707. JOB 30:25. JOB’S COMPASSION AND GRIEF FOR THE POOR. [NO. X.]

Job_30:25. Job’s Compassion and Grief for the Poor. [No. X.]

"Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?"’97Job_30:25.

One of the most pathetic appeals ever made, is the one of which our text is a part.

The holy Patriarch is roused by the suspicions and insinuations of his mistaken friends, and gives the detail by which he had been influenced, and the practice which, as a man of God, he had ever pursued. And what a dignified, eloquent self-defence it is! He now pathetically refers to the change he has experienced; Job_30:8-16. But he still remembers, with satisfaction, the course he had pursued; for in the text he says, "Did not I weep." &c.

Let us see, then,

What the declaration involves; and

The principles on which it should be imitated.

I. What the declaration of the text involves.

There are two parts. We take the latter first.

1. Grief for the poor.

In all ages and countries there have been poor. Many are such by their own improvidence’97would be so though all around were in prosperity.

Indolence is one cause.

Extravagance another.

Want of ordinary prudence.

But there are many necessarily poor Born so’97reared so’97never can emerge from it’97live so’97die so.

Two things not to be forgotten:’97

(1.) God has to do with our external condition. See 1Sa_2:7.

(2.) The poor shall never cease out of the land. Ye have the poor always with you. Now we may justly grieve,

1. For the condition of the poor.

It is one on which men invariably look down. It is considered an estate of inferiority. Now this is galling to the feelings of the poor. For the feelings of these, at any rate, are often as tender and susceptible as those of others.

2. We should grieve for the privations of the poor.

And how numerous are these!

Insufficient food,’97scanty fare,’97miserable dwellings. Often in inclement weather, little fire.

Then look at the higher privations!

Few mental enjoyments.

Few interesting volumes to peruse.

No instructive society.

No domestic scenes of hilarity and gladness. We should grieve,

3. For the toils of the poor.

They literally fulfil the curse’97"By the sweat of their brow," &c. Labor itself, however, is a curse, which the hand of industry, and the divine favor, turn into a blessing. Constant, and even hard labor, when it is remunerated, is agreeable. But, alas! in our country, how sad the derails of the fact; and how shamefully true is this of female labor. But look at the ordinary toils of the poor. Rising early, laboring late. Many in toil of the most unpleasant kind. The miner’97the mariner’97even the laborer in all weathers, &c. We should grieve,

4. For the temptations of the poor.

Extreme poverty is, doubtless, one chief cause of crime. Look at that starving boy, he sees the tempting morsel, and longs, and steals. Once initiated, he goes on from bad to worse, &c.

Look at that interesting girl’97half-starved, half-fed; she goes out; a desire for food and dress excite her mind’97and she sees, that by the prostitution of her person, she can get what she wants’97and she does it’97and then becomes a living pestilence. Look at that toiling man’97his miserable hearth, &c. He wants pleasure and excitement,’97he takes his pence, and goes to the well-lighted, warm, cheerful tavern, and drinks; and afterwards becomes the devotee of alcohol’97the worshipper of Bacchus, &c.

You see the poor bitter, envious, violent, &c. Do you wonder at it?

I add one temptation more, that is’97to neglect religion. To be absent from the means of grace, &c. Swallowed up in the things of the body, &c. But the text has another part,

6. Sympathy for those in trouble.

"Did not I weep," &c. The poor have sometimes additional sorrows, to those of poverty. Trouble.

Of absolute distress. The failure of the usual means.

Of afflictions. Sickness, &c. I appeal to the ladies on the troubles of their own sex, amidst the pains and perils of maternity.

Of bereavements. Houses of mourning, &c. Should we not weep, &c.; that is, feel for and sympathize with them? Job said, he did so. See Job_29:11, &c.

Let us then consider,

II. The principles on which this conduct should be imitated.

1. On the grounds of our common humanity.

They are our brethren and sisters, &c. "The rich and the poor meet together," &c. "God hath made of one, blood," &c.

2. On the grounds of God’s authority and conduct.

He provides of his abundance, &c. He has given repeated orders, &c. Declared his curse shall rest on the despisers and reproachers of the poor. Pro_19:17; and Pro_28:27.

3. In imitation of the example of our Lord.

He came to visit the poor’97To preach to the poor’97To bless the poor, &c. He himself was so, in the deepest degree, &c.

4. From the real delight and enjoyment this spirit produces.

The man who remembers and grieves for the poor is blessed. "It is more blessed to give," &c. It reacts’97pleases God’97will ensure his smile, etc. Reward, etc.

Application

1. Let the subject engage your attention and practice.

2. Be anxious both for their physical and mental welfare.

3. Act as stewards who must give an account.

4. Be discriminating in your benefactions.

5. There is spiritual poverty’97which is the worst kind of all. The rich may be afflicted with this. How distressing, when both kinds of poverty meet, etc.

6. The gospel meets both kinds of poverty. Removes the one, and sweetens and sanctifies the other, etc.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS