disproving what I now so fearlessly assert, viz. my personal integrity, If there is any, let him stand forth and establish his indictment. If be succeed in tar- nishing my fair name, " I shall be silent. I shall give up the ghost," feeling that, honour gone, life itself can have no further charm for me. Many a one besides Job has felt that "good name in man and woman is the immediate jewel of their souls " (' Othello,' act iii. sc. 3), "the immortal part" of themselves (ibid., act ii. sc. 3), and that, that being lost, nothing worthy of possessing <;an remain (cf. • Richard II.,' act i. sc. 1). Job's language reminds us of St. Paul's address to his accusers before Felix (Act.s n:iv. 16-21); and afterwards before Festus (Acts xxv. 11); also of the loftier challenge addressed by Christ to his countrymen (Isa. 1. 8; John viii.46). And though certainly believers cannot use the question as did Christ, and may '.sometimes have a difficulty in employing it in the sense of either Job or St. Paul, it is always open to them, as they keep their eyes on the cross, to exclaim, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" (Rom. viii. 33). II. CoNDrnoNB OF THE PLEADING. 1. .A cessation of his troubles. (Ver. 21.) The hand of God a frequent biblical expression for &filiction (1 Sam. v. 6, 7; Ps. :xxxii. 4; :xxxviii. 2; Isa. i. 25), which is sent (Deut. viii. 6; 2 Sam. vii. 14; eh. v. 17; Pd. xciv. 12; Heh. xii. 6, 7), guided (eh. xxxiii. 17-19; Prov. iii. 11, 12; Isa. xlviii. 10; Ezek. xx. 37), and removed (Ps. 1. 15; l:xvi. 12; Zech. xiii. 9; John xvi. 20; Matt. v. 4) by Divine wisdom and power. The fatherly chastisements of God are directly designed to refine and purify the saintly soul (eh. xxxvi. 8, 10; Isa. xlviii. 10; Heb. xii. 11), and to draw it near his footstool in penitence and faith, humility and love (Hos. v. 15; Heb. xii 9). Yet, not unfrequently, one of the first effects of bodily affliction upon a good man, especially if it be severe, is to discompose his mind, ciieturb his heart, and generally unfit him for converse with God. Notwithstanding the spiritual benefits folded up in tribulation, there can be no greater blessing, even with a view to the exercises of religion, than mens sana in sano corpore. Much of the spiritual depression experienced by Christians is traceable to extreme bodily infirmity, though sometimes happy invalids ca.n say with St. Paul, " When I am weak, then am I strong ; " " Most gladly will I glory in infirmities, that the power of God may rest upon me." Then, if pious souls, groaning beneath the pressure of physical maladies and mental anxieties, :find it hard to concentrate their thoughts upon Divine things, what must be the madness of those who delay the work of repenting and pleading with God for forgiveness and salvation till they are lying on a sick-bed, racked with pain, and perhaps trembling in the grasp of death? 2. A. removal of his fwr. (Ver. 21.) The Diviue character has a terrifying, aa well as an attractive, side to sinful man. The glory of the Divine purity is so effulgent (eh. iv. 18), of the Divine justice so incorruptible (eh. iL 2), of the Divine wisdom so ineffable (eh. ix. 4), of the Divine strength so overwhelming (eh. ix. 19), that the human spirit instinctively shrinks back in alarm. Burdened with guilt, tainted with pollution, lying under condemna- tion, it cannot hold up its head in the presence of such awful majesty, but, falling prostrate before the f9(1tatool of heave11's glorious King, exclaims, like Isaiah, "Woe ii me ; for I a.m undone I " (lea. vi. 6); and like David, "In judgment euter not with me, th:, servant poor; For wh:,, thil well I wot, no ainner can endure The Bight af t.hee, 0 God." (Pa. exllli. 2, metrloal 't'enlon.) OJI, J:IIJ, 1-28,] THE BOOK. OF JOB. 233