Bible Commentaries

DISCOURSE: 474

THE UPRIGHT PERSON’S COMFORT UNDER AFFLICTIONS

Job 23:10. He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

THE superior happiness of the godly above that of the ungodly is not so manifest in a season of prosperity as under circumstances of deep affliction. The world can rejoice in their portion as long as their pleasures are uninterrupted by bitter reflections or painful dispensations: but in trouble they have no refuge. The righteous, on the contrary, have less of thoughtless gaiety; but in time of trouble they find abundant consolations. No man was ever beset with a greater complication of trials than Job; all of which were beyond measure heightened by the uncharitable censures of his friends: but still he found an inward support by reflecting upon,

I. His conscious integrity—

It is characteristic of God’s children, that they are all upright before God—

[As there is a very considerable difference in the attainments of different men with respect to bodily strength and intellectual powers, notwithstanding all possess the same members and enjoy the same faculties, so is there with respect to piety also, notwithstanding all are upright in heart. From the very instant that a person is converted to God, he must of necessity hate sin, and long after a conformity to God’s image: he cannot commit sin [Note: 1 John 3:9.]; he must be, according to the measure of grace given him, “an Israelite indeed, and without allowed guile.” Nor does humility require us to confess ourselves hypocrites (wilful hypocrites, I mean) when God has quickened us by his Spirit; for it is not humility, but ingratitude and falsehood, to deny the work which God has wrought in us. Many of God’s most eminent saints have spoken of their own integrity and rejoiced in it, and even pleaded it before God [Note: Psalms 17:2. 2 Kings 20:3.]. And we also, by “proving every one of us our own work, may have rejoicing in ourselves, and not in another [Note: Galatians 6:4.].”]

A consciousness of their own integrity is a rich source of consolation to them in a trying hour—

[There are times and seasons when almost all the other springs of comfort seem dried up: sometimes it may be painful even to reflect upon God [Note: Psalms 77:3.]. Job acknowledges in the context, that God’s “presence was a trouble to him:” but knowing that God was acquainted with his heart, he could yet appeal to him respecting his own integrity: and from this source he derived a pleasing satisfaction, an encouraging hope. St. Paul, under a daily and hourly expectation of martyrdom, experienced much joy in the same thought [Note: 2 Corinthians 1:8-12.]: nor shall we find it a small consolation to us, under any trials we may be called to endure.]

But Job found a yet further consolation in reflecting upon,

II. The expected issue of his trials—

Though he was at present in as hot a furnace as he could possibly endure, yet he believed that he was put into it by a skilful Refiner, for the purifying of his soul from dross—

[They who are truly upright, learn to view the hand of God both in their comforts and their troubles: they know that affliction comes not by chance, but from the hand of Him who directs every thing with consummate wisdom. The ungodly look no further than to second causes; and therefore yield to murmuring and impatience whenever they receive evil from the hand of their fellow-creatures: but the godly are persuaded that their portion, whatever it be, is mixed for them by God himself, and that it is intended “to purge away their iniquity,” that they may be partakers of his holiness [Note: Psalms 39:9. Isaiah 27:9. Hebrews 12:10.]. This was evidently the view which Job had of troubles, notwithstanding they sprang from such various sources.]

An expectation of the benefit reconciled him to the means used for his good—

[No one can love trouble on its own account; since it is “never joyous, but grievous.” But sanctification is the highest wish of the upright soul: it is regarded as a pearl that cannot be purchased at too high a price. Trials, however painful, are welcomed, if they may but be the means of promoting this blessed end. Many have even dreaded the removal of them, lest with them they should lose also the benefits flowing from them. And, if we could have viewed the afflictions of Job in their true light, we should have preferred his condition when upon the dunghill far before that of his censorious friends. He was enabled to look forward to the end; and the event fully justified his expectations.]

Address,

1. Those who are in the furnace of affliction—

[Look above all second causes, and see God appointing the nature, measure, and duration of all your trials [Note: 2 Samuel 16:10.]. “He brings the third part through the fire;” and appoints tribulation as your way to the kingdom. Let him accomplish his own will in his own way; and “what ye know not now, ye shall know hereafter.”]

2. Those who have been delivered from their troubles—

[When you were bowed down under the load of your afflictions, you probably thought how differently you would live if God should hear your prayers, and deliver you. Now then remember the vows that are upon you [Note: Psalms 66:10-15; Psalms 116:1-14.]. Provoke him not to visit you with yet heavier afflictions. As clouds succeed the rain, so do troubles come in succession while we are in this vale of tears. Endeavour then so to improve the past, that future troubles may find you better prepared for their reception, and every dispensation fit you for your eternal rest.]

3. Those who have never yet experienced any particular trials—

[A little outward religion will satisfy you in a state of case and prosperity. But that will not be found sufficient in a time of trouble. The fire will try what your attainments are. Now therefore be in earnest about the work of salvation, that when affliction comes, it may be mitigated by the consolations of an upright mind, and not be aggravated by the accusations of a guilty conscience.]

DISCOURSE: 475

JOB’S LOVE TO THE WORD OF GOD

Job 23:12. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

WHENCE arose this remarkable assertion? Was it a spontaneous and uncalled-for effusion of self-applause? or was it drawn forth by the circumstances in which this holy man was placed? If we look back to the preceding chapter, we find that Eliphaz had given him this counsel: “Acquaint now thyself with God, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart [Note: Job 22:21-22.].” In answer to this, Job replies, “O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. …My foot hath held his steps; his way have I kept, and not declined: neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food [Note: ver. 3, 8–12.].”

I will call your attention to these latter words,

I. As an honour to Job—

What sacred records Job possessed, I know not: but certainly he had some, either written or traditionary: and to these he had respect, “esteeming them more than his necessary food.”

His desire after them was more ardent—

[A man may feel no great appetite for dainties; but for his necessary food he cannot but feel a most intense desire. Hunger and thirst will in time so oppress a man, that he will gladly part with all that he possesses in the world to satisfy their pressing demands. In the famine that was in Egypt, the whole people of the country sold their lands, yea, their very bodies, to Pharaoh, for a supply of necessary food [Note: Genesis 47:19.]. Yea, on some occasions, women have eaten their own children, to satisfy the calls of nature. Yet was Job’s desire after the words of God more urgent than any pressure of the natural appetite for bodily food.]

His delight in them was more exquisite—

[The sacred records are represented to us as “a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined [Note: Isaiah 25:6.].” Yet this, methinks, conveys but a very inadequate idea of the delight which the promises of God afford to a weary heavy-laden soul. Doubtless to one nearly famished with hunger and thirst, the necessary food, how common soever it may be, is exceeding sweet: but not so sweet as were God’s words to Job; so much more exquisite was the satisfaction which they afforded to his soul than any of which his bodily frame was capable.]

His refreshment from them was more abiding—

[Elijah, after a hearty meal, “went in the strength of his meat forty days and forty nights [Note: 1 Kings 19:5-8.].” And Jonathan, after a day’s extreme fatigue, did but taste a little honey, and his strength was renovated in a very extraordinary degree [Note: 1 Samuel 14:29-30.]. But the strength which God’s blessed word imparted to Job was visible in every part of his life. Truly “it enlightened his eyes,” insomuch that his discernment of God’s truth was incomparably clearer than that of any of his friends who came to instruct and comfort him: for God himself says of them, that “they had not spoken of him the thing that was right, as his servant Job had [Note: Job 42:7.].” And, as it informed his understanding, so it strengthened him to bear his trials with a degree of confidence and composure never surpassed by mortal man. In immediate connexion with my text, he says, “God knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold [Note: Job 23:10.].” And St. James represents him, in this respect, as the most perfect pattern to the Church in all ages: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job [Note: James 5:11.].” I may add further, his love to the word of God was that to which we must trace the whole of that obedience which he so feelingly describes: “My foot hath held his steps; his ways have I kept, and not declined; neither have I gone back from the commandments of his lips: I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food [Note: Job 23:11-12.].”]

Let me yet further pursue this subject,

II. As a reproach to us—

How much fuller a revelation of God’s mind do we possess!

[Doubtless Job’s views, both of himself as a sinner, and of Christ as a Saviour, were, in many respects, clear and just [Note: Job 9:20-21; Job 19:25-27.]. But how incomparably richer is that discovery of God’s revealed will, which is transmitted to us in the writings of the Old and New Testament! There is nothing concealed from us, which it would be for our advantage to know. All the eternal counsels of God, as displayed in the covenant of grace, are exhibited to our view, together with all the wonders of redeeming love. How highly, then, should these be estimated by us! If Job felt such regard for the partial revelations vouchsafed to him, what should not we feel towards this complete system of divine truth, which we are privileged to enjoy?]

But how low is the esteem in which it is held by us!

[Not only is “our necessary food” preferred before it, but every base indulgence: the gratifications of sense which are most sinful, and the acquisition of objects which are most worthless, have a greater preponderance in our minds than either the Law of Moses or “the glorious Gospel of the blessed God.” Let us only look back, and see how faint have been our desires after divine knowledge, and how feeble our endeavours to obtain it. In truth, every book has been preferred before the sacred volume: and, with almost every one amongst us, the perusal of a novel or a newspaper would be resorted to, at any time, to occupy a leisure hour, rather than God’s blessed word.

To what is our ignorance of heavenly subjects to be ascribed, but to this? And to what else must our disobedience to God’s commandments be traced? We love not God’s word, and therefore we do not study it: we explore not its contents, and therefore we neither know it nor obey it. Though it ought to be our meditation and delight all the day [Note: Psalms 1:2. See Jeremiah 15:16.], with many the sacred volume is scarcely ever read at all: and with those who do occasionally take it into their hands, it is read only in a superficial manner, and without that veneration and love which it deserves. I say, then, that Job may well rise up in judgment against us, to condemn us for our grievous neglect of that sacred volume, which even “the angels in heaven desire to look into [Note: 1 Peter 1:12.].”]

Application—

Redeem, then, the time which you have lost, for the attainment of divine knowledge—

[Were the salvation of your soul out of the question, God’s blessed word deserves more attention than any other book: for there is no other book whose contents are so curious, so instructive, so edifying in every view. But, when the salvation of your soul depends on your obedience to it, what shall I say? Methinks, you should be studying it day and night, in order to obtain all its proffered benefits, and to comply with all its most reasonable demands. In public, when it is opened to you in the ministration of the Gospel, “receive it, not as the word of man, but as the word of the living God.” And in your secret chamber study it, as it were, upon your knees; and implore of God the teaching of his Holy Spirit, in order that you may be able to comprehend its mysterious contents. In a word, esteem the revelation of your God as Job esteemed it: and then, like Job, shall you have a record on high, that you pleased God, and that you were accepted of him.]