The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 466

·betUJvolence. "Job delivered the poor that cried," etc. HerCJ we.a more than princely generosity. It costs a man absolutely nothini to leave B big legacy to the poor, and it does not hurt him much to give freely during his lifetime out of hie superfluous cash. On the contrary, the money may be profitably laid out, even from a. purely worldly and selfish point of view, in the honour of standing well in subecription-\iRts. Ilut the greater honour is due to those who exert themselves for the good of their brother-men. Lord Shaftesbury was a man of email means. His fame is not founded 011 money irirts; it rests on the more solid foundation of self-denying labours. 2. Integrity. Job put on righteousness, and it clothed him. Without this, benevolence is of little value. We must be just before we are generous. A Christian man of business should see to it that his name is without reproach in the commercial world. Truth and honesty are primary conditions of respect. 3. Wisdom. " Unto me men ga.ve ea.r, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel" (ver. 21). Had Job been a foolish, thouah 0 a well-meaning man, deference to his counsel would have been a sign of weak- ness on the part of others. But he proved himself to be a man of strong mental power and of true wisdom. We owe respect to the "men of light and lea.ding" when their leading is determined by their light.-W. F. A. Ver. 13.-" The blessing of him that was ready to perish." I. WHY IT 1s VALUABLE. We cannot but be struck with this beautiful trait in Job's autobiographical sketch. It is better than all renown. The clamours of the multitude are poor plaudits com- pared with the blessing of the poor. Many people may be indifferent to it. They may be satisfied if only they can grasp power, and compel the homage of the great, although their path is followed by "curses not loud, but deep." Cruel conquerors, ruthless tvrants, hard-hearted men of the world, know nothing of the blessing Job here describes. Yet it is solid and real. 1. It springs from tro,e appreciation. This is no superficial praise reqnirtd by custom or prompted by shallow motives. It arises out of a genuine perception of goodr.ess. 2. It is characterized by gratitude. Thus it con- tains warmer feelings than those of admiration. An element of awakening affection enters into it. Now, it is better to be loved by the obscure than to be merely honoured by the great; it is better to be loved by a few than to be applauded by a multi- tude. 3. It is accompanied by the approval of Christ. He tells us that what we do to one of the least of his brethren we do to him. He co=ends the good Samaritan to us as an approved example. Therefore the gratitude of the humble poor carries with it the smile of Heaven. 4. It is powerful for good. Men try to win the favour of the great who can do much for them, and selfishly disregard the opinions of the poor who seem to have power to do them but little good or harm. Yet the blessings of the helpless are prayers to the great Friend of the helpless. They bring down the blessings of God. Happy is the man who lives under these conditions! IL How IT IS EARNED. 1. By means of genuine goodness. Clamours of appla.use may be won by very equivocal conduct. Superficial things may excite extraordinary admi- ration. People rush to stare and shout after any celebrity. But they want to know more before they will bless· one. This devout well-wishing and praying for a person which we call blessing can only be earned by real and solid goodness. 2. Through the exercise of sympathy. The helpless and perishing may be constrained to avail themselves of favours tossed to them from a distance by a hand of proud patronage, and perhaps even of scornful contempt. But if there is no grace in the gift there will be little gratitude in the reception of it. If we would earn the blessing of the helpless we must win their love, and in order to do that we must manifest love to them. Sympathy unlocks the :ountains of the heart. 3. Jn deeds of active helpfulness. If the sympathy is genuine 1t will lead spontaneously to such deeds. We cannot truly sympathize with a person in trouble without desiring to help him. Now, the active helpfulness will be the sign and seal of the sympathy. 'l'his it was that secured Job's place in the heart of the poor. Men have heaped honours on the head of tho "Happy Warrior." The time has come when we should revive the better glories of Job's days. If we desire to win a P?5ition in the world, let us save our ambition from sordid or even wicked aims. Let nim be first in love o.nd service who would be first in honour. This is Christ's rul@ (Mark ix. 35).-W. F. A. JOB, 21  THE BOOK OF JOB.