The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 576

Spirit. It ill not 11nough to study our Bibles. We must be muoh in prayer, we muat li,·e near to God, Bo that we may speak in the strength and spirit of God.-W. F. A. Ver. a.-Knowledge fetched from aj<III'. I. KNOWLEDGE HUBT BE FETCHED FROM AFAR. True to his character, the brilliant but pretentious young Elihu makes 1m ostentatious claim to having gone far for the knowledge that he is now about to declare. It might be said that many precious truths lie at our feet ready for us if only we would have the humility to stoop for them. Diamonds sparkle in the dust; we need not be for ever straining after the stars. Still, there is a knowledge that can only be got by far searching. 1. Over a wide realm. Elihu is about to launch forth into tbe great Be& of nature. The infinite variety of facts and the grand harmony of laws there displayed are not perceived at a glance. Truth covers a lnrge a.ea. Many of our notions are erroneous just because our inductions are too nar- row. We judge of the world by the parish. We estimate man by our private circle of acquaint&nces. We value life by our own experience. We must learn to break down the barriers, to master our shortness of sight, to take broad views, and look down long vistas of truth. 2. By persevering thought. A mere glance at truth is not enough. We must search for wisdom as for hidden treasure. II. .KNOWLEDGE FETCHED FROM AFAB VINDICATES TBE BIGBTEOUBNEBS OF GoJ>, This is the conclusion to which Elihu has come. The three friends had declared for the same result, but they had started from much narrower premisses, end their cramped ideas could uot satisfy Job. Elibu professes to take a wider view of the world, and eo to establish his conclusion on a broader basis. We have only to know enough of God to be assured that all be does is good. The hard thoughts of God which we are tempted to entertain spring from partial and one-sided views of his works. Ill. CHRIST BAS BBOUGBT U8 KNOWLEDGE FBOM AFAR WBIOH BEVEALS THE GOOD- NESS OF Gon. We are not left entirely to our owu dim groping after truth in the great wilderness of existence. What we could never have discovered for ourselves has been brought to us by Jesus Christ. He has come from afar, from the distant heavens; and he has brought the knowledge of God and of eternity to earth. Now, if we would have the highest wisdom, our first course is, like Mary, to sit at the feet of Jesus. When we do this we shall learn that all that God does ill good. Then we shall eee that he is our Father, and that love is the principle that pervades all his government of the world. Some of us may yet be far from a perceptiou of these glorious truths-because we are far from Christ. We have to know and trust him in order to reach the truest and best thoughts of God.-W. F. A. Ver. 5.-Th£ might and 'TTUJf'CYOf God. The remarkable thought here brought before us is the juxtaposition of God's might and mercy. He is both powerful and pitiful, majestic and condescending, infinite and sympathetic. L GoD's JiUGBT DOEB NOT DEBTBOY BIS MERCY. It is only a very low and earthly view that could lead us to suppose that it might do so. When small men are lifted up they begin to display their littlene:;s by despising those who are beneath them. But no such conduct can be ascribed to the great God. We must not suppose that any one of his creatures is so humble that he will not stoop to care for it. Hie is not .. the rude strength of the giant. ll GoD's .HEBCY IS OONF!RMED BY BIS :MIGHT. The truth ie the opposite to what we might fear if we judged by_ the small experience of eart_hly greatness. . God has I!o temptation to despise any of his creatures. He does not wish to make a display of hlS greatness. 1. He does not despise the small. Feeble strength. and slight capacity lead to contempt among men; but what :ie the greatest strength, what the highest capacity lu. the sight of God, _in whose eyes all men are bu~ ae dust ~nd ashes? If be deBpi.sed any, he would despise all 2. He does not despis~ the 'IJJl,Cked. He kn~ws their sin, folly,and helplessne,;s. He seems to treat them with contempt, as psalmists and prophets describe his actions. But all that he really does iij to frustrate their foolish desi= aud show that he cannot be touched by their iain rebellion. If God despised th~ wicked. he would despise all his children, because in the light of his holiuess the best meu are covered with the shame of guilt. Ill. GoD's lllGBT AJID IIEBOY wo.u: TOGBTBEB, The might gives elfect to the mercy. tm. XXXVI, 1-88.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 591