702. JOB 2:1-10. JOB’S PERSONAL AFFLICTIONS. [NO. V.]

Job_2:1-10. Job’s Personal Afflictions. [No. V.]

"Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou," &c.’97Job_2:1-10.

God’s way is often in the sea, and his footsteps in the great deep. It is not for us to dictate to him, or to say, What doest thou?

To us it appears strange that God should have permitted Satan to bring adversity on his servant Job; for he knew from the beginning, the integrity of his heart, and the perfection of his character. How applicable the words of the Saviour, "What I do, thou knowest not now," &c.

We have seen, however, how Job retained his uprightness in the furnace of trial, and how he came forth as gold. Surely, now Satan would be confused; and wickedness, abashed, would hide its head! Instead of this, we see the assault renewed,

Observe, another day of solemn convocation is held; Job_2:1. Satan again appears, and he confesses that he is still wandering abroad, &c.; Job_2:2. Then God appeals again as to the holiness of Job, and especially to his stability under the late trial of his faith. Satan does not reiterate his former accusation, but dwells on the value of life; and affirms, for that, men will part with all, &c.; Job_2:4.

Various interpretations have been given of this passage. The obvious sense is’97that life is, of all things, the most precious; ami to secure that, all else will be sacrificed,’97therefore, if God put his life in jeopardy, he will abandon his profession of godliness; Job_2:5. Then follows the mysterious permission; Job_2:6.

Observe,

The nature of Job’s personal affliction; and,

The spirit and conduct he exhibited under it.

I. The nature of Job’s personal affliction.

Now, observe, by what this affliction was preceded,’97the wreck of property’97the loss of servants’97and the sudden bereavement of his children.

Into the depths of this sorrow he had been suddenly plunged, and in those depths he still remained.

His second trial was the suffering of his own person.

1. Observe the nature of the disease. Job_2:7.

Critics say, that the boil or ulcer is in the singular in the original: not many, but one wide extended leprous spot. Head enlarged,’97countenance hideous and ghastly,’97the limbs swelled’97the body disfigured. The whole system burning as with fire’97the breath like the smoke of a furnace’97and foul and disgusting withal. His seat the ground, in the midst of the ashes he had strewn upon his head.

His presence is dreaded, from the contagious character of his affliction. No hand can help him. He is in horror, and an amazement to himself.

He takes a potsherd, a piece of broken earthenware, and scrapes himself withal; Job_2:8. Pain, loathsomeness, and of course expected dissolution, and that under circumstances of the most extraordinary kind.

Oh, behold this embodiment of suffering! This object of satanic hate’97this child of sorrow and affliction. Think of the distress of inferior afflictions, when mitigated by remaining mercies’97when ameliorated by the kindness of friends’97when not universal, &c.

2. The domestic aggravation of his affliction.

"Then said his wife," &c. Job_2:9.

Various have been the criticisms on this speech. The Chaldee version gives the name of his wife. And Dinah his wife, &c. And some suppose that this was Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. The seventy, or the translators of the Septuagint, put into her mouth a long address. (See Barnes’s Notes on Job.)

Others have rendered her speech the very opposite of our translation. "Bless God," &c. This is totally opposed to the drift of

Job’s reply, &c. Dr. Goode renders it’97"And yet dost thou hold fast thine integrity, blessing God and dying." Noyes renders it’97"Renounce God and die." Her language is calculated to vex his righteous soul, and also to be a temptation to him.

Here, as in the first transgression, Satan assaults Job through his wife. How anxious we should be, that we may not be a source of temptation to one another.

Observe, then,

II. The spirit and conduct which Job exhibited.

1. He rejects the advice, and reproves the impiety of his wife.

"Thou speakest as one of the foolish," &c.; Job_2:10.

Sin and folly are ever joined in the Scriptures. The word foolish means in the text impious, wicked’97a most godless and presumptuous address. How often this spirit is seen in the afflictions of the wicked,’97Restless, fretted, angry, wrathful, blasphemous, &c. Sometimes the wicked throw off all restraint, and give vent to oaths and imprecations even in their dying moments.

2. He vindicates the supremacy and sovereignity of God.

Job_2:10.

God is here recognized as the source of all good. "Shall we receive good," &c. This is a pious sentiment. Nature and sin never use this kind of language. Carnal men speak of the weather and crops,’97their trade and fortune,’97their diligence and tact. God is not in all their thoughts.

God is here recognized also as the source of evil. "Shall we not receive evil?" Observe, he does not mean moral evil, but penal: the evil of adversity, suffering and affliction, &c. Several passages beautifully express this. Isa_45:7 : Amo_3:6 : Jer_35:17.

Now, it is necessary to keep this in mind. It is one essential element of submission, &c. Observe,

3. The pious triumph of Job, in his affliction.

He did not curse God, as Satan said he would do. He kept himself from that transgression. He honored God in the emotions of his heart, and in the utterances of his lip. He submitted to God. He hearkened to the rod. He kissed the hand, &c. Happy, had he continued to hold fast this spirit of resignation, &c.

Hereafter, we shall have to contemplate his weakness, and to discover that even Job was only perfect in his generation. Learn,’97

1. The various and distressing afflictions to which we are exposed.

Man is vulnerable at every pore! What diseases of body! What afflictions of mind! What domestic troubles! What fearful temptations! What moral conflicts!

2. The sufficiency of divine grace, under the heaviest calamities.

"Fear not, worm Jacob," &c. "I will uphold," &c. "My grace is sufficient," &c. "When thou passest through the waters," &c. "In six troubles," &c.

3. The importance of submission and patience.

Jam_5:7 to Jam_5:11.

4. The afflictions of the righteous are not signs of God’s anger, and are limited to the present life.

Hence the address of father Abraham to Dives’97"Son, remember," &c. "The sufferings of the present time," &c. "Though weeping endure," &c.

Sinner, I ask thee, whose lot is best’97that of the prosperous wicked, or the afflicted righteous?

Autor: JABEZ BURNS