Ver. 6.-Sorrow without hope. Unalleviated by the words of his friends, Job turns round upon them, and in painful, half-passionate words retorts upon them their incom- petency to gi~e him consolation. "Miserable comforters are ye all." He is driven almost to despair. The painful alternative of speech or silence is before him; but neither offers him any hope, and he is compelled to reflect upon his helpless condition. He is exhausted. The future presents no prospect of alleviation. He has sorrow without liope. Such sorrow distinguished- L BY ITS EXTREME PAINFULNESS. To endure pain of body or mind is hard enough, and many succumb to it. But if there be a gleam of hope the aching spirit clings to it and is upbome. ,vhen, however, no ray of brightness is apparent, when only the darkness of an undiminished sorrow is present, then is the painfulness of the circum- stances in which the sufferer is placed heightened in a great degree. To suffer without hope of a termination is the very perfection of suffering. The poor heart searches for some avenue of escape, but none is present. It is thrown back again and again upon itself. This is extremest sorrow. To see only the long, unvaried line of suffering drawn out to the ntmost future, and no break appearing, robs the soul of its one con- solation in extreme trial-the hope of release. If a bound be put to sorrow it may be endured; but if no limit can be traced, and all probability of limitation be cut off, the case is desperat.e. The worst that can be said of any evil is-It is hopeless. IL Sorrow without hope is AN EXCESSIVE STBAIN UPON THE ENDURANCE OJI' THE BUFFEBEB.. To lose hope is to lose heart. The strong can bear up under the heavy burden, but the weak must yield. It is to add to the weight of the burden by every hour that elapses. Time, which so often comes to relieve the sorrowful, but brings a heavier load. The exhawt.ed spirit bravely fightiug against its oppressive surroundings is more and more driven to the conclusion that all etfort is unavailing, and the added experience of every, hour but confirms the assurance the.t there is no hope left. It is the severest of all strains that the spirit can be subjected to. It is the inevitable precursor of despair. Ill. Such sorrow reaches a climax of severity when, e.s in this case, THE APPEAL TO GoD, TffE aBE4T HELPl!:R, IS v:ruvAILlNG, "Re hath IQade me weary," He hath OR, XVI, 1-22.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 289
cxhnusted me. It ie true a real help is in reserve for Job, but he does not know it, He suffers without hope. He has turned to man and found no relief. His cry to God ls unnvailing. If he "speak," his "grief is not assuaged.' His cry returns upon him. If he "forbel\r," still he is not "eased." The world is indebted to this sufferer for the painful experiment of which he is the subject. Now the world knows that in patient endurance nnd unswerving fidelity there is assured hope. The hand of help may be hidden, but it is there. God may seem to be inattentive to the sorrowful cry, hut he is only testing nnd proving his faithful servant, and the severity of the test marks the measure of the final award. Hence may we learn (1) that the apparent hopelessness of human sorrow iH not a perfect representation; (2) the wisdom of maintaining the spirit of hope, even when we seem to have no encouragement to do so; (3) the certainty <of a final relief and reward to the faithful.-R. G. Vere. 11-17.-The severity of the Divine judgments. The mystery of the Divine dealings is revealed in this book. The view from a human standpoint is given. Job and his friends see not the spiritual side of the whole transaction. The Divine purpose is hidden. Job knows not that it is" Satan" that has instigated all these afflictions. He knows not that God has given permission for his trial. Nor does he know the limitations put upon that trial, nor the final issue. The severity of the Divine judgments (so are they in Job's view) is represented in striking language. I, As A DELIVERING OVER TO THE UNGODLY. He is cast into the hands of the evil-doer. II. As A DESTRUCTION OF EXTERNAL PROSPERITY. "I was at ease, but be bath broken me asunder." III. As AN INFLI0TION OF SEVERE PAINS. "He cleaveth my reins asunder." IV. As A suooESSION OF REPEATED INFLICTIONS. "He breaketb me with breach upon breach." These judgments evoke from Job: 1. The lowliest humiliation. He bows in "sackcloth," and lays his "horn in the dost." 2. He pours out his soul in penitence, and his face is even "foul with weeping." 3. Over him hangs the gloom- " the shadow"-" of death." 4. In the consciousness of integrity he makes his " pure" prayer to God. The interest of these few lines is very great in the general working out of the plot of the history. Happy be who in the midst of his sorrow8 can how in lowly penitence under the severities of the Divine judgments, still retaining the assurance of bis sincerity, and waiting the final award.-R. G. Vers. 19, 20.-The appeal of innocence to the highest tribunal. Job now turns from man to God. He bas the assurance of faith-the full assurance which faith gives- that God will requite the injured and justify the pure. Man's judgment is imperfect. He sees only the outward circumstance; God looketh upon the heart. To him who knoweth all things Job turns; and to God bis" eye poureth out tears." Before man can commit his cause to God with confidence the following is needful- I. A THOROUGH OONVI0TION OF THE INSUFFIOIEN0Y OF HUMAN JUDGMENTS, Job had thoroughly proved this. Howsoever wise the sayings of bis friends, or however just their reflections, Job knew that their accusations of him were unfounded, and that therefore their conclusions were unjust. Hence be turned from them to that " record " of bis life which was "on high." II. But this must be supported by A CONSCIOUS INTEGRITY. None can trnly commi, his cause to God who knows within himself that he is guilty. At the final bar he knows most assuredly that his sin will find him out. But he whose spirit bears him witness of bis uprightness, as Job's did, and as the Divine judgments aftenvards affirmed, may with calmness commit his way unto God. He knows that bis true "Witness is in heaven." He shall bear testimony to Job's integrity, uprightness, and purity. Ill. Further, AN UNHESITATING FAITII IN Goo's RIGHTEOUS DEALINGS is needed in order to a calm committal of all to his arbitrament. Job, the "servant" of God, knew in whom he could confide. He feared God. On that fear faith builds with safety and assurance. A conception of God which is so low that it inspires no faith must preclude all loving, helpful hope in him. IV. On such foundations may rest A 0ALM PATIENCE TO AWAIT THE Fll'IAL DlVINB JOB, U 890 THE BOOK OF JOB,