- Vere. 14-16.-Human sinfulness. Elipbaz accuses Job of his attempt to justify himself, and speaks with great apparent acerbity of spirit. His words are cutting and
. cruel. He seoretly declares Joh to be sinful in proportion to bis sufferings. He branches into genere.lities, and e,ffirms the ge11eral hume.o sinh.il~ess wit-h the quiet accusatioQ, ~ 2i4 THE BOOK OF JOB. [011. n. l"-85. "All men arc 5inful; therefore thou art. Sorrow is the punishment of the wicked; therefore thy suffering is proof of thy gnilt." Elipbaz's view is imperfect, and needs to he supplemented. Job, in his struggling, cries aloud for that aupplement. It ie f<>und only in tbe assurance of the future, and in tbe fact that, with the future In view it pl<'aFe., the Ahnight)· to discipline and prepare men for it. Suffering is eeen to be~ md.bod or that discipline. 01' human sinfulness it is affirmed- I. IT 1s AN I?s"HERENT co:i..-D1TION OF HUMAN LIFE. "What is man, that he should be clean~ nod he tbat is born of a woman, that he should be righteous P" a~ thoucrh he had Faid, "It is of the nature of man to be uncl~an." "That which is born of the fleFh is flesh." The huma.n na.ture derived from the imperfect and unholy Is necessarily unholy e.nd imperfect. E,.idences of this may be seen in the general observed depravity of man: in the necessity for very powerful influences to check sinfulness; in the constant recognition of the Fall in Holy Scripture; in the difficulty with which even good men preserve their goodness; and in the sad examples of deep degradation in all lands. II. 'l'HIS SThTFULNESS 18 MOST APPARENT TO THE DJ'i'INE JUilGMENT. Men are not always alive to their own sinfulness. Not apprehending righteousness, they have not an accurate standard by which to judge themselves. But in the Divine view the very angels, who are superior to men, are not pure: "The heavens are not clean in bis sight." III. Tms l:\Th'FUL?,"ESS EX:Hinrrs ITSELF IN GREAT IMPURITY OF LIFE AND SPIRIT. Happily there a.re many exceptions, and we live in brighter, better times than did Job; yet how truly is it still to be said, "How much more abominable n.nd filthy is man t" f1. Tms SI?ITUL:1,"ESS IS ESPECIALLY SHOWN IN AN ACTIVE PREFERENCE OF EVIL BEFORE GOOD. He "drinketh iniquity like water." Eliphaz has been led from general views to single out the 11ad cases which all mn.y observe, and which bear such painful testimony, that if humlUl life be not checked in its natural tendencies, it degenerates to the wur~t conditions of evil. Therefore: 1. Life to be guarded with great care, lest degenerating influences exert destructive power over it. 2. The most potent corrections to be sought; the _need of regeneT'lition. 3: The instruction, grace, and sanctification of the Spirit of God to be thankfully received and most carefully cherished.-R. G. Vers. 20-30.-The consequences of em?-doing. It is impossible that wrong-doing should go wholly unpunished, for were there no positive penal inflictions, the mere natural const>quences of wrong-doing would bring inevitable penalties. The word~ in these verses refer to the present natural consequences of wrong-doing, not to the final penal i11flicrious which must follow. The evils which the practice of wickedness tends to bring 11 pon the head of the evil-doer, though many may escape, are thus stated. I. HE ENDURES "PAIN ALL HIS DAYS." The reference is probably to inward suffer- ings, and the anxieties which a course of wrong must cause. But the physical pains are also great. Perhaps most physical pain is the consequence of wrong-doing. Keeping the righteous Law of God by man would free the human life from suffering as truly as it frees the life of the beast or the bird. Broken law, known or unknown, must, in the disturbance it brings, cause pain. II. Another source of punishment to the evil-doer is in THE CONDEMNATIONS OJ' CO!\BCIE~CE WHICH HE INCURS. The seat of a.11 true judgmcnt is the conscience. It is the bum of all the soul's powers-the great tribunal before which all actions are brought. Tnere the verdict is passed; there tbe penalty imposed-"a dreadful sound is in bis ear,." If the conscience be indurated, the life is so much the more degraded e.nd the p11nitibm,·nt the greater. III. The wicked man suffers in THE FEABB WHICH HE EXPERIENCES. "He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.'' A dark day awaits him, and he knows it. He carries his fear with him wherever he goes. Judgment has been pa.seed upon his evil-doing by his own conscience-by himself. The penalty has been awarded, nnd be goes about expecting its infliction. The fear of punishment hangs over his ~ead... IV. ALI, THIS DEEPJ:NB INTO A DARK DREAD BY WHICH HE 18 HAUNTED. His spmt has no rest. "TrouUle and anguish make him arraid." They wage war against him and de1-poil him. They "prevail age.inst him, a.s a king ready to the battle." V. Further evils follow in Hll! OUTWARD cmcuMSTANCEB. 1. His dwelling shall be desolate (ver. 28). 2. His riches fade away. He holds everything by an uncertain OH, XV, 1-35,) THE BOOK OF JOB. 275