The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 337

Ver. 5.-The short triumphing of the ttncW. Zophar'a superfioial view has truth In it u fur as it goes. He is a man of the world, and he has kept hie eyes open, ·What he has seen has been no illusion. It is not enough to explain the deeper mysl.eries of Job's experience. Yet it has an obvious truth in it. . I. THERE IS A TRIUMPHING OF TBE WICKED. 1. This is seen in e:i:perience.. Even Zophar, who finds it not exactly in accorda.nce with his ideas of providence; still cannot but admit that it exists. A swindler fattens on the spoils of the robbery of widows and orphans. A Napoleon dominates Europe. 2. It is important to· recognize the fact. We must make onr theories accord with our experience and observation of the world. It is useless to comfort OW'S8lves in the seclusion of our private meditation-with an easy optimism, if this will not fit in with the e11ents of everyda.r life. : If we are· not prepared to expect the triumph of the wicked, the sight of it will strike us with a shock of dismay. 3. TIUJ triwmphing of the wicked does present a difficul,ty. It is contra.ry to our notion of justice. No doubt the narrow, conventional notion of the threefrienda: was founJed on a genuine sense of right and fitness. If there is to be no future J11dg- ment, and if this temporal state is typical of the whole course of life, here is an instance of gross injustice. We must therefore face it, and inquire what it means. II. THIS TRIUMPH IS BHOBT. Zophar's explanation is that the triumph will soon pass away, and will give place tu overthrow and ruin. 1. This is seen on earth; , As a rule, the swindler does not die rich. He usually outlives his gains. Great wickedneaa generally disappoints its owner. Napoleon finishing his career as an exile at St. Helena is typical of the most frequent end of a very bad course. But this is by no means a universal principle. The whole of a bad man's life may be externally prosperous, right on to death. 2. Tl1u =1l be B6ffl after death. W.e must extend our contemplation of the course of the wicked man. . He dies, leaving wealth, pleasure, power, triumph; behind him. • None of these can a.ccompany him through the dark doors of death. , 'He has laid up no treasures in tbe unseen world. There he is certa.inly beggared, and· he ha.s good ground for expecting the infliction of well-merited punishment. , His short earthly lile, but a moment when compared to eternity, is over, and with it all his triumphing bas ceased. , III. THE SHORT TRIUllPB OF THE WICKED IS FALLA.orous. 1. It isfalla,ciO'U,B became its brevity is hidden. The foolish man who glories in it dot:s not see how swiftly it is slipping away from him. A triumph which must soon give place to shame is not worth, much to its owner. 2. It isfallaci,ou,s because it gives no solid satisja,ction. The wicked glee of triumphing in sin is quite superficial. Often its very excitement· is only- a result of restless- discordant p118sione. It wears a bold front, buCr.it covers a weary spirit. li there is a spark of conscience left there must be a haunting fear-like tho mnmmy at the Egyptian feast-that spoils the pleasure. . ' , IV. THE ONLY ENDURING TBIO){Pl[ IS THAT WHICH FOLLOWS A TBULY CHBIBTU.111' LIB'J!l. L Thu is solid. It begins with victory over sin and self, our greatest enemies; 2. II ii auwred. It is brought about by the work of Christ; it is just sharing ip. his victory; and Christ mnst triumph. 3. It i, demal. On earth-thero may be shame a11c1 ou. xx. 1-29.J 'tii:& 1JOOK O'Jl' JOB. 361