The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 304

Innumerable bltlll8inga desoend upon them in re11ponse to the prayer of fa.itb. Thi■ will in the end be proved to be true of Job. IV. 'fhrl!I! judgments STAND AB A WARNING TO ALL PARENTS. They make the duty of parental piety more and more obvious. They illustrate the solemn reaponsiblllt:, of beads of houses, 11inoe their doingii desoend in their effects upon their children. They owe it to their offspring that they so live as rightly and beneficently to affect their lives. The blessing of God which rests npon the just, and the curse and condemnation of God upon the evil, are warnings to all. Upon those the eye of God rests, but upon these the curse of God. The abodes of wickedness, over which no blessing from· on nigh hovers, are abodes of death and destruction. "Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."-R. G. Ver. 4.-TM individual nud and tM 'Universal order, Bildad accuses Job'of being unreasonable in exJ:18Cting that the universal order should bend to suit a man's individual need. He suggests a common difficulty in regard to the harmony between the particular and the general in the dispensations of Providence. l. THE 0-'DIVIDUAL MAN IS TEMPTED TO THINK SUPREMELY OIi' HIS OWN NEED, We are all naturall_v self-centred, and trouble magnifies our sense of personality and peculiarity. Thus it comes about that each person is inclined to feel his own wants as of paramount importance, and to expect that the whole order of things must shape itself to meet his requirements. If that is not the case, and the world goes on in its large way, treating him as but a unit among the millions, a drop in the ocean of humanity, he feels himself slight.ad and wronged. A more reasonable view of the whole of God's world and its interests should remove this foolish notion ; but it can only be conquered when its mora.l character is attacked, and selfishness is made to give place to love. JL GoD GOVEBRS THE WORLD FOB THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE CREATION, ,ve cannot judge of it till we can take a large and fair view of the wide field. The shadow which makes a comer look gloomy by itself is necessary for the completion of the whole picture. God is not partial, selecting one for favour and neglecting a multitude. He is not like the aristocratic Roman, who looked down with scornful indifference on the ignoble plebs. There is nothing so democratic as nature. Here all alike are under exactly the same laws. As the great ship ploughs her way through the ocean, though children are crying and women are ill, the watch calls out his cheery word, " All's well! " for the vessel is going right in spite of these individual_ distresses. Ill, TJm GD.""EBAL CON6TITUTION OIi' THE WORLD CANNOT BE Ul'SET TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL JIEEDS. Should the earth be depopulated for the sake of one man's convenience? That is Bildad's extravagant way of putting the thought; but the extravagance is only a magnifying of an idea which is foolish even within the smallest dimensions. That a man should ever expect a rock to move out of his path is absurd. As the massive rock will not stir, and u the traveller must either climb over it or go round it, so the course of nature generally will not budge before man's will. He may dash himself against it, but the results will only be bruises and pa.in. As God has made all things well, and as the laws of nature make for life and welfare, it is a matter of profound thankfulness that foolish, selfish men cannot set them aside. IV. THE Th'DIVIDUAL II.AN IS HELPED THROUGH TBE GENERAL COURSE OIi' THE WHOLE WOBLD. There is a special providence. God does not deal with masses, but with men. The very hairs of our bead are all numbered. It is in accordance with God's perfect mind that he should so govern the whole that the result should be good for each. We have to learn to take our places in the great family of God with humility and sym- pathy for our brethren. 'l'hen we shall see that the rules of the household, which cannot be set aside to suit our whims and capricious fancies, are really good for us. It is better the rock should not be carried away. We are trained and strengthened by having to overcome the difficulty. Finally, it is in accordance with these principles that-through his atonement which magnifies the Law and makes it honourable-Christ brings a salvation for eo.ch soul which does not disarrange the general course of God's govern- rueut of the universe.-W. F. A. V'411. 5, 6.-Thc ligl,t er&timguiel.ed., This ii a favourite idea of Bildad's, that occur• on. xvm, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 317