The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 632

HOMILIES BY VARIOUB AUTHORS. Vera. 1-5.-0onciusion of Jehovah's address : reply of Job: lowliness in the presenClJ of Jehovah. The words of Jehovah express this-- I. THAT THE DIVINE WORKS PRESENT A TRIU14PHANT CHALLENGE TO BUMAN INTELLIGENCE. (Ver. 2.) Can man surpass them? Can be even imitate them? What can he do but silently admire them, and adore the Author of them? Therefore the serious contemplation of the works of God is well fitted to silence an ignorant criticism, and quell the idle murmurs of discontent. To trace his power, wisdom, and fatherly love through the various departments of the visible universe is to deepen in our minds faith in his order. We in some way are instruments for promoting that order, and shall be blessed in proportion to.our active or resigned compliance with its laws. IJ. THE 8,TUDY OJI' THE DIVINE ORDER, THEN, IS FITTED, NOT ONLY TO SILENCE THE CAVILS OF A SHORT-BIGHTED CRITICISM, DUT TO PRODUCE BOTH FAITH AND HUMILlTY. (Vers. 3-5.) This is the effect on the miod of Job. He feels bis littleness in presence of the infinite Intelligence; and, laying his hanil upon bis mouth, makes the resol .-e of silence for the future from all questioning of his Maker. Thus silently, as the storms and frosts of winter give .place to the.genial warmth and gentle intluences of spring, is this proud and passionate heart, which want of sympathy and injustice at the hands of man had stung into proud self-consciousness and presumptuous .appeals to God, softened by the voice and revelation of God himself into the heart of a little child. When we see ourselves as we are, because seeing ourselves in relation to him; when we are con- vinced of our insignificance in ourselves, and of the greatness_of that grace which alone sheds a true value and significance upon our lives, peace begins to he shed through the heart, and in the silence of a true submission we wait for that which God may further have to speak to us, instead of assailing him with the clamour of passion and ignorance.-J. ,Ver. 6-ch. xli. 34.-Second discourse of Jehovah: the righteous gollf1T'Tl.ment of God. In the previous discourse we have had especially the universal power and wisdom of God impressed upon us; in the present the thought of the justice of his rule is to be more fully brought into the light: in order thus to bring Job to full conviction, and expel the last remains of anger and. pride from his heart; while Divine love triumphs -in his repentance (eh. xiii. 6). I. REBUKE OF THE PRESUMPTION WHICH DOUllTS OF THE JUSTICE OF Goo. (Vers. 6-14.) Once again is Job summoned to gird .up his loins and prepare for the contest with Divine reason. Let, then, these questions receive an answer from the murmurer's and the doubter's lips. Will man "disannul" or bring to nought the justice of God? For this he seems to aim at who would place his own notions of what is right in the place of the Divine. Or, if man would enter on this competition, has he the means to carry out the strife? has he the arm, the power of God ? can he wield the thunder of Omnipotence? Let the experiment be tried. Let man clothe himself with the Divine attributes, at le:_1st in fancy; let him put on glory and pride, splendour and pomp. Let his anger break forth in fiery floods, and let him overwhelm all the pinnacles of hum""  THE BOOK OF JOB. [OH, XL, 1-24.