_But Job answered and said._ JOB’S ANSWER TO ELIPHAZ We must come upon grief in one of two ways and Job seems to have come upon grief in a way that is to be deprecated. He came upon it late in life. He was in solid prosperity and positive and genuine comfort. Grief must tell heavily whenever it com... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed._ HEAPING UP ONE SCALE We have no objection to weigh all Job’s griefs. But what shall we put in the other scale? He who counts the hairs of our head, and puts our tears in a bottle, will not make light of human grief. In His scale it will be weighed to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the arrows of the Almighty are within me._ SHARP ARROWS Arrows are-- 1. Swift. 2. Secret. 3. Sharp. 4. Killing. (_J. Caryl._) THE POISONED ARROWS OF THE ALMIGHTY By “poisoned arrows” we must understand, not only his boils, the heat and inflammation of which had dried up Job’s moisture,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?_ THE SATISFIED ASS The patriarch introduces this illustration to prove to his friends that his complainings were not in vain. His troubles were not imaginative. This quaint subject is instructive and interesting to all. It teaches two lessons. I. He who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt?_ SEASONING FOR CHRISTIANITY Salt gives a zest to many unpalatable things, and is an invaluable condiment. The health, the digestion, the entire well-being of man, demand its use. The patriarch is alluding to those matters which give zest to life,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have not concealed the words of the Holy One._ CONCEALING THE WORDS OF GOD 1. The testimony of a good conscience is the best ground of our willingness to die. 2. The counsels of God, His truths, must be revealed. It is as dangerous, if not more, to conceal what God hath made known, as to be in... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend._ A MESSAGE TO DOUBTERS Such is the rendering of the Authorised Version; but, unfortunately, it is a rendering which misses almost entirely the thought of the sacred writer. As a glance at the context will show, the words form a part o... [ Continue Reading ]
_My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook._ THE USES AND LESSONS OF DISAPPOINTMENT The meaning of this passage is, that Job had been disappointed. He hoped his friends would have comforted him in his sorrows; but all his expectations from that quarter had failed. He had been like weary and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Teach me, and I will hold my tongue._ THE VIRTUE OF SILENCE This is the passionate outcry of a soul in trouble. Misfortune and loss have fallen heavily upon Job. His spirit is sorely stricken. The presence of Eliphaz and his many words of advice bring neither comfort nor hope, and almost in angry... [ Continue Reading ]
_How forcible are right words! _ THE FORCE OF RIGHT WORDS Who has not felt the superiority of the power of Job’s words compared with those of the words of his friends? How is this? Job suffered, struggled, and sorrowed, and therefore he learned something of the human heart. Irritating to him were... [ Continue Reading ]