The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 364

contends that their oornmon fate is rather that of the sinners who were engulfed by the Deluge (ver. 16); which fate, though often (1) invisible to them, coming on them at the moment when they are saying, "Depart from us," as it did on the infidels of Noa.h's day (Luke xvii. 26, 27), is (2) progressing towards them, the righteous being a.ble to discern its approl\Ch, though they, the wicked, cannot, "the secret of the Lord being with them that fear him," and "the Lord showing them what he is about to do," as he did to Abraham (Gen. xviii. 17) and Pharaoh (Gen. xii. 28), and will ultima.tely prove (3) unavoidable by them, the fire of retribution being as certain to devour their a.bun- dance as it did that of the Sodomites (Luke xvii. 29), e.s well as ( 4) ignominious for them, the innocent mocking at them and exulting in their destruction, just as the worshippers of the beast shall yet be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb (Rev. xiv. 11). Learn: 1. That good men may tell lies. 2. That saints should be chary in prefer- ring charges against one another, 3. Tba.t no ea.use ca.n be permanently advanced by an untruth. 4, Tha.t atheism is an old sin, and is commonly associated with immo- rality. 5. Tha.t neither distance nor darkness can hide from God. 6. Tha.t the Almighty ca.n do more for, or against men, tha.n unbelievers imagine. 7. That God's goodness does not always lead the ungodly to repentance. 8. That they who now ' scorn the righteous will eventually be scorned by the righteous. 9. That God must reign until all his adversaries are overthrown. Vers. 21-30.-.Eliphaz to Job: 3. An uncalled-/01' exhortation. I. TrrE PA.THWA.Y OF PENITENCE. 1. .Acquaintance with God. The word points to such an imimate knowledge of God as might be secured by dwelling with him on familiar terms in the same house. The meaning is tha.t Job required, as a. first step towards tempora.l and spiritual recovery, to disabuse his mind of the obviously false impressions of the Divine ·character which he entertained, and to get to know God as he really was in the excellence and beauty of his Person. Ignorance of God-of bis character a.s a God of love; of his purpose as a purpose of salvation; of his Gift, Christ Jesus, the outcome of his grace ; of his gospel, which contains a. free invitation to fallen sinners-is the fruitful cause of unbelief and sin (Eph. iv. 18), a.s, on the other hand, a thorough appreciation of God's Na.me and character a.s revealed in Christ invariably leads to repentance and faith (Ps. b:. 10). Such acquaintanceship with God can only be realized in and through Christ, who, as the" Image of the invisible God," "dwelt among us," that men might see his glory; that, so to speak, God might become familiarized to man ; tha.t man might be able to get on speaking terms with God, and so come to understand God better than he had ever done before (,John xiv. 7, 9). 2. Reconciliation to God. The second clause, though sometimes read as consecutive, ma.y be taken as jussive, and a.s intimating the second step in the sincere penitent's return. There naturally rises out of a better acquaintance with God a laying aside of enmity towards him, or a making friends with him. Already God is reconciled to the sinner (2 Cor. v.18); or rather, he bas objectively and legally set the sinful world in a state of reconciliation towards himself, i.e. he has turned away bis judicial wrath from the world, so that now nothing prevents the instan- . taneous establishment of" peace," friendship, at-one-ment, between God and man, except man's ·own disinclination and enmity. The publication of God's reconciling work is the message of the gospel (2 Cor. v. 19); the invitation addressed to man to discontinue hostility against God, to lay down the a.rms of rebellion, to live no more in a state of war against God, but of amity and peace with God, constitutes the ministry of recon- ciliation. 3. Instruction from God. Accepting God's gracious offer of forgiveness and sa.lva.tion, and entering with him into a covenant of friendship, the penitent must next submit bis soul to the Divine teaching (ver. 22). God's Law, first written on the tablets of the heart (Rom. ii. 15); afterwards promulgated from Sinai (ExoJ. u. 1); at a subsequent period amplified, illustrated, and enforced by the prophets (l:leb. i. 1); in the fulness of the times exemplified in the Person, character, and work of Jesus Ch.rist (John iii, 2; Heb. i, 2); nowrea.ches its final stage when engrM·en on the renewed heart by the Holy Ghost (2 Cor. iii. 3; Heb. viii. 10). 'l'o this Law God requires sub- mission as one of the imperative conditions of enjoying his friendship; and this s•1b- mission must be (1) sincere, proceeding from the heart; (2) implicit, yielding obedience to the •tera11cOJ of his mouth; (3) complete, not to one or two of the utterances, but to  378 THE BOOK OF JO& (cm.xtn,1~