The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 400

(John iii. 20) h11ten of the light. Light is a frequent biblioal eymbol for Divine truth (Prov. vi. 28; Ps. cxix. 105; b&. ii. 6), anrl in particular for the gQ&pel (Matt. iv. 18; Luke ii. 32; John xii. 36; Eph. v. 8). Hence the unbelieving and therefore uncon- Vc>rted wick~ heart naturally looks upon the light of God's Law and of Christ's gospel with repugnance (Rom. viii. i), an.I for the same reason, th11t the light condemns their works. 2. They know not the ways of the light. They have no familiarity with euoh modes of living e.s men practise in open day. The ordinary e.vocations of law-abiding citi7.c>ns possess for them no interest and yield to them no enjoyment; in wbioh respect a~in they fit.ly typify ungodly men in general, who neither know nor care for the ways of holiness and truth. The way of the wicked is a way of darkness (Prov. iv. 19; Rom. xiii. 12), of 1mbelicf (Heh. iii. 12), of disobedience (Rom. viii. 7), of folly (Prov. xii. 15), of sorrow (Prov. xiii. 1/i), a way that is dispkasing to God (Prov. xv. 9), and that leadeth unlo dc>:ith (Mntt. vii. 13; Rom. vi. 23). Tho way of truth (Ps. cxix. 30), of understanding (Isa. xl. 14), of holines.~ (I!<&. xxxv. 8), of peace (Isa. lix. 8; Rom. iii. l 7), of life (Matt. ,;i. 14-), they do not keep, love, or know. 8. 1.'hey shun the paths of the light. 'l'hcy remove themselves and their nefarious practices as far as possible from the ligbt, lest they should be seen of men. Even so evil workers come not to the liaht lest their deeds should be reproved (John iii. 20). Honest men fear not to st.and in the BUn. Nor do children of the light require to wrllp themselves in cloaks of darkness. But because God's light (of the Law and the gospel) has a singular power of discovering men's wickedneae to themselves and others (Eph. v. 1::1), the children of darkness avoid the light. II. 'J'nEm DARK DEEDS. The poet sketches portraits or three of these ancient rebels against the light. 1. The murderer; whose villainies are described by a threefold characteristic. (1) The time of their perpetration-" at the dawn," i.e. just before the breaking forth of the morning light, or while it is yet dark, that hour being selected for (a) it.s adaptation to the works about to be performed, works of darkness (Rom. xiii. 12), such as robbery and murder, which cannot bear the light, and (b) the facilities it affords for finding subjP.ets on which to operate. (2) The victims of their perpetration- " the poor and needy," who by reason of penury are obliged at that eaxly hour to be afoot, probably on the road to their daily tasks. Murder, in itself an atrocious crime, is immensely ag-gravated when, for the petty spoil which can the:reby be obtained, it is committed against the indigent and feeble. (3) 'l'he n1anner of their perpetration-by sudden ambush. "At dswn the manslayer riseth up," i.e. out of .his concealment," and killeth the poor and the needy; " another aggravation of his wickedness. The language may also indicate the alacrity and earnestness with which this son of darkness, this child of the devil, e.ets about his unhe.llowed work; in which respect his conduct may administer rebuke to the children of light. 2. The adulterer; who also is.possessed: of the infernal sagacity to select the season most appropriat~ and the manner most effec- tive, for accomplishing his diabolic purpose. Not at early dawn, but with the falling of the evening twilight, he sallies forth towards his neighbour's harem, saying, "No eye shall see me;" to render detection impossible, putting a mask upon his face, forget- ting that masks hide from men, but not from God, who can see as well in darkness as in light. But most criminals and sinners omit to reckon with the invisible Spectator of their abominations. Notoriously so did Cain (Gen. iv. 10), David (2 Sam. xi. 4), Anauias and Sapphira (Acts v. 2). Yet, again, from even a teacher ~o unworthy ~ this violator of marriage sanctities, God's people may derive a lesson to transact tqeir deeds of light with wisdom and efficiency. 3. The burglar; who, already referred to as the highwayman of the morning dawn (ver. 14), is reintroduced as th!l midnight housebreaker who, with pick and spade (the modern thief using crowbar 11nd chisel, skeleton keys, etc.), digs beneath the mud walls of rich men's abodes, marked by him during day (vers. 16, 17). The more probable translation, however, sets forth the housebreaker's horror of the light: "In the daytime they shut themselves up," bec~use "they know not," i.e. hate, " the light : " and " to them together the morning is. ai, the tihadow of death." i.e. through fear of discovery; "for they are acquainted· with," and therefore nre greatly afraid of, "the terrors of the shadow of death." Ill. THElR TERRESTRIAL ll.EW A.JI.DB, 'l'he tr_eatment of neither of the twp claeae11 described in the present chapter is strictly retributive. 1. The/ate ofthepetty,;riminala; ie. of the murderer, tile !Mlulterer, the thief, and all iuchade4 }l,l ih11 04~eg9ry of fel>el, OU, XXIV, 1-25,] THE BOOK OF JOB. 415