PREFACE

The Book of Job is an excellent Book to study to get insight, comfort and spiritual strength to get through the rough days on the way to Heaven. Job's experience tells us how bad things can get on the journey. We are living on earth, not in heaven, and earth is a battleground. Job got through the days of suffering and the nights of sorrow - how ? This Book tells us how. We learn from it not only how to understand and help others, but also how to get help from God for ourselves. Perhaps the greatest lessons of the Book are to prove that Christians can have a ' disinterested faith ' ( contrary to Satan's sneer in ch.1:9) and that God's promise will be kept, the promise to keep them enduring to the end ( Heb. 7:25). - Someone prays for us, and His prayer never fails ( John 17:24).

My thanks again to my friend Harry Woods for all the technical aspects of putting this book together.

James Clark. MA MSc MEd MTh.

SEPTEMBER 1

" When I looked for good, then evil came."  Job 30:26.

Job's disappointment was great, and great disappointments shall come to us also.The old proverb is, " Disappointment is in proportion to expectation." It is part of life, inevitable, and thus we must not be discouraged when it comes. These disappointments test and bring to light what is in us. God knows no disappointments, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass ( Shorter Catechism) - but we are not God. The expectation of meeting some disappointments in life is a kind of preparation for them. We are often deceived by what we see, appearances, especially in people ( unlike Jesus, John 2:25). The Lord has great patience with us. Despite having genuine faith, his people disappoint others and themselves sometimes.

Many become bitter when disappointments come, usually losses, things in which they put too much hope. The Christian life has a degree of instability in it, because of revolving joys and afflictions. We must pray that the Lord will bring us through both, with patience and wisdom. Whatever happens, it is less than we deserve ( Ps.103:10), and His grace is sufficient for us, in any condition.

" One who never turned his back, but marched breast forward ;

  Never doubted clouds would break, never dreamed that wrong would triumph,

  Held that we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better,

  And sleep to wake. "                        ( Robert Browning )

SEPTEMBER 2

" I made a covenant with my eyes..."  Job 31:1.

In this chapter Job makes a list of sins he believes he has not committed. He begins by saying that he averted his eyes from gazing upon a woman, as a prolonged gaze ( like David on his rooftop) is often the first step towards adultery. Eyegate ( as in Bunyan's Holy War ) has a powerful effect on what goes on in the heart, so Job tried to guard against that first step towards any sin ; as it can easily lead to a second step ( James 1:14,15). The act is the sinful thought ' finished ', as all sin comes out of the heart. In Eden the eating of the forbidden fruit began with a look, then a thought, then a bite ! World governments cannot judge our thoughts until we express them, but God sees the thought ( Matt.5:28), and not the action, first. The law of God goes deeper than behaviour ( Heb.4:12,13). We do, of course, have to look at other people, but it is the manner of the look wherein the fault lies.

Job prayed and did his imperfect utmost to follow God obediently ( ch.1:1). The heart must be guarded against its daily besieging by temptation, by the pressure to conform to the world and not to Christ ( 1 John 2:16,17). To move towards sin, and not away from it ( to discard the fear of the Lord ), is to reverse Caesar's declaration - it is then ' I came, I saw, I was conquered !' We need to watch the beginnings, the risings of sin, in the heart. David's fall was gradual, it was one step following another. But he learned his lesson, as we must ( Ps. 119:37. Prov.4:23).

SEPTEMBER 3

" I made a covenant with my eyes."  Job 31:1.

" While sin in the heart is not as destructive ( to others) as sin actually committed, it is the first step towards the act, and you never know where a polluted imagination will lead you to." ( W.Wiersbe). Job had the fear of the Lord and this led him to monitor and prayerfully discipline his thoughts, as much as a sinner can. " We must studiously avoid all those objects that not only enkindle sinful desires in us, but even those that have the potential to lead us towards them. We must also contradict our sinful desires, not only to abstain from evil but also to incline to what is good, the opposite virtues." ( Henry Scougal) It is not enough to avoid the works of the flesh, we must also prayerfully produce the fruit of the Spirit ( Galat.5:16-18, 25).

" We must not attempt to stifle our conscience, whether it be when it deters us from anything or when it calls us to mourn for any sin we have committed." ( H. Scougal). We must delight to do the will of God revealed to us ; morality is not enough, there must be spirituality. It is the mark that we have the Holy Spirit working in us, which is the mark that we have Christ as our Redeemer. For the Holy Spirit is only given to those for whom Christ died. Sanctification is in God's covenant with us ( 1 Corinth.1:30), and repentance is part of that sanctification. But to avoid sin is better than to commit it and repent for it, and less painful too ; this was Job's intention. This means avoiding possible occasions of sin ; to avoid a response you must first avoid the stimulus. ' The man carrying gunpowder will avoid sparks.' Sin, like the cobra, has a mesmerising effect on its victims if you look into its eyes...before it suddenly bites you ! ( cf. Galatians 3:1).

SEPTEMBER 4

" For what portion of God is there from above ?...Is not destruction to the wicked ? " Job 31:2,3.

" For the wicked it is a portion with the devil and the hypocrites. The unjustified ( who have no faith) are reserved to the Day of judgement to be punished ( 2 Peter 2:9,10)...and hereby Job frightened his conscience from this sin. Men do not consider what sin will cost them." ( J.Trapp)

" According to the humanitarian theory, to punish a man because he deserves it, is barbarous and immoral...This theory removes from punishment the concept of ' deserving it.'...Who will be qualified to determine sentences [for ' crime '] when sentences are no longer held to derive their propriety from the criminal's deservings ? " ( C.S.Lewis, The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment.) People do not like the word ' punishment ' at all and therefore do not like the word ' crime ' either - because crime and punishment always go together. But who determines what is crime and what does it deserve ? Few still believe that ' every sin deserves God's wrath and curse '. But if God is not believed about what is crime against Him and what it deserves, then we are left to the mercy ( ?) of changing and changeable individual sinners. We can only trust God to do what is right. If we do not know what sin is, then we do not know what salvation is either, for Jesus only came to save 'sinners ' from ' the wrath to come.' - which implies we agree with what sin deserves, ie. punishment.

SEPTEMBER 5

" Does He not see all my ways and count all my steps ? "  Job 31:4.

" The Almighty looks down from heaven and beholds all the ways and works, the steps and motions of the children of men. There is no darkness where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves ; they cannot escape the Omniscient eye. He takes notice of and reckons up every action of men, good and bad. The consideration of this was another argument with Job to avoid sin. Sin can be done privately but is always seen by God. Some take this verse as an appeal to God to mark his sincerity,and not only an assertion of God's omniscience."( John Gill) It is not only Job's outward ways through the world that God sees but the way his mind is thinking. It is hard to hold onto our thoughts while suffering ; they are so many and pass so fleeting through the mind. Job looks upon God as seeing him with a friendly and piteous eye. No-one else could see inside Job and what he was suffering. It is sometimes a comfort just for someone to notice us, even, as in this case, God does not speak to Job, not yet ; for usually a person looks at the other before speaking. This was Job's hope that God would not only look upon him, but soon speak to him...and He did. ( Ps.147:3. Ps.107:20)

SEPTEMBER 6

" Let me be weighed...that God may know my integrity."  Job 31:6.

" Integrity means ' whole-heartedness '. It is interesting to see what is, in Job's estimation, what is involved in this :pure looks (1), clean hands (7), thoughtfulness for others (13), justice to the poor and the widow (16), a willingness to share, especially to orphans (17), clothing the poor (19,20), not passing on to others what we can do ourselves (21),not loving money (24), not turning aside to adols (27), pity for those who destroyed themselves (29), sincere confession of doing wrong ( 33). It becomes us prayerfully to go over these items and question our souls. If this was the character of those who lived 2,000 BC, what should our standard be ? How impossible it is to live like this without the Holy Spirit ! Outside influences are not so successful. The Law of God is given for the regulation of life, and love for Christ will seek to obey it. " ( A.Smellie )

While sinless obedience is impossible in this world for any, perfection, full conformity to the character of Christ, is always the ideal for us to aim at. But, alas, we even come short of Job's character. As Augustine said, the first prayer and the last prayer of the Christian is, " God be merciful to me a sinner."

SEPTEMBER 7

" What then shall I do when God rises up ?...what shall I answer Him ? " Job 31:14

Job has declared his integrity, without sinlessness, and asks how he shall answer God in the future meeting ; a meeting we all have. Many plan their future without considering this meeting.They have no answer when the shocking confrontation comes, either through ignorance or false teaching.God has given us the Bible to check our state before Him. Some blame their life on their birth, but did they seek the new birth ? ( John 3) The mercy of Christ must be sought and received in this world, or it shall never be received. " I have sinned, but Christ has died ! " said John Newton.

The unconverted cannot resist, escape or excuse themselves. There is no appeal or second chance once we reach the Supreme Court of God. Self-defence will not be accepted, that is mere self-justification. We need an Advocate, one to be used on earth by faith ( 1 John 2:1), for we cannot stand the examination of the judge without One ( Ps.130:3). Our only hope is to appeal to the merits of Christ on our behalf, and that must be done in time, before we reach eternity. Job had an answer, " I know that my redeemer liveth."Many are confident about facing others, we have all known ' big men ' (in their own eyes, not God's) ; but they cannot face God, they shall be speechless on that day. The believer has a hope, to see Christ face to Face ( 1 Corinth. 13:12) and he promises that we shall not be put to shame ( Rom.9:33). To trust Christ is to honour Him, especially when we trust Him in the dark, like Job.

SEPTEMBER 8

" If I have made gold my hope and said...thou art my confidence."  Job 31:24.

Job quotes the language of the followers of Mammon, the language of Achan in the camp of Israel. When money becomes an idol, taking the place of importance which only God should have, the soul is enslaved to the things which earth, and not God, gives. " Covetousness is idolatry," ( Coloss.3:5), and idolaters do not enter heaven. Not that simply being poos gives you a ticket to heaven ; only the 'poor in spirit' are rich in faith. Their real treasure is laid up in heaven with Christ. Whatever absorbs your attention and effort can easily become your idol, especially the pursuit of wealth ( Prov.18:11). We cannot serve 2 masters ( Matt.6:24). " They make worldly wealth the matter of their hope and trust, placing their chief joy and satisfaction in it." ( M.Poole) David warned us about this ( Ps.62:10), but his son Solomon had to find out the emptiness of wealth the hard way ! It was of no spiritual value and insufficient to give him peace of conscience. We must rest our souls on Christ alone, and accept no substitutes from the world. ( 1 Tim.6:17 )

Idolatry can also enter worship, not only by breaking the Second commandment but when the attention wanders during it, something which absorbs our thoughts more than the matter in hand, the worship of the living and present God.

J.S.Bach sang, " God alone shall have my heart," ( following David's words in Psalm 71:1). The New Testament closes with the words, " Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." ( 1 John 5:21).

SEPTEMBER 9

" If I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in mybosom."  Job 31:33.

Job is concerned about avoiding hypocrisy when it comes to confession of sin. This ' covering of sin ' by Adam is also mentioned in Hosea 6:7. Instinctive self-defence is now part of fallen human nature when rebuked for sin. This can become dangerous when the conscience condones it ( which is implicit consent to sin). Job was not sinless. ( Eccles.7:20), but his repentance was sincere ; he didn't just confess his sin, he wanted to forsake it too. It is natural to blame our DNA nowadays or to blame others ( eg, Adam blamed Eve), or to blame our circumstances ; but all sin is voluntary. Job's hope was forgiveness, a God-given hope ( Ps.130), but Christ taught that God never forgives without repentance ( Luke 13:3,5). 

Adam turned his eyes away from God and sought excuses, but Job ( and every other genuine believer) turned to God, ran to Him for forgiveness. Adam lingered at first with self-justification, but God graciously called him out of hiding there and gave him ( and us ) promises. This shows that Job knew the history of Adam and also the first Gospel promise ( Gen.3:15). They are all sinners in heaven, sinners who repented and apprehended God's mercy in Christ by faith." It is better that you bear all the reproaches in the world than those of conscience." ( J.Durham) We must watch ourselves, traces of Adam are still in us.

SEPTEMBER 10

" My desire is that the Almighty would answer me...I would go near to him...The words of Job are ended."  Job 31:35,37,40.

The sufferings which Job experienced would have turned many away from God, but Job accepts that God is the First Cause, and seeks explanations from Him and not criticisms of Him. Job clung to the character of God, infallibly revealed. He did not make ' a god in his own image.' He believed that God's hidden justice would yet come to light, if not in time, then in eternity. It had been an arduous uphill climb since that first day, that first speech ( ch.1). Nothing had changed, his soul and body were still in pain, and his environment still hostile and unsympathetic.  But Job' s faith and faithfulness to God had not changed either. He is still standing, God made him so ( Ephes.6:13), and protected him from the worst around him and the worst within him ( Gen.15:1). There had been slips, stumbling, but no falling away from his Redeemer. There was a ' needs be ' in his suffering ( 1 Peter 1:6) and he accepted that, praying that his suffering would not cause him to sin.Job's words, his speeches, were ended; he has a few more later, but it is God who has the last word. Job had much to say to men, but was careful to be brief before God ( Eccles.5:2) - something we need to learn for ourselves.

SEPTEMBER 11

" Then his wrath was kindled...a multitude of years should teach wisdom." Job 32:5,6.

Young Elihu was angry that these 3 old men could not demolish Job's ( alleged) self-righteousness, and thought he could do better. He is a young man and ( as often happens ) he claims to have a deeper insight. He also uses the words " I ' and " me " a lot in this chapter ! He seems to have been one of the spectators of this debate with Job. He says some true things but again misapplies them to Job's particular case. While it is true that being old does not mean that all the old are wise, nor are the young notable for their patience with them. Elihu is an example of someone who does not wait for all the facts are in before he makes a judgement ( 1 Corinth.4:5). He became angry at the stalemate and spoke out, thinking that he ought to defend God's character against Job, and against his friends. He is indeed ' full of words ' ( vs.18), but has not the experience of suffering needed to understand suffering.

" There is an old saying that a man shows his character by what he is angry with." ( J.Trapp) Elihu is angry with injustice, which is commendable, but with the wrong person. Older commentators look more favourably upon Elihu, (as God did not rebuke him like the 3 friends), than modern writers. Elihu rebuked Job for his discontent, his impatience, but still the main course of Job's life was to ' glorify God ' in life and death. And when all was said and done, he did !

SEPTEMBER 12

" Multitude of years should teach wisdom...but there is a spirit in man[whom God teaches ]...Great men are not always wise."  Job 32:7,8,9.

Eliphaz had used the argument ' the older the wiser,' ( ch.15:10), but experience had contradicted this, as Elihu noted. The arguments of Job's friends had been disappointing. Most old men and great men ( in the eyes of the world ) have been disappointing in their example and teaching. But God has promised to teach His own people ( John 6:45), making sure that His Words have been recorded in the Bible. To disagree with God shows a fatal foolishness and pride, no matter how popular this is, even in the visible church. The Holy Scriptures are the storehouse of God's infallible wisdom ( 2 Tim.3:16). " There are many young fools and old fools." ( J.Trapp) It is evident that all need to be taught by God, right to the end. A ' disciple ' is a ' learner ' all her life. No one can say ( even in heaven ), ' Now I know everything. ' And even if this were true, knowledge does not mean automatic obedience to all God says ; knowledge does not prevent sin, as Adam and Eve demonstrated. The aged are to be respected, but not treated as infallible. Modern society has little respect for the elderly and does the minimum for them. they would get better treatment if people believed and followed the Bible in their practice - and not the media and poor standards of a selfish society. Education does not make a man wise spiritually, but regeneration does; it is then the Spirit teaching the spirit ( soul), a wisdom not taught by men but by God.

SEPTEMBER 13

" There was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words." Job 32:12

Job's friends believed he was beyond correction, and gave up counselling him. But they did not accept that they needed counselling themselves, and so were beyond help. Elihu thought he could do better. However, in counselling others we must listen first, and carefully interpret the words, the meaning behind the choice of words. We must be careful to interrupt only when necessary for understanding. (Some young men, like Hugh Binning, George Gillespie, Robert M.McCheyne can be wiser than older men); it is possible. We must be careful not to break off the interaction until all possibilities have been explored ; we must not leave the other person in despair. Although there is agreement among the majority regarding a case ( like Job's case ), they may still err, as they did here !

Elihu did adopt a different approach to Job. He did not allege that he was wicked, was being punished, or a hypocrite. But Elihu had his own faults. He drew false conclusions from what Job said. He lost his calmness several times and also his politeness in speech. Like Job's friends, his answers were not entirely satisfactory to meet his case ; he would see this in Job, who did not respond to him. Job's will was not changed ; only God can do that work. Only the Spirit can convince a man he is wrong, like unconverted Paul, and persuade him. Only after a work of God in his soul could Paul say, " I am persuaded ! " Job needed no persuasion, only the comforts of faith, and none of them could give him that either.

SEPTEMBER 14

" They were amazed, they answered no more, they left off speaking." Job 32:15.

Job's friends had run out of arguments. They could neither prove their allegations nor constrain him to confess particular sin. They adopted a guilty silence, a silence of failure. But others there also had a guilty silence - they had failed to speak up for Job. There are too many of the latter people in the church today. Nothing seems important enough to them to make a stand on ; this is why the church has declined into worldliness in doctrine, worship and practice." There is a guilty silence, which Luther wished never to be guilty of. And it is the devil, doubtless, who gags people, when they are called to speak of God or for God but,like Job's 3 friends, they answer no more. They desert a good cause, or betray it by a cowardly silence. It may be feared that the Spirit of faith is no indweller where the door of the lips does not move rightly, 2 Corinth.4:13." ( J.Trapp) Before he died, Paul said, " I have kept the faith," - let us not deny it by our silence. There is indeed ' a time to keep silent ' ( ( Eccles.3:7 ). Things cannot always go our way, and we need the patience and wisdom to accept that. Elihu was disappointed that the 3 friends made no progress despite much speaking, but wordiness and progress are not synonymous. " Empty vessels make the most noise," is an old proverb. Elihu stepped forward to defend God's character, he was sometimes mistaken,but at least he made the attempt.

SEPTEMBER 15

" Let me not accept any man's person, neither...flatter."  Job 32:21.

This is a more serious fault than people think ( vs.22). Impartiality is very difficult for us to practise ( Prov.28:21), and the bible has much to say about it ( Gal. 1:10. 2:6. James 2:1ff.). Job had found this fault in his friends, no-one is immune from it. But let us not forget to examine our own prejudices. " Often, when people are deeply engaged in a debate, they are not as impartial as they should be." ( J.Durham) People often judge the righteousness or unrighteousness of a cause by who is on the side of that cause, and not by whether it is right or wrong. We have seen blatant offenders in the visible church defended and excused by their friends, although they were clearly guilty - even of crimes ! This has brought the church into disrepute, and the nation's legal system is superior to the church's - this is a dreadful contrast when the world has a superior justice to the church ! God's truth often offends offenders but it ought not to offend those who profess to be His friends ! 

Why do people flatter others ? It may be to win favour, to avoid harm, to mock others or in hypocrisy ie. to hide their real feelings. It involves cowardice, falsehood and sometimes idolatry. The Bible flatters no man, as God knows what is in man. Humility does not involve flattering others. Those who are aware that they live in GOd's sight will avoid flattery and pursue sincerity and honesty. God has no ' respect of persons,' there are no sinners saved because they are better than others - and that is good news for sinners.

SEPTEMBER 16

" God is greater than man...He gives no account for any of His matters." Job 33:12,13.

Job had been looking for reasons for his suffering. But Elihu points out that you cannot have a debate with God. Man is answerable to God, but not God to man ( Romans 9). The ways of God are above human reason ( Is.55:8) and have to be revealed to us, as we do not understand them naturally. It is unreasonable to question perfection. Nor must we ascribe human emotions to the Godhead. The human nature of Christ , the Son,is in perfect harmony with His Father's will. If God withholds explanations for His acts, it is not for man's ignorance to question it. The justification of God does not lie in human understanding of Him ; He is not to be limited by our mind's grasp. " God is greater than we are, and He knows what is best. He has good reasons for all that He does." ( A.Barnes) Job had found no logical basis for his suffering and had to resist the temptation to judge God by human standards. The creature cannot call the Creator to account. He is ' holy, just and good,' and that ought to satisfy our curiosity. God is not like us, and we must not make Him like us ( Ps.50;21).There is a universal sifting process happening in God's Providence, the trials of life shall test our loyalty to Him. How does our lack of the knowledge of God affect us ? Do we have the faith of Abraham ? ( Gen.17:1. 18:25).

SEPTEMBER 17

" Why do you strive against Him ?"  Job 33:13.

Elihu condemns the lack of reverence in man's rebellious reasoning. God is always right and can do no wrong ( Is.45;9. Rom.9:20). Man can debate with other men, they are equals, but not with God ( Eccles.6:10). Jeremiah pleads with God ( Jerem.12:1) but he does not question His absolute authority to ' do what He wills with His own' ( Matt.20:15). And anyway, how could a person who makes mistakes criticize God who makes no mistakes. " This desperate struggle which Job passed through has strengthened and developed his piety. Job has learned to exercise faith, under new and very different circumstances from before, circumstances which Satan was using in an attempt to extinguish his faith." ( W.H. Green) 

Sin no longer has dominion over the believer ( Rom.6:14) but indwelling sin will continue to tempt us to murmur against God's dealings with us. We wish this power were not in us, but it is in us, and we have to live with it. But ' forewarned is forearmed.' Our prayer is like another's, " Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief." Elihu may have Job in mind here, but Job was submissive, just looking for answers. God is the Judge above man's judgement, and not to submit to Him is to " strive against Him." We are taught to pray,' Thy Will be done,' and to trust Him.

SEPTEMBER 18

" That he may withdraw [ restrain] man from His purpose, and hide pride from man. " Job 33:17.

The proud man wants to get his own way all the time. " Sometimes a man has purposed at a certain moment to commit a sin, and God stops him from doing it ( Gen.20:3. 31:24). Moreover, He also withdraws men from their general purpose. He hides pride from man, because if man can find anything to be proud of, he will be." ( Spurgeon) Man is full of bad thoughts and bad plans ( Gen.6:5. Eccles.7:29). " People seem bent upon their own destruction." ( R. Stedman) But God warns us and powerfully turns us away from what would fatally harm us ( Prov.6:23). The Gospel involves the call, ' Flee from the wrath to come.' God uses many ways to get our attention and awaken our conscience. There is also a ' protective ' aspect in suffering, it removes pride and humbles. Paul's thorn was sent in order to keep him from pride ( 2 Corinth.12:7). Elihu teaches that suffering is not only to restore the backslider, but to prevent a continuation in sin. ' The burnt child dreads the fire,' and David, after his experience recorded in Psalm 51, did not repeat the sin of adultery. It seems strange now, but looking back from heaven we shall see better the beneficial side of suffering. Meanwhile, the Pilgrim sighs,' Hold out faith and patience.'

SEPTEMBER 19

" He keeps back his soul from the pit." Job 33:18.

The pit is the eternal prison ( Is.51:4), but God prevents the sinner going there by giving her repentance, which is a turning away from sin to Christ ( Ps.103:4). " If the sufferer recognises this merciful purpose of his sorrows, and yields himself to it, he will [eventually] see that God uses affliction for a gracious end, whereas Job's friends could only see in suffering the punishment for sin." ( W.H. Green). Sinners object to being punished for sine, but " Die man must, or justice must." However, repentance turns the soul away from the path to destruction, to see a safe path through death, revealed by God ( Ps.16:8-11). There is now a new song in his heart ( Ps.40:1-4). "By these interventions God saves the soul from eternal ruin, which they are rushing into. He may cause a person to give up intentions or enterprises which would have brought him into danger, and to be slain with the sword of justice."

( G.Rawlinson) Many do not discern it, but God exerts great power to rescue the soul and also to maintain that soul in the state of grace ( Ephes.1:19. 1 Peter 1:5.). If we have little thoughts of God's power then we shall have little prayers, for ourselves and for others. Many depend on men to build the church, but Christ said He would do it ( Matt.16.18 - Peter was no Rock !). Men do have their responsibility, but our responsibility is not synonymous with Christ's ability.

SEPTEMBER 20

" He is chastened also with pain upon his bed." Job 33:19.

Chastisement is Fatherly instruction ( Ps.73:14. Ps.38:4. ) Contrary to Job's friends, Eliphaz emphasizes that suffering sent from God can be medicinal and that this is a possibility for Job. Eliphaz had mentioned this, but did not think it had been effective in Job's case. The difference lies in whether God treats a man as a sinner or as a ' justified sinner' ( Luther). For the latter, it shall ' work together for good,' ( Ps.107:17-20). " There is yet more to be brought out of this for Job. Job is to be purified and instructed, his piety deepened and his knowledge of Divine things to be increased by this affliction." ( W.H.Green) Suffering is usually mysterious to us, the why and the future. But we must understand enough to turn to God and turn humbly to God in prayer ( vs.23, 26,27). Without the experience of misery we would not experience God's pity, mercy and comfort. And if we know this already, we shall yet know it more deeply ( Rom.5:3,4).

All of God's children are chastised at some time ( Heb.12:7,8). If we are not, then this would be alarming, for we are certainly not sinless. And it is a fatal delusion to think that we are beyond chastisement. " This chastening is designed in mercy, not to ruin but to restore ;it is a correction, not an execution." ( Thomas Brooks) " I shall arise and go ( back ) to my father " is the language of the backslider also, besides the Prodigal. " Before I was afflicted, I went astray," ( Ps.119:67,71), says David after he had learned his lesson. The world does not understand this aspect of the love of God, and Job's friends had difficulty in grasping it also. However, it keeps the child from despair.

SEPTEMBER 21

" A Messenger...an Interpreter."  Job 33:23.

God sometimes puts a sinner on his back so that he will look up to heaven. There is One who has been sent from God, who knows us both, and can bridge the gap which sin has made between us and God. He makes us to understand the way of peace and brings us Home that way. He is a Mediator and can repair the damage, " so that the sufferer can feel secure enough to begin life anew after the great change has occurred." ( J.Kahn) He is the needed Comforter to enable us to go forward in faith. The great message Christ brings is of reconciliation ( 2 Corinth.5:20,21), a work He alone has accomplished and applies to the sinner. Sadly, very few accept that they need to be reconciled, they have such a high opinion of themselves. Christ interprets the Woord to us, showing us the glory of His Person and work. He is the Angel of the Lord, who accompanies not only the OT church but also the NT church ( Ps. 34:7), giving us ' the fear of the Lord ' which is the principle of wisdom. It is not sickness alone that benefits the sinner, there must be faith to receive the remedy ( Ps.107:20). The sinner needs the spiritual teaching of the Word ( John 6:45). The Holy Spirit opens the ears (vs.16), the hearts ( Acts 16:14) and the eyes ( John 1:18) of His people. The interpreter will show us that God is righteous and that the sinner can be righteous by faith alone ( Rom.3:25,26). Christ has grace in His lips ( Ps.45:) and grace gives righteousness and glory.

' Blessed is the man that God chastens.' ( Ps.94:12)

SEPTEMBER 22

" Then He is gracious...Deliver him...I have found a ransom."  Job 33:24.

The sinner is held captive by his sin and satan, and helpless to deliver himself. He is also blinded by sin as to his real condition ( 2 Corinth.4:3,4). However, there is a near-Kinsman who is willing to intervene to redeem him, to pay the ransom required to set him free and follow Christ ( 1 Tim.3:5,6. John 8:36). God will accept this Ransom, this Atonement, because He will provide it Himself. This shows how necessary the Ransom is. God is satisfied with this payment and therefore He may justly have communion with the sinner ( vs.26). The Father is gracious, the Son gives Himself as the Ransom and the Holy Spirit applies the ransom to the chosen sinners. The purpose of the Trinity shall not fail ( Ps.89:19.20. Isaiah 53:10). The OT sacrifices could not save but they pointed to the Lamb of God who could ( John 1:29). Verse 26 ( of.ch.33) describes the redeemed sinner. " The finding of this ransom is not by man, nor is the scheme of propitiation, peace and reconciliation by Jesus Christ - it is the effect of infinite wisdom, 2 Corinth.5:19." ( J.Gill) " When we hear of a ransom, it should remind us of our captivity and slavery to sin which, unless we are covered by the blood of Christ, will appear to our shame and confusion at the last." ( J.Caryl) There is one gracious reason why sinners are delivered, and that reason is Christ alone ( John 14:6).

SEPTEMBER 23

" He looketh upon man, and if any say, I have sinned..He will deliver hissoul from going into the pit. "  Job 33:27,28.

God knows who will repent and who will not. repentance marks the difference between those in heaven and those in hell ( Ps.95:7-11). Many have said, and still do, " I have sinned," but not with repentance eg. Pharaoh,Baalam, king Saul, Judas. But he that confesses sin in repentance, with an eye to the blood of Christ, shall be forgiven and cleansed from guilt ( Prov.28:13. 1 John 1:9). Such shall ' walk in the light,' and have communion with God ( 1 John 1:7). The ransomed soul now walks in mercy, daily thankful for his deliverance, with prayer and worship. He was ' lost and is found, was dead and is alive ', in Christ. ( Luke 15). Repentance is rare in this world and the believer thanks God that she has it, tracing all to Christ ( Acts 5:31. Jonah 2:9). Now the sinner sees what sin is, who Christ is, and what He has done. Having been delivered he turns his back upon Egypt, can never be brought back, and sets forward to the Promised Land, ' looking unto Jesus.' ( Heb.12:2). We shall suffer as we travel through the wilderness of this world, seeing so many going in the opposite direction. But every day brings us nearer to our destination - let us think about that more and more. Meanwhile, " It is better to suffer than to sin." ( Chrysostom) ; it shall work together for our good ( vs.29). " It is likely that Elihu spoke thus in order to hold out a hope to Job." ( J.Durham)

SEPTEMBER 24

" For he has said,It profits a man nothing that he should delight himselfwith God."  Job 34:9.

Job did not actually say this, but many do ie.they only take up religion for what they can get out of it. There is no delight in God personally, just for the benefits received, and when they stop, the delight in God stops. To delight in God is to delight in what He is in Himself and in what He is to us through Christ Jesus. Job was suffering, but still ccleaved to God, he did not turn away from Him, despite the ' dark ' inexplicable experiences he was going through. This love for God subordinates all other loves, but it is a struggle to keep that First Commandment to have the mind constantly prioritizing God. We need to pray to think more on God and His perfections; there are many discouragements and distractions from doing so. " The true and proper character of a godly man is to choose and delight to walk with God, and to do what pleases Him. Gen.5:22. Heb.11:6." ( M.Poole)

It may be that Job by some of his words had given the impression that devotion to God is unprofitable, but we cannot condemn a person's character just because he cries out with great pain, and whose pain was greater than Job's ? Job did not follow God for the rewards, but through the wounds. However, despite the pains, ' It were well worth the journey to get to Immanuel's Land.' ( Rutherford) To persevere in this delight in God is a mark of grace ( ch.27:10). Some days there may be little joy, but there is enough to ' endure to the end.' ( Habak. 3:17,18).

SEPTEMBER 25

" Far be it from God that He should do wickedness." Job 34:10

Only a heart of unbelief could think so ! Yet the temptation is there if we measure God by Providence. But there is a mystery in Providence, the painting cannot be judged until all is completed. The devil is the author of sin, and he brought his rebellion to earth. " God is not unrighteous, He does not punish any without a cause, and there is cause enough to be found in the best, whether by omission or transgression... How then can God wrong anyone ? It would be inconsistent with His nature, actions ( vs.11) or Will ( vs.12)." ( J.Trapp) Moreover, some He does not punish, for Christ's sake. If God were unjust he would not be God ; not can He be tempted to be other than He is. He is justly judged by sinners because they do not have His attitude to sin ( Rom. 1:32). Elihu defends God's character, but he does not defend Job's. Men cannot judge one another properly, so how can they dare judge God ? God is beyond man's verdict, He is not God by man's vote ( Psalm 2), but He must and will judge mankind. Happily for Job, he has an Advocate, One who keeps his eye on Job, One who never lost a case !

SEPTEMBER 26

" In a moment shall they die...and the mighty shall be taken away." Job 34:20.

No one can resist the power of death ; God sends it as a summons to court. Job is being judged on earth but there is another, a higher court. Death comes to every street, every house in the street, it is no stranger. Although death comes to all, it comes for two different reasons, with two different results. The mighty are taken away " from their place or power, out of this life, without a human hand, by some secret work and judgement of God." ( M.Poole) In a moment the man is gone, and his place is empty ; he has gone to another place - but which ? All happens suddenly.

None can keep alive his own soul, says David ( Ps.22;29). If we are alive, we depend on God's power to keep us alive. We cannot live upon ourselves. Jesus gives, Jesus feeds us day by day, else the life must fade out and die. Leave me not, O my Saviour, forsake not the work of Thy hands." ( M.Duncan) This is a weighty text upon the vanity of self-confidence." ( Spurgeon)

The Gospel says, Look to Christ and live, but to fail to do so means eternal death. " This is the stern counterpart of the Gospel message." ( Spurgeon )

" The captivity of the Jews in Babylon was expressed by ' death' and 'dwelling in the dust' ( Isaiah 26:19), to show that no power but God's can raise the dead and work their deliverance." ( J.Caryl) Death is irresistible, but thanks be to God, grace is irresistible too !

SEPTEMBER 27

" For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all His goings." Job 34:21.

The suffering Christian may then ask, Is God a mere spectator ? Job was longing for God to intervene, but in one way He had ( cf.ch.2). Satan was restrained and God was secretly upholding Job, to get through his dark experience. Job had the faith inside his heart sustained to trust that One would be waiting for him at the end of the tunnel. Singing Psalm 139 is helpful when you are tempted to say with another, " My way is hid from the Lord." True, I am a great sinner," said the dying John Newton, " but Christ is a great Saviour."

God watches us and also our enemies, Satan and all on his side. He permits things to happen which surprise us, but all is part of a wise plan. Our ways chosen by ourselves would not have been His ways, but would that have been better for us in the end ? Our ways here involve sin, and that has been taken into account by God ; He rules and overrules. He sees what you are going through, your pain is not hidden from Him. I wonder why we need such dreadful experiences, but the Father knows best and the Son will save to the uttermost, and the Spirit will abide forever. The way for us will end before the Throne.

" Hope is faith looking forward."

SEPTEMBER 28

" There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."  Job 34.22.

" No darkness can hide them or obstruct God's view of them." ( J.Gill) Their hearts and ways are clear to Him. " The wicked indeed wish that it were possible, but such workers cannot entirely hide themselves even from human view. There are many vigilant eyes and minds exercising a keen inspection ; in default of inspecting themselves. There are different kinds of darkness in which sinners seek to hide themselves. There is the darkness of isolation, of hypocrisy, the darkness of night, the darkness of self-delusion, the darkness of the grave. "( John Foster). God sees all in heaven and in hell, all alive on earth and all still to be born - the whole of the creation." But there is no place where the sinner can hide, neither the soul nor the body. " The same all -seeing power and almighty justice are everywhere." ( J.Foster) It is notable that the word ' forgiveness' is absent from Elihu's speech here. Let us never forget this word. Job's experience was enough to drive a person to despair but he was kept from it because mercy, forgiveness and plenteous redemption are with God ( Ps.130). Hope gives the strength to endure, but despair takes away strength.

SEPTEMBER 29

" When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble ? And when Hehides His Face, who then can behold Him ?   Job.34:29.

No man can hinder God's Will, whether to give comfort or to deny it. When He gives peace, it can however be disturbed without being lost. When He hides his Face it is a sign of disapproval, and Christians can experience this too. He is the ' God of peace ' a peace which the world cannot give nor take away. It is the peace of reconciliation. This peace can be enjoyed or troubled by cherished sin, idolatry or selfishness ( Ps.68:18). It is the opposite of Numbers 6:25. If He hides His Face from us our response will test us, as to whether we are hypocrites or not ( vs.31). Only a child of God will be grieved when the Father turns His Face away ( Ps.30:7).If we disagree with God we shall not be at peace with Him. In reconciliation " we are brought to agree with Him, and to agree with Him on His verdict concerning His Son. This is the means of reconciliation. This is the place of reconciliation. And when we are of the same mind with God concerning His Son, then, necessarily, in that very measure, we are of the same mind with Him in everything else."

(John MacSween)

This peace has an eternal Foundation in Christ, and will be assaulted on earth.

We cannot have heaven on earth, but it will follow our journey through earth. 

" There the weary are at rest."

SEPTEMBER 30

" That which I see not, teach Thou me."  Job 34:32.

Job was still in the dark about the reason for his affliction. " In afflictions we many times grope as blind men, guessing at this cause and that, but seldom fasten on the right. Here,then, God must be sought for direction and that He would graciously point us to any sin that He strikes at, ch.10:2." ( J.Trapp) We need to be taught in many things, and will seek to be, if we confess our ignorance. No one lives without sin, but ' we must not let the birds build nests in us.' ( Luther) We must pray for the light to see and the strength to forsake sin ( Ps.19:12). People say that the Bible speaks too much about sin, but what else are we saved from ? ( Matt.1:21). 

" God will not reject a repentant person, because he is just, 1 John 1:9." ( K. Dell) Our duty is always to turn to God ( Hosea 14:1). " Job's prayer is the prayer of every one who is afflicted and does not see clearly the reason why it is done." ( A. Barnes) Joseph had to wait many years before he understood the reason behind his sufferings.( Gen.50:20)

 " Job's request highlights his great humility."