_And Satan came also among them._ SPIRITUAL AGENCIES, GOOD AND EVIL, IN SICKNESS This is one of those mysterious Chapter s of Holy Scripture wherein God hath graciously vouchsafed, for the strengthening of our faith and loving trust in Him, a brief glimpse of that which is continually going on, da... [ Continue Reading ]
_Still he holdeth fast his integrity._ A COMMENDATION OF JOB’S INTEGRITY 1. Constancy in piety, notwithstanding the sharp temptations of an afflicted condition, is a singular commendation in God’s esteem; for hereby Job so acquits himself that the old characters of his piety are not sufficient wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that a man hath will he give for his life._ SATAN’S PROVERB The proverb put into Satan’s mouth carries a plain enough meaning, and yet is not literally easy to interpret. The sense will be clearer if we translate it, “Hide for skin; yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” The hide... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, he is in thine hand._ SATAN MALEVOLENTLY DEALING WITH JOB’S PERSONALITY I. Satan’s low estimate of human nature. His language here clearly implies that even a good man’s love of goodness is not supreme and invincible. He states-- 1. That goodness is not so dear to him as life. “Skin for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Curse God and die._ JOB’S WIFE She only comes on the scene to heighten for one moment the intensity of her husband’s desolation and misery. “Renounce,” she says, “God and die.” “Leave the unprofitable service of this God, who has left thee to so undeserved a fate. Leave Him and quit life, a life t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?_ A RIGHT VIEW OF LIFE The inspiration of the Book of Job is sufficiently established-- (1) By internal evidence; (2) by the testimony of the Jews; (3) by the manner in which other inspired writers speak of him. Admiring,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil._ JOB’S FRIENDS They had good intentions, and goodness of heart. We have here a striking instance of disinterested friendship. I. Its constancy. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar heard of the reverses that had come upon Job. The general way of the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And none spake a word unto him._ SILENCE, NOT SPEECH, THE BEST SERVICE OF FRIENDSHIP IN SORROW Here is a demonstration of true friendship. Note the way in which these friends at first endeavoured to comfort Job. They did not speak. I. Silence is the strongest evidence of the depth of our sympath... [ Continue Reading ]