The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 599

demand, Jehovah, "wbo gi'\"cth not an Recount of hie matters" (eh. xxxiii. 13), Mmell down from the toerene altitudes of hie eternlll palace, riding on a whirlwind, thundering with his voice, sending forth hie lightnin(?S, causing the solid globe to tremble beneath 1hc tread of hie glowing feet (Pe. xviii. 9-14). (2) To complete Job's instruction. Elihu bad been Bent to begin the work of e,iucating God's ill-informed servant. 'l'hat work had been performed with some considerable measure of success. Accordingly, to deepen the impressions made upon the mind of Job, Jehovah takes up the line of argument pu!'llued by bis ambassador, thus in a manner confirming all that had been by him advanced, and openini up before the mind of Job the full import of that teach- ing in a way that was impoS1;ible to Elihu. (S) To humble Job's pride. Although the Lord had expreBBly come to afford Job an opportunity to vindicate himself, if he conld, be begins by aiming at the reduction of Job's self-righteous vanity. With a creature filled as Job W11S at the moment with such intolerable haughtiness and pre- 1mmption, it was impossible that God could treat. The first thing to be attempted was to brinp; Job down from the lofty pedestal of self-complacent dignity on which he had established himself; and this was aimed at partly by the sublime character of the Divine manifestation, and partly (perhaps ohiGfl.y) by the elevated tenor of the Divine teaching. (4) To effect Job's restoration. That in the terrible ordeal throu~h which Job had passed his integrity had not been to some extent shaken, no candid reader will affirm. Satan at the outset alleged that it would wholly fail. Jehovah maintaine_d that it would 1,:tand. When the last trial (the preaching of the friends) bad ended, Job, was far from bdng in a st.ate of stable equilibrium as to his integrity. Acco_rdingly, Elihu, in perfect harmony with the original conditions of the problem, was sent to hlli assistance; and now, when nll things bad been prepared for' his coming,.God himself arrives upon the scene. "Who can teach like him?" ea.id Elihu; and·so discerning the approach of the great King, the faiLbful ambassador withdraws; leaving Job· to get Lis last le,;son from him who alone teacheth to prt>fit (Isa. xlviii. 17). If after this Job still continues unhumbled, then Satan will have proved victorious; ·J,ut if God shall be able to restore his servant to a proper frame of mind, then the final verdict will go with him, and not only the devil, but the intelligent universe, be forced to own that • A good man, in the darkness and dismay Of powers that fail, and purposes o'erthrown, May still be conscious of the proper way;" - (Goethe's 'Faust,' Prologue.) that a man through the grace of God may become possessor _of a piety against which:_ even the gates of hell shall not prevail II. THE LoRD's REPROOF OF JoB. 1. Sin charged. Jehovah besins the inteniew_ by distinctly specifying Job's offence. He had " darkened counsel' (ver. 2) ; that is, be had obscured and misrepresented the prearranged plan and underlying principles of the Divine administration. The language reminds us: (1) That there is a well- defined plan in accordance with which everything on earth comes to pass. As the primordial atoms of matter did not fortuitously fashion themselves into that brilliant host of suns and systems which we name the universe, or even into this wondrous globe which in comparison with the whole is but as a drop in the ocean, so neither do the events of time which compose human history occur by chance, but each one fa1Js into 1he place prepared for it in the universal scheme. (2) That this plan, or creation-prouramme, has been arranged in accordance with the highest wisdom. It is not a rando~ plan that God has selected for bis universe, or even for the earth, as an architect migr. t build a house agreeable to the first idea or sketch that came into his mind; it is the best possible plan that omniscient wisdom could devise. (3) That this crea.tion-prugramme or world-plan in all its details has been constructed in accord- ance with the fundamental principles of truth and equity. Otherwise it could not have been the production of the highest wisdom. Hence it is deducible that the existence neither of 1in nor of suffering is incompatible with eternal right. (4) That tbe harmonioW! accordance of this Divine plan with law and jW!tioe shines forth in God's administration with sufficient clea.me88 to convince every one who studies that administration with fairness and impartiality. (5) That if in o.ny case the luminous radiance of God'• couneel ill obscured, it mW!t be owing to the shadow cast thereon by tho os. xixvm. 1---U.] THE BOOK OP JOB. 611