The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 302

Vers. 6-14.-Thefruits of impiety. Again Bildad speaks. He is not the sufferer, but the judge. He who came as a comforter utters but miserable words in the ears of the afflicted one. His words are true in themselves, but wrongly applied. Justly he descril>cs the fruits of impiety. _ I. To TBB IMPIOUS TBE LIGHT OF PROSPERITY IS EXCHANGED FOB THE DARKNESS 01!' MISFORTUNE. His" lamp is put out." Sorrowfulness, sooner or later, overtakes him. For a time he is in great prosperity; but his sin finds him out. The ill-gotten gain of ungodliness has no blessing upon it, but a withering curse. Sooner or later the hey- day of wicked rejoicing is exchanged for the blackness of dark night. Universal experience affirms this. It is a just punishment of wrong, and a warning to the tempted; while it admonishes the obedient, and declares "there is a God that ,judgeth in the earth." - 11. THE EVILLY FOBJCED PUUPOSE OF lllPrETY FAILS. His "steps are straitened/' how strong soever they may seem to be. Even his veg counsel itself shall be a stumbling-block to cast the wicked down. The hope cherished without God must be disappointeJ; the selfish design is itself a trap for the feet of tho ungodly. llL IMPIETY ENTANGLES IN DIFFICULTIES. "The snare is laid for him in -the ground." The whole kingdom of right and truth is against him. J udgment waits. on his steps. Sooner or later his feet will be in "the trap" that is laid "for him in the way." His coul'l!e is not a plain, direct, clear course. His motives a.re confused. He hedges himself with difficulties. One wrong exposes him to. another. At last ''the gin takes him by the heel." • IV. lIPIETY EXCITES TO FEAR .AND DREAD. "Terrors make him afraid on every side." The a.wakened conscience makes a coward of him. He fears the rustling of the leaf. .J ndgment is passed in the secret chambers of his soul. He cannot escape. V. lKPIETY WA.STEB 'JXE STRENGTH .AND BRINGS THE LIFE DOWN TO DESTRUCTION. Sin is the transgression of law. La.we of life canoot be broken without the health failing. An impious spirit, unruled and uncontrolled by righteous principle, will pursue evil and dangeroUB courses, will yield to evil habits, and the strength of the life will be undermined. Then "the fi.rsthom of death shall devour his strength." He becomes the prey of destruction. He is brought "to the king of terrors." 'l'hus the course of impiety ends in ignominy, shame, and destruction. "This is the portion of their cup." Darkness, difficulty, fear, wasted purpose and wasted strength finally issuiog in death, are the inevitable fruits of impiety.-R. G. Ver. 15.-TI~ home of the wick«l insecure. The blessing of the Lord is upon "the habitation of the just." This is tue reward of righteousness, But the Divine. jndgment against the wicked ie shown in permitting his house to become desolate. One of the , oft-repeated promises to Israel is the blessing of the Lord upon tbe habitation. 13ut "tbe curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked." The practice of iniquity tends tc, destruction. It has no element of stability in it. The habitation of the wicked is insecure becauee-- 1. 1T LACKS 'l'HE DEFENCE OF BIGHT PRINCIPLES. The righteousness which exalteth a nation establishes a hoU&e On the health, the pursuits, the habita, the busineaa, cm_ xtm. 1-21.] TBE BOOK OF JOB. 316