_Call now, if there be any that will answer thee._
MORAL EVIL AS VIEWED BY AN ENLIGHTENED NATURAL RELIGIONIST
How does Eliphaz appear to view sin?
I. As excluding the sinner from the sympathy of the good. He may mean
here, either, Who will sympathise with thy opinions as a sinner? or,
Who will sy... [ Continue Reading ]
_And envy slayeth the silly one._
--Plutarch says of human passions that they are not evil in
themselves, but good affections, which nature has furnished us withal,
for great and noble uses. Right, reason, wisdom, and discretion ought
to rule; but all our powers and passions have their proper place,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen the foolish taking root._
1. Wicked men may flourish in great outward prosperity.
2. Wicked men may not only flourish and grow, but they may flourish
and grow a great while. I ground it upon this; the text saith that
they take root: I have seen the foolish take root; and the word note... [ Continue Reading ]
_Affliction cometh not forth of the dust._
HUMAN SUFFERING
“Affliction comet, h not forth of the dust, nor doth trouble spring
out of the ground.” The liability of man to suffering is one of the
most palpable truths addressed to our observation or experience, and
at the same time one of the most a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I would seek unto God._
MARVELS AND PRAYER
Nothing could be better than the counsel proffered in the text,
nothing more certain than the grounds on which he rests his counsel.
To seek unto God, and spread out one’s cause before Him, that must
be the best thing to do in any emergency. Does not the... [ Continue Reading ]
_That those which mourn may be exalted to safety._
THE EXALTATION AND SAFETY OF THE PENITENT
I. Of the character which God approves. That of the lowly and
contrite.
1. He is not adverting to those who are low and depressed in outward
circumstances. Divine lowliness is the effect of grace.
2. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_He disappointeth the devices of the crafty._
THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE CRAFTY
The word “crafty” may mean “prudent,” but usually it denotes
such as are wickedly “cunning.” The meaning of the text is, that
with how much art and subtilty soever wicked men may lay their plots
and ill designs, there i... [ Continue Reading ]
_He taketh the wise in their own craftiness._
1. The wisdom of natural men is nothing but craft or wit to do
wickedly.
2. Satan makes use of subtle, crafty men, and abuseth their parts for
his own purposes.
3. The crafty are full of hopes that their devices will succeed; and
full of trouble, beca... [ Continue Reading ]
_So the poor hath hope._
THE EXPEDIENCY OF PREVENTIVE WISDOM
By God’s different treatment of men, according to their different
characters, the afflicted receive comfort, and the unrighteous are
silenced and restrained. “So the poor hath hope, and iniquity
stoppeth her mouth.” The words recommend--... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth._
HAPPINESS
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth.” There are
comparatively few happy ones on this world of ours. What is happiness?
The word is derived from “hap.” It may signify a happening of any
kind, good or bad. Luck and hap stand to each... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue._
THE SCOURGE OF THE TONGUE
I. The scourge. “The scourge of the tongue.”
1. There is the lying tongue. It perverts facts. It turns the lame out
of the way and misleads the blind.
2. There is the cursing tongue.
3. There is the obscene tongue.
4... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy tabernacle shall be in peace._
RETURNING FROM A JOURNEY
These words may be considered as a promise made to a good man, with
regard to his absence from home. When he goes a journey at the call of
providence, he may leave all his concerns with the Lord whom he
serves, for He will guide his steps... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age._
THE DEATH OF THE CHRISTIAN
I. Death is inevitable. “Thou shalt come.” This remark is very
trite, simple, and common. But while this is a truth so well known,
there is none so much forgotten.
II. Death to the christian is always acceptable. “Thou shalt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear It, and know thou it for
thy good._
“SO IT IS”
Thus closed a forcible speech by Eliphaz the Temanite; it may be
called his “summing up.” He virtually says, “What I have
testified in the name of my friends is no dream of theirs. Upon this
matter we are... [ Continue Reading ]