The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 257

80ft anaftr turneth away W111th," while "grievous word& lltit up anger" (Prov. xv. 1). Eliphaz retorts, with a keen-edged irony sca.roely second to Job's, thAt no doubt Job was a wise man, a very wise man, in fact the only wise man, since (1) Job bad been born first of men (ver. 7), and 88 a consequence enjoyed "the 'most direct and profound insight into the mysteries of the world, which came into existence nt the same time as himself" (Delitzscb); (2) had even preceded the mountQin.11 in his appearanco upo~ earth (ver. 7)-the monntains and bills being represented a.s the oldest of created things (Pti. xc. 2), and the language being applied to Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs (viii. 23-26); (3) hRd been admitted to the ca.binet of heaven, and listened to the counoils of the Supreme (ver. 8), the allusion being to the divan of an Oriental prinoe; nay (4) 88 a consequence had engrossed or monopolized wisdom to himself, liko some grand vizier whose l!OUI was bnrdened with state secrets; and (5) was possessed of sources of information immensely superior to theire, although with them were both the grey- headed and very aged men, much older than his father (ver. 10). 4. Contemptuous indifference. (1) To the consolations of God (ver. 11). That God is pre-eminently the God of all comfort and consolation (2 Cor. i. 3; vii. 6); that he can comfort with a mother's tenderness (Isa. lxvi. 13), a father's pity (Ps. ciii. 13), a husband's love (Hos. ii. 14); that in Christ (Phil. ii. 1) he hatb provided rich consolations for his people (2 Cor. i. 5), suitable for every circumstance and situation that may occur in their lives (2 Cor. i. 4); that delightful wells of consolation are sometimes found in the events of providence (2 Cor. viL 6), and always in the promises of the gospel (-2 Pet. L 4), especially when applied to the heart by the Holy Ghost (John xiv. 26); that these consolations are not small in themselves, being abundant (2 Cor. i. 5), satisfying (Isa. lxvi. 11), strong (Heb. vi. 18), and everlasting (2 These. ii. 16); and should by none be ·reputed small or lightly esteemed, considering the source whence they come, the love of God, the channel through which they flow, the cross of Christ, the Agent by whom they are applied, the Holy Spirit, the comfort they impart, the peace of God which passeth understanding, and the freeness with which they are bestowed, without money and without price; that all these are precious truths is undeniable; but Eliphaz understood by God's consolations the promises held forth by himself and his friends in their dis- courses, which, however applicable they may have been to an unconverted sinner, were not suitable t.o meet the case of a suffering S1Lint like Job. (2) To the kindness of men. Without doubt sincerely Eliphaz commends his own and his friends' orations as gentle addre;;ses, the utterances of tender pity (ver. 11); and, if they were so, unques- tionably Job erred in receiving them with such palpable scorn as he did. Kindness honestly offered, even when mistaken, and somewhat harsh and ungracious, should be politely, and even thankfully, received. But it is not so obvious as it seemed to Eliphaz that either he or Bildad, not to mention Zophar, had spoken tenderly. 5. Passionau rebellion. Job allowed his feelings to get the better of his understanding- his passion to overwhelm his judgment. It is the part of wisdom and the work of grace to restrain angry emotions (Prov. :a:i.x. 8; Eph. iv. 26). Uncontrolled excite- ment leads to sin (Prov. xxix. 22). It had hurried Job into vehement expressions against God, which seemed to show an embittered a.nd hostile spirit in (1) insolent grimaces, the winking of the eyes (ver. 12) having the significance, it is probable, of the similar expressions in Psalms (x.xxv. 19), Proverbs (vi. 3), and Isaiah (iii 16); (2) wrathful opposition, the turning; of the spirit (or of one's rage) against God (ver. 13) being a characteristic of wicked men (Rom. viii. 7; Gal. v. 17); and (3) foolish speaking, Job's discourses being styled "words," i.e. words as contrasted with wisdom, words destitute of meaning and intelligence. • 11 OLD THEOLOGY BEBTATED. The crowning sin of Job, in the estimation of Eliphaz, was his persistent attempts at self-justification. As if to give this tremendous heresy its final quietus, the solemn Arabian seer once more advances the humbling doctrine of man's universal depravity, whlcb he establishes from a fourfold colll!ideration. 1. Man's cc,r.Btitutumal frailty. Man is essentially a frail and diseased creature, enoah (ver. 14}; and, although physical weakness is not the same thing 88 moral pollution, yet ,the former is inconceivabfe except as the result of the latter. 2. Man's depraved origin. Mortal man is descended from fallen woman, and, as a consequence, inherits her <lepravity. So Job admitted (eh. xiv. 2), David bewailed (Ps. Ii. 5), and Christ taught (J 0hn iii. 6). To this law huma.n hiatory knowi, of only one exception. Christ, though OB. XV, 1-86.] THE BOOK OF JOB.· 267