The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 318

R!)tll~t diiilreee; tMy are eummer-bird!!, o:nd p08il' away whffl'l the eolder weather sets in. Men are Hare, fickle as the wind. Their aliena.tion is ascribed tC> God', because he has ea.used the distress; it he bad' not caused 'the distress, they would have remained. Here, again, we ate reminded that the child elf God may be c:illed to be conformed to the image of the Saviour's suft'edngs. He knew what it was to be deserted hy all men, oven bis dearest disciples and closest adherents. So we are to learn to build no confidence on man, but on the living <1C>d alone, whom· faith tan bold eternally fast. '' IY. RIBE'''l'O A DL~SSED llOPE IN GoD, ms ONLY REDEEMER AND AVENGER. (Vere. 21-27.) This section is introduced by a woeful petition to his friends for compassion, ufol-·the harid·of' God has touched him," alluding to the diseMe, which from its fearful- ness was regarded as a stroke of God's hanrl ; and is it not the office of friendship to lend its band to heal or soothe (ver. 21)? Why, on the contrary, do they persecute him as God, assuming an authority that is superhuman, and so behaving unnaturally to him? They are not "satisfied with his flesh," continually piercing and ploughing- it with the envenomed tooth of slander ( ver. 22). The appeal seems to be in vain, and he t:urns once more to God·(ver. 23, sqq.). Oh that his words were written down, inscribed in a book or roll, that those to come might read the fervent, repeated protestations of bis innbcen.ce I •·Thai-they were engraven with an iron pen, or cast with lead, so as to remain an inlieliblci and eternal record ! And, so long as there is a God, this wish for the )!erpefoa.tion; of'his testimony cann'ot be in vain.· It bas been fulfilled. "In a hundred languages' of ·the ·eirth• it''announces to this day to all. peoples ·this truth : the good man is not free froni sufferings, bnt in the consciousness of his innocence and in faith in God; providence1 and immortality, he. finds a consolation which suffers him not to fall; and his ·waiting·· for a glorious issue of Gocl's dark leadings ,~ill certainly be crowned "•(Wohlfotth). Yer. 25," And I know that my Redeemer lives." "Redeemer" is proba.bly to 9e taken, not ,in the sense of blood-avenger, but in that of restorer of my honour, avenget of m'y honour; but the· two meanings are connected. " And· as Last One will 'he rise upon the dust." God is here viewed as he who· will outlive all, especially in contrast·to Job, now sinking into death.· He will rise; stand up fur Job's defence and deliverance, on the dust in which he shall soon be laid. ver. 26, "And after my ·skin °has been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall behold Eloah." He is thinking of thflime when he shall be freed from his wretched suffering and lacerated "flesh,'' and shall see God as a glorified· spirit, Yer. 27, "Whom I shall behold for myself," i,e. in my ow'n person, "and my eyes shall see, and not a stranger." "My reins be consumed wit.hin me," in longing after this glorious view. It is an expression of the desire of the·qeepest, tenderest part of the man for this high consummation. To· discuss tbe·different theological interpretations of this passage does not come within the scope of this part of the Commentary. Perhaps the best is that which steeni between two extremes, ~nd is adopted by many eminent expositors of the present day. It is that Job does··not here express the hope of a bodily resurrection after death, l:iut of a contemplation of God iri the other world in a spiritually glorified state. It iA the hope of immortality, rather than that of resurrection, to which he rises, with such clearness and de!initenesil, above that ancient lsraelitish idea of Sheol, which be himself has admitted in earlier discourses. It is-a glorious confession of faith-one that, in a fuller sense, may ·well be that of the catholic Church. And once more the prope-rty ana power of faith are exhibited in all their lustre. It cleaves to lifo in the very jaws of death; believes in heaven, even when hell is yawning at its feet; looks to God as the Redeemer even amidst anger ·and judgment; detect-I! beneath seeming wrath his mercy; sees, under the appearance of the condemner, the Redeemer. Faith is here the "substance of things hoped for" (Heb. xi. 1). The best consolation in the trouble of death is that Christ is risen from the dead, and therefore we shall rise (Rom. viii. 11 ; 1 Cor. :xv,). . God gives more to hie servant, whoshows himself inspired by such firm confidence towards 1him, than he could ask or understand. V. SOLEMN WAJ,tNING TO HIS FRIENDS TO DESIST FROM THEIR ATTACKS. (Vers. 28, 29.) 11 If ye thii'\k, How shall we persecute hi..m? aoo'(if ye think) the root of the matter is found in· me"-that is,if you think the reason for my sufferings is- solely to be found in myself, in my sin-" be afraid_of the sword," the avenging sword of God, "for wrath falls in with the offences of the sword," which may mean either that wrath is a punishment of the sword, or that the punishments of the sword 31'8 with wrath-  839 THK BOOK OF JOB.