JOB'S DEFENSE AGAINST SUSPICION. Both Eliphaz and Bildad had attempted to fasten upon Job some specific wrong, seeking from him a confession to that effect. He therefore defends himself against this manner of drawing conclusions in his case.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Job answered and said,... [ Continue Reading ]
I know it is so of a truth, namely, that God is righteous in all His doing, that He never perverts justice; BUT HOW SHOULD MAN, a mortal being, man in his mortality and weakness, BE JUST WITH GOD? Even if mortal man should, in his own opinion, be in the right over against God, his own judgment is wi... [ Continue Reading ]
If he will contend with Him, if mortal man should dare to enter into litigation with the great God, HE CANNOT ANSWER HIM ONE OF A THOUSAND; if man's case were brought to trial, God could and would so quickly embarrass and overwhelm him with questions that he would quickly stand there in mute shame,... [ Continue Reading ]
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; those are two outstanding attributes of God. WHO HATH HARDENED HIMSELF AGAINST HIM, stiffening his neck in foolish opposition, bidding Him defiance, AND HATH PROSPERED? With His wisdom the Lord can confuse man, and with His strength He can overcome him; so... [ Continue Reading ]
Which removeth the mountains and they know not, without their being aware of the fact; WHICH OVERTURNETH THEM IN HIS ANGER; His wrath strikes them with such sudden fury that they are not even conscious of the change effected by His power until all has been done.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, causing not only the mountains, but the entire earth to tremble in mighty earthquakes, AND THE PILLARS THEREOF TREMBLE, its very foundations are rocked and shaken, Psalms 75:3; Isaiah 24:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, withholding his golden rays from the earth; AND SEALETH UP THE STARS, setting a seal round about them, veiling them by thick clouds and darkening the night as well as the day, as He chooses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, like an immense tent, Isaiah 40:22, AND TREADETH UPON THE WAVES OF THE SEA, He is their Master; though they rise up in threatening heights, Psalms 107:26, at His almighty command they must serve Him with meekness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which maketh Arcturus, the constellation of the Great Bear, in the northern part of the sky, ORION, a constellation of the southern sky, AND PLEIADES, a constellation of the eastern sky, AND THE CHAMBERS OF THE SOUTH, the secret places of the Antarctic sky, for in that direction the endless spaces o... [ Continue Reading ]
Which doeth great things past finding out, yea, and wonders without number. Job cheerfully agreed with his friend, 5:9, on the absolute power and the inexpressible majesty of God. The Lord's great power is put forth not only in the kingdom of nature, but also in His government of man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not; He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not. Though his eyes cannot see the great and mighty God, his spirit perceives His nearness, as He sweeps by like a destructive wind before which no man can stand.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, He taketh away, snatching away His victim and all the spoil He chooses to take; WHO CAN HINDER HIM, holding Him back from His course, placing hindrances in His way? WHO WILL SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU? This thought of God's overwhelming and often apparently arbitrary power now prompts Job... [ Continue Reading ]
If God will not withdraw His anger, rather, affirmatively, "He will not cause it to return," He will not recall it, THE PROUD HELPERS DO STOOP UNDER HIM, literally, "the helpers of Rahab cringe before Him," the reference being to a historical or a legendary defeat of some mighty enemies of Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
How much less shall I answer Him, namely, than such great and mighty adversaries, AND CHOOSE OUT MY WORDS TO REASON WITH HIM? No matter how carefully he might choose his words, attempting to get just the right expression, he could not escape rebuke on the part of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom, though I were righteous, even if Job were in the right, free from blame according to standards of right as commonly accepted, yet would I NOT ANSWER, that is, Job could not answer, BUT I WOULD MAKE SUPPLICATION TO MY JUDGE, being brought to the humiliating position of beseeching the Judge, who... [ Continue Reading ]
If I had called, and He had answered me, if Job's pleading would apparently find favor, YET WOULD I NOT BELIEVE THAT HE HAD HEARKENED UNTO MY VOICE; he feared that God's infinite exaltation would keep Him from showing such kindness.... [ Continue Reading ]
For He breaketh me with a tempest, that is, He would overwhelm Job with a storm, should he attempt such a course, AND MULTIPLIETH MY WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE, in spite of Job's innocence He would pursue him with calamities.... [ Continue Reading ]
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness, this being considered the food with which Job should satisfy his soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
If I speak of strength, lo, He is strong, in a trial of strength Job would, of course, not stand a show; AND IF OF JUDGMENT, WHO SHALL SET ME A TIME TO PLEAD? If it were a question of right and judgment, the mighty word of God would be thundered at him: Who will cite Me? In either case, there was no... [ Continue Reading ]
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; even if he were right, the confusion of his speech would condemn him; IF I SAY, I AM PERFECT, innocent, without guilt, IT SHALL ALSO PROVE ME PERVERSE, set him forth as guilty.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is one thing, it is all one, or, it makes no difference whether a person is innocent or guilty; THEREFORE I SAID IT, HE DESTROYETH THE PERFECT AND THE WICKED; this statement Job feels constrained to make against God.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOB INSISTS THAT GOD VISITS ALSO THE RIGHTEOUS WITH AFFLICTION... [ Continue Reading ]
If the scourge slay suddenly, namely, by means of any calamity, HE WILL LAUGH AT THE TRIAL OF THE INNOCENT, God will mock at the despair of the guiltless, not permitting Himself to be disturbed in the enjoyment of His heavenly bliss.... [ Continue Reading ]
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, this God readily permits; HE COVERETH THE FACES OF THE JUDGES THEREOF, veiling their eyes and permitting them to render wicked decisions, to practise unrighteousness; IF NOT, WHERE AND WHO IS HE? Who but God could it be that does this!... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, my days are swifter than a post, flying away more swiftly than the motion of a courier, or runner; THEY FLEE AWAY, THEY SEE NO GOOD; Job despairs of ever being released of his affliction, he has entirely forgotten his former state of prosperity.... [ Continue Reading ]
They are passed away as the swift ships, sweeping past like vessels of bulrush, known for their lightness and swiftness; AS THE EAGLE THAT HASTETH TO THE PREY, swooping down upon it with almost incredible speed. Thus Job illustrates the hasty flight of his life.... [ Continue Reading ]
If I say, I will forget my complaint, making an attempt to rouse himself from his stupor, I WILL LEAVE OFF MY HEAVINESS, literarily, "my countenance," that is, his gloomy and downcast look, AND COMFORT MYSELF, looking cheerful once more.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am afraid of all my sorrows, he is once more forced to shudder with pain; I KNOW THAT THOU WILT NOT HOLD ME INNOCENT, that God would not declare him guiltless.... [ Continue Reading ]
If I be wicked, rather, "I am to be guilty," declared to be wicked by the decree of God, WHY, THEN, LABOR I IN VAIN? It was a useless endeavor on his part trying to appear innocent; he felt that he was tiring himself out without result.... [ Continue Reading ]
If I wash myself with snow-water, which was considered as containing greater cleansing power than ordinary water, AND MAKE MY HANDS NEVER SO CLEAN, literally, "cleansing my hands with lye," in an effort to purge away all impurities,... [ Continue Reading ]
yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch, into a sink or sewer, AND MINE OWN CLOTHES SHALL ABHOR ME. This would happen while he was still naked after his washing and would cause him to become so filthy as to make his own clothes ashamed of him. That is: "Not even the best grounded self-justification ca... [ Continue Reading ]
For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, standing on the same level with Him before a court of justice, AND WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER IN JUDGMENT.... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither is there any daysman, arbitrator or mediator, BETWIXT US THAT MIGHT LAY HIS HAND UPON US BOTH, acting as umpire between God and Job to settle his case; for God was both accuser and judge.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let Him take His rod away from me, the scourge and calamity wherewith He was smiting Job, AND LET NOT HIS FEAR TERRIFY ME, stupefying him by His majestic presence;... [ Continue Reading ]
then would I speak and not fear Him, namely, with this handicap of overpowering majesty removed; BUT IT IS NOT SO WITH ME, in his own person he was not conscious of any reason why he should fear Him. Job's defense of himself becomes so emphatic that it verges on self-righteous boasting, an act again... [ Continue Reading ]