The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 372

If we go further we may pauperize the objects of our charity. It is necessary, therefore to consider chBrnoter and methods of help suited to lift, not to degrade, the recipients: Here most complicated problems arise. But the primary help is simple and uncon- ditional. IV. Trne IB CumeT-LIKE. Our Lord took pity on the world's sore need. He did not consider whether he could find "deserving cases." He offered bis salvation to the most undeserving. Need, not merit, was the cBll that brought him from heaven. The most undeserving are really the most needing of help, not indeed with lavish doles of charity that will keep them in idleness, but, after the first necessaries are supplied to maintain life itself, by a kind of assistance that will raise them and better them. How to give this help is a most difficult question. We cannot do better than to follow out Lord's example. He raises where he helps. The grace of Christ never pauperizes the soul. V. 'l'HE NEGLECT 01!' THIB IB A GREAT BIN. Eliphaz was unjust in accusing Job of such a sin. In the eyes of the Oriental, often dependent on casual hospitality for life itself in the desert, to refuse water and bread to the needy was a gross wrong. You may kill your enemy with the sword, but you must not deny him wiiter to drink and bread to eat when he comes to you as a guest. Christianity widens and deepens the obligation. Though in various forms suited to the various circumstances or the world ·as we find it, brotherly helpfulness is always expected of Christ's people. It is taken as a service rendered to himself. The neglect of it is a reason for rejection at the greatjudgment (Matt. xxv. 41-46).-W. F. A. Ver. 13.-God's knowledge. I. THE APPARENT Dil!'l!'IOULTY OJI' IT. It may not be asserted that God does not know all, and yet people act as though they could hide from God. In distress and loneliness it sometimes seems as though God could not know what were the troubles of his children, or he would not permit them to be so grievously tried. The vastness of the universe raises the same difficulty. Many things are covered up, and it is not easy for us to believe that he can "judge through the thick cloud.." II. THE RE.AL TRUTH 01!' IT. If God is the infinite Being whom we know him to be, all difficulties will vanish before him. We may not be able to conceive of the method by which he comes to know all things; but this is not wonderful, for that method itself must have an infinity about it quite beyond our comprehension. On the other hand, God frequently gives startling evidence that he sees in secret and knows all things. He surprised Hagar by discovering her in the desert (Gen. xvi 13). .A.chan's stolen booty could not be hidden (Josh. vii. 16-21). Oar own lives must bear witness to the searching knowledge of God. At first, perhaps, his treatment of us may have seemed to go on without any regard to our requirements, but that was only beciiuse we were short-sighted and superficial; for when we have been able to look back over a long stretch of life, have we not been surprised again and iigain at observing how wonderfully God has wrought just the very thing that was needed to bring out what was best in the end ? III. THE OONSEQUENOES DEPENDENT ON IT, 1. It is vain to try to hide from God. He sees through the thickest cloud. Thus we only waste our efforts when we try to make a darkness that shall shut off the piercing gaze of God. He knows all now. He does not need to wait for the future revelation of the judgment-day. .Already all hypocritical pretences are perfectly open and apparent to him. 2. It is foolish to distrust God's wisdom. We see a little corner of life; he has the whole field of it before him. Therefore he must have vastly greater materials for his judgment than we possess for ours. It is not to be wondered at that his decision often differs from ours. But if his ways are not as our ways and his thoughts not as our thoughts, the simple expfanation is that hie ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isa. lv. 8, 9). 3. It is well to seek God's guidance. When we follow his lead we are conducted by 'One who knows the end from the beginning. Our difficulties arise from partial lights and intercer,ted views. We see enough to lead us astray. But the perfect, all- penetrating knowledge of God invites us to renounce our prejudices and look up for the indications of God'e guiding hand. These mar be given to us (1) in the course of ,vents; (2) in the admonitions of conscience; (3) In the teachings of Scripture; ( 4) in the life, the teaching, and the example of Jesus Christ. Browning says- JOB. 2C  388 THE BOOK OF JOB. [OB. XXII, 1-30.