The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 566

or from o,erweening eelf~onoeit which eupposes nothinn can be accurate which sel£ does not eee. Job and the three friends are good illustrations of men who look at the same object ( e.g. t.he Divine administration) from different standpoints, and pronounce each other wrong. Elihu undertook to present Yiews derived from an extensive induction of particul•rs, from a many-sided contempTation of truth, from long and deep reflection. So should preachers aim at setting forth only such expositions of Divine truth R.B have been gathered by patient industry and diligent research, of the widest and minut.est sort, in the volume of the Scriptures, in the books of nature and history, in the records of experience; and even these only arter they have been subjected to careful inspection and personally absorbed by deep meditation. 4 . .As speaking with the at1Mst sincerity. Elihu promised that bis words should not be false ns to matter disingenuous as to aim, or beguiling as to form (ver, 4); and neither abould tb~ utte_rances or a preacher in any one of these respects deviate from the straight path of rectitude. What he offers to the acceptanoe of his audience should be the unmixed truth of God (1 Cor. ii. 2, 7; 2 Cor. iv. 2; 1 Thess. ii. 2), presented not "with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Cor. ii. 4, 13), and exhibited with no ulterior motive of personal aggrandizement, but with honest endeavour to advance God's glory in man's salvation (2 Cor. iv. 2). Soundness of doctrine, simplicity of speech, singleness of aim, are qualifications indispensable for an efficient ministry. 5. As possessed of an adequate acquaintance with his theme. In claiming to be" perfect in knowledge" (ver. 4), Elihu may be only asserting bis honesty of purpose (Umbreit, Carey, Cook), but the application of the s11me phrase to God (eh. xxxvii. 16) makes it probable tba.t he here alludes to the " faultlessness and clearness of perception" (Delitzsch) with which he apprehends'' the theodicy which he opposes to Job," and the intensity of that inward conviction which he holds as to its truth (Cook). So again should God's prophets and Christ's preachers, by prayerful study or the Divine Word, by prolonged cogitation on the themes they design to discuss, -and in particular by humble dependence on that Spirit who instructed Elibu, labour to arrive at the veritable truth of God, and to have as complete an understanding thereof a.s possible, that so, in all their utterances, they may be able to say, like Christ," We speak that we do know" (John iii. 11); like David," I.believed: therefore have I spoken" (Ps. cxvi. 10) ; and like St. Pan!, " We also believe, and therefore spea.k" (2 Cor. i,. 13). II. THE PBEACllEB ANNOUlTOES BIS THEllE. 1. The character of the Divine Being. Introduced by a "Behold! "to mark its worthiness of Job's attention and admiration. (1) Mighty. Meaning exalted in station, lofty in rank or quality of being, and resist- less in power-a point freqnently descanted on by Job himself (e.g. eh. ix. 4; xii. 13), a.s well as by the friends. (2) Condescending. Despising not any, acting not scorn- fully, as Job insinuated God did in tnrning a deaf ear to his entreaties, and regarding his misery without concern (eh. :x. 3; xix. 7; xxiii. 13). But the Supreme Governor of the universe, according to Elihu, is too exalted a Being to act unjustly, or even unkindly, t-0wards any, even the meanest, of his creatures. On the contrary, his very greatness is the best guarantee for his absolute impartiality and condescending kind- ness. That God despises nothing he has made, neither man nor beast, but watches with loving care over the least as well as the greatest of his works, was asserte<l by Christ (Matt. x. 29), and experienced by David (Ps. xl. 17), and may be confirmed by • reference to nature itself, in which the smallest objects (e.g. flowers and insects) have lavished on them the largest amount of skill in their construction, decoration, and preservation. This combination of strength and beauty, of power and gentleness, of dignity and condescension, which Elihu proclaims to be characteristic of God, was emi.nently exemplified in Christ, and lies at the foundation of all moral greatnesa in man. (3) Wise. "Mighty in strength of heart" (ver. 5.), the Divine Being can penetrat.e through all disguises, disco1•ering right and wrong everywhere, at all times, and altogether. Besides being of infinite power aud of great kindness, he is also of omniscient underst.anding. 2. The character of the DiviM administration. (1) Punitive, or destructive towards the ungodly : "He preserveth not the life of the wicked "-the doctrine of the friends (eh. v. 2; viii. 12, 13; xi 20), but here advanced with greater fairness of statement (vide m/ra) ; and (2) gracious, or preservative tnwarda the piou: "He giveth right to the poor," or afflicted, i.e. he allotteth to them wh&A  OH, XXXVI, 1-88,] THE BOOK OF JOB. 681