The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 365

all; and (4) cbearful, l&ying np his worch! in the l1011rt with an e11rneat dealre to bring the life into full a.ocord with their instructions. 4-. Ho1ilness before God. Equally does th• grace of repenmnce involve a hearty forAAking of sin and a steadfast resolution after new obedience (vu. 23). This 11enfiment is a repetition from Rildad's second or&tion (oh, xi.14; 1/ide homiletics), bnt is nevertheless true. No man:reallyreturos to God who con• tinues to adhere to sin (Isa. Iv. 7). U a man does return to God, he will "ce11&e to do evil, and learn to dG well" (Isa. i. 16). Conversion means death to sin, but life tio rightoollil• ness (Rom. vi. 6-22). Follow holiness is the &ll-compreheusive pn,oept of the gospel (Heb. xii. 14). The Christian life is essentia.lly an upwa.rd progress towards personal purity. This is assuredly the grand lesson of the gnc.e of God that bringeth salvation (Titus ii. 11, 12). 5. .Renunciation of all "beside.9 God. Th"e genuinely contrite inan must complete th<: e,-idence of his sincerity by abjuring everything in which be has formerly placed his trust, in pa.rticule.r bis riches, even though these should happen: to have been justly and honourably acquired, "laying down in the dust his gold, ·and ph1cing among tb.e pebbles of the brook the gold of Ophir" (ver. 24.); i.e. he must est~m them as-absolutely worth.!.iss -in oompa.rison with religion-languaii;e which .seems a.n anticipation of the sublime utterance of St. Paul (Phil. iii. 7, 8). So Christ exhorted the rich young ruler to sell all that he had (Matt. xix. 2L), and called his disciples to leave all (Matt. iv. 20). And so must srunts still be willing to pa.rt with every treasure that might dispute with Christ the supreme affection and control of the heart (Ma.tt; L 37, 38; xvi. 24; Luke xiv. 26); in particular, neither trusting in uncertain riches (1 Tim. vi. 11), nor attempting to serve God and mammon (Matt. vi. 24). - • . II. Tm: REWARD OF PENITENCE. 1. Inwa,nl peace. 'l.'he first effect of such ,a penitent return to, and reconciliation with, God would, according to Eliphaz, be deliver~ ance from ment.a.1 disquietude (ver. 21, Authorized Version). Laying down its weapons of rebellion, and closing with the Divine overtures of pardon, the contrite soul would experience a holy calm," a peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience.'' True peace of mind is nnatt&inable in sin and under condemnation (Isa. !vii. 21) . It is only possible 36 the result of acceptance with God (eh; xxxiii. 26; Ps. xxix.11). Hence it is described in the gospel as the first effect of justification (Rom. v. 1), as the great gift bestowed by Christ upon his people (John xiv. 27; xx. 19), and as the certain experience of every believer (Rom. viii 6; xiv. 17; xv. 13). It is also represented as a peaoli which the world can neither give nor take away (John xiv. 27), as a peace which passeth all understanding (Phil iv. 7), whether by a saint or by a sinner. 2. .Outward good,, The subsequent enumeration of blessings attendant on the lowly penitent almost leads to the surmise that Eliphaz was thinking mainly of spiritual good (ver. 21). Yet it is certain that temporal enle.rgement was not excluded from his contemplation ... Probably he intended both; and" good" in the widest acceptation of the term is promised to believing followers of God in both the Old aud New Testaments (Ps. miv. 10; lxxxiv. 11; Rom. viii. 28). Even things that in themselves wear !l,n .adverse aspect are trans- formed into benefits for the child of God (Heh. xii 11). St. P,i.ul gives an inventory of the saint's "good" things (1 Cor. iii. 21). And these good things come. to the saint without his labouring for them (.Matt. vi. 33), simply as the gift of God. 8. Domestic prosperity. 'l.'he building up alluded to (ver. 23), while capable of wider rofcrence, may bere be understood of family enlargement. Children are like olive plants about the table, i.e. noble BOD£ and fair daughters; and to have many of them was a special mark of Divine favour under the Law (Ps. cxxviii. 3). Indeed, all right-thinking persons regard a numerous offspring as a blessing rather than a curse. 4. God for the soul's Portion. In exchange for the castaway gold and silver, Job is promised that which constitutes the true riches, viz. the Almighty himself, who should be to him" gold from the mine, and silver of the brightest lustre" (ver. 25). So God represents himselfas his people's Portion (Jer. x. 16 ; Ii. 19), and as such he is claimed by his people (Ps.- x~i. 5; Lam. iii_. 24 ~- Hill 11&lvation alao is depicted as the soul's true treasure {Luke xvi. 11). :At this pornt the recitation of the penitent's reward may be said to culminate. 'J'he undermentioned benefits, though here exhibited as co-ordinate with the foregoing, are really nothing else than the unfolded contents of the last benefit recorded. 'l'he man who has God for ft Portion will in consequence po88888 all the privileges that follow. 5. Delight .in God'• preaence. Instead of sitting melancholy and dejected, sullen and gloomy. befor.e. God, likt another Cain, he will be able to lift up s 11ere11ely joyous face to· God as • fa.th.or OH, ll:lll. 1-so.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 379