Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v21650

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 136 lines

21651
 #10-15 Elihu had showed Job, that God meant him no hurt by
 afflicting him, but intended his spiritual benefit. Here he
 shows, that God did him no wrong by afflicting him. If the
 former did not satisfy him, this ought to silence him. God
 cannot do wickedness, nor the Almighty commit wrong. If services
 now go unrewarded, and sins now go unpunished, yet there is a
 day coming, when God will fully render to every man according to
 his works. Further, though the believer's final condemnation is
 done away through the Saviour's ransom, yet he has merited worse
 than any outward afflictions; so that no wrong is done to him,
 however he may be tried.

21657
 #16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose
 that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are
 unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring
 presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his
 discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to
 produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to
 submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God.
 Elihu asks, To what purpose? All is well that God does, and will
 be found so. What can make those uneasy, whose souls dwell at
 ease in God? The smiles of all the world cannot quiet those on
 whom God frowns.

21672
 #31-37 When we reprove for what is amiss, we must direct to what
 is good. Job's friends would have had him own himself a wicked
 man. Elihu will only oblige him to own that he spoke unadvisedly
 with his lips. Let us, in giving reproof, not make a matter
 worse than it is. Elihu directs Job to humble himself before God
 for his sins, and to accept the punishment. Also to pray to God
 to discover his sins to him. A good man is willing to know the
 worst of himself; particularly, under affliction, he desires to
 be told wherefore God contends with him. It is not enough to be
 sorry for our sins, but we must go and sin no more. And if we
 are affectionate children, we shall love to speak with our
 Father, and to tell him all our mind. Elihu reasons with Job
 concerning his discontent under affliction. We are ready to
 think every thing that concerns us should be just as we would
 have it; but it is not reasonable to expect this. Elihu asks
 whether there was not sin and folly in what Job said. God is
 righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, #Ps
 145:17|. The believer saith, Let my Saviour, my wise and loving
 Lord, choose every thing for me. I am sure that will be wisest,
 and the best for his glory and my good.
21679
 * Elihu speaks of man's conduct. (1-8) Why those who cry out
 under afflictions are not regarded. (9-13) Elihu reproves Job's
 impatience. (14-26)

 #1-8 Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God,
 and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us,
 and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach,
 either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to
 complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful
 that we have better than we deserve.

21687
 #9-13 Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the
 oppressed against their oppressors. This he knew not how to
 reconcile to the justice of God and his government. Elihu solves
 the difficulty. Men do not notice the mercies they enjoy in and
 under their afflictions, nor are thankful for them, therefore
 they cannot expect that God should deliver them out of
 affliction. He gives songs in the night; when our condition is
 dark and melancholy, there is that in God's providence and
 promise, which is sufficient to support us, and to enable us
 even to rejoice in tribulation. When we only pore upon our
 afflictions, and neglect the consolations of God which are
 treasured up for us, it is just in God to reject our prayers.
 Even the things that will kill the body, cannot hurt the soul.
 If we cry to God for the removal of an affliction, and it is not
 removed, the reason is, not because the Lord's hand is
 shortened, or his ear heavy; but because we are not sufficiently
 humbled.

21692
 #14-26 As in prosperity we are ready to think our mountain will
 never be brought low; so when in adversity, we are ready to
 think our valley will never be filled up. But to conclude that
 to-morrow must be as this day, is as absurd as to think that the
 weather, when either fair or foul, will be always so. When Job
 looked up to God, he had no reason to speak despairingly. There
 is a day of judgment, when all that seems amiss will be found to
 be right, and all that seems dark and difficult will be cleared
 up and set straight. And if there is Divine wrath in our
 troubles, it is because we quarrel with God, are fretful, and
 distrust Divine Providence. This was Job's case. Elihu was
 directed by God to humble Job, for as to some things he had both
 opened his mouth in vain, and had multiplied words without
 knowledge. Let us be admonished, in our afflictions, not so much
 to set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of
 the mercy of God.
21695
 * Elihu desires Job's attention. (1-4) The methods in which God
 deals with men. (5-14) Elihu counsels Job. (15-23) The wonders
 in the works of creation. (24-33)

 #1-4 Elihu only maintained that the affliction was sent for his
 trial; and lengthened because Job was not yet thoroughly humbled
 under it. He sought to ascribe righteousness to his Maker; to
 clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. Such
 knowledge must be learned from the word and Spirit of God, for
 naturally we are estranged from it. The fitness of Elihu's
 discourse to the dispute between Job and his friends is plain.
 It pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which
 he had been visited. It taught that God had acted in
 mercy towards him, and the spiritual benefit he was to derive
 from them. It corrected the mistake of his friends, and showed
 that Job's calamities were for good.
21699
 #5-14 Elihu here shows that God acts as righteous Governor. He
 is always ready to defend those that are injured. If our eye is
 ever toward God in duty, his eye will be ever upon us in mercy,
 and, when we are at the lowest, will not overlook us. God
 intends, when he afflicts us, to discover past sins to us, and
 to bring them to our remembrance. Also, to dispose our hearts to
 be taught: affliction makes people willing to learn, through the
 grace of God working with and by it. And further, to deter us
 from sinning for the future. It is a command, to have no more to
 do with sin. If we faithfully serve God, we have the promise of
 the life that now is, and the comforts of it, as far as is for
 God's glory and our good: and who would desire them any further?
 We have the possession of inward pleasures, the great peace
 which those have that love God's law. If the affliction fail in
 its work, let men expect the furnace to be heated till they are
 consumed. Those that die without knowledge, die without grace,
 and are undone for ever. See the nature of hypocrisy; it lies in
 the heart: that is for the world and the flesh, while perhaps
 the outside seems to be for God and religion. Whether sinners
 die in youth, or live long to heap up wrath, their case is
 dreadful. The souls of the wicked live after death, but it is in
 everlasting misery.