201. JOB 9:4. THE CERTAIN CONNECTION BETWEEN INCORRIGIBLENESS AND RUIN

Job_9:4. The Certain Connection Between Incorrigibleness And Ruin

"Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?"’97Job_9:4.

Let us, in considering the solemn interrogation of the text, notice, The Nature of Incorrigibleness’97and its Ruinous Effects.

I. The Nature of Incorrigibleness.

This is evidently included in the sinner "hardening himself" against God. Here two things are included.

1. The sinner is against God.

In a state of opposition, dislike, hostility The most perfect variance between them. Now this will apply,

(1) To the heart of the sinner. This is the seat of depravity, it is carnal, at enmity with God, not subject, &c. Palace of the devil. Sepulchre of uncleanness Jer_17:9; Mat_15:9; Rom_8:7.

(2) To the mouth of the sinner. The sinner’s lips speak against God. "The mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things." "Is his destruction." "Is full of cursing and bitterness." Pro_15:2; Pro_18:7; Mat_15:11. It applies,

(3) To the life of the sinner. "A bad man, out of the treasury of a bad heart," &c. His whole career is associated with evil, and with evil only. Wherever he moves, or whatever he does, is tinctured with sin. His life is one continued act of rebellion towards God. He doeth evil and that continually. Now consider

2. What it is for the sinner to harden himself against God.

It includes,

(1) Progression in evil. Going onwards in vice. Waxing worse and worse. Habits of sin strengthened. Love to sin increased, &c.

(2) Increased indifference to God. Fear of God thrown off. God not in all his thoughts. The greatness and terribleness of God lost sight of, until sin is performed with impunity.

(3) Presumptuous daring of God. "Who is the Lord," &c. His authority totally slighted. His threatenings despised. No fear of his judgments. Try to live as if God existed not, &c. What a fearful state of mind! How unreasonable’97how ungrateful’97how unjust’97how base!

Notice,

II. Its ruinous effects.

"Who hath hardened himself’97and hath prospered?" Prospered really, spiritually, in reference to body and soul, to both worlds. External riches no certain sign of prosperity. Such often the most wretched. For those to prosper who harden themselves against God is impossible.

1. For when God is against a man, all things are against him.

Conscience, no peace, &c. Providences are against him’97word against him’97all creatures, &c. God can make his food bitter’97his nights sleepless’97his riches, piercing thorn’97his pleasures, poison. He can thwart his plans’97discomfit his designs’97multiply his foes’97remove his friends, and fill him both in body and soul with wretchedness and wo. This will be evident,

2. From the examples left on the records of revelation.

Did Cain prosper? Did the inhabitants of the old world? Did Pharaoh? Did the unbelieving Jews? Did Nebuchadnezzar’97Belshazzar’97Herod? No, they all perished. They were all overcome. They were all plunged into inextricable ruin.

3. This must always necessarily be the case.

If a man refuse the light, he must be in darkness. If a man cast off God, he inevitably casts off peace, and joy, and hope, and the very possibility of happiness. Against God, and he is truly his own adversary, and must involve himself in certain misery. "Whatsoever a man sows, that he must also reap," &c. Then let the sinner be warned of his perilous condition, and be exhorted to sue for peace, and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. The callous and hardened must inevitably perish. Religion and prosperity are inseparably allied. "Godliness is profitable," &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS