_What man is like Job?_ ELIHU’S ESTIMATE OF JOB It was natural that, with all his reverence for Job, Elihu should be offended by the heat and passion of his words, by the absence of moderation and self-restraint, and tell him that “this strained passion did him wrong.” No doubt it is easier for a f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither will the Almighty pervert Justice._ ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD These words are a description of the justice and righteousness of the supreme Governor of all things; introduced with an affectionate appeal to the common reason of mankind for the truth of the assertion, and closed with an eloquen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hath disposed the whole world._ THE DISPOSER OF THE WORLD It becomes us to entertain proper apprehensions of “Him with whom we have to do.” I. God’s all-disposing agency. 1. God is the disposer of the whole world of nature. What man can produce, man can comprehend. All human workmanship is... [ Continue Reading ]
_If now thou hast understanding, hear this._ ELIHU’S REMONSTRANCE I. Founded on the supremacy of God. Where there is absolute supremacy, there can be no injustice. There are some who speak of the absolute law of right as something outside the Almighty, independent of Him, and to which He is accoun... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the mighty shall be taken away without hand._ GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY VIEWED IN RELATION TO THE DEATH OF HIS PEOPLE The text is part of the argument employed by Elihu to establish the principle of the Divine equity in the government of the universe. He insinuates that the suffering patriarch had at... [ Continue Reading ]
_When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?_ CHRISTIAN QUIETNESS It is no small blessing to enjoy quietness in a world like this. I. This quietness. It is not a freedom from outward afflictions. We often notice, that so far are Christians from being exempted from sufferings, that it is j... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have borne chastisement._ THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF HOLY RESOLUTION There are two essential parts of a true repentance. A humble acknowledgment and confession of our sins to God. A firm purpose and resolution of amendment, and forsaking of sin for the future. I. Show what resolution is in ge... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely it is meet to be said unto God._ THE SECOND SPEECH OF ELIHU I. A good counsel. Elihu recommends Job to do two things. 1. To resolve on an improved life. This includes-- (1) Moral reform. (2) Increased light. 2. To submit to the eternal will. God’s mind is the standard--all knowing, all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should it be according to thy mind?_ CONCEIT REBUKED The verse is written in language of the most ancient kind, which is but little understood. Moreover, it is extremely pithy and sententious, and hence it is obscure. The sense given in our version is, however, that which sums up the other transl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let men of understanding tell me._ ABIDE BY CERTITUDES It behoves us to beware of originality in matters of faith. The old maxim that “What is true is not new, and what is new is not true,” is of no little value. Parke Godwin used to say that he had heard a good deal of “original investigation whe... [ Continue Reading ]