FOURTH PART OF INTRODUCTION.—INFLICTION OF THE TRIAL
I. Occasion of the trial (Job 1:13).
“There was a day.” Satan watches for the time best suited for his designs. The occasion chosen that the trial might fall the more grievous (Isaiah 21:4). Diabolical wisdom in doing mischief. Satan’s terrible malignity.—“His sons and his daughters were eating, and drinking wine.” The children’s hilarity to be an aggravation of the father’s calamity. The more unexpected and unprepared for, the heavier the stroke. Satan likes to make his stroke tell. Turns mirth into mourning. Job’s children to die when most likely to be sinning (Job 1:5). Satan’s object to destroy both body and soul at one stroke. Satan as well as Job knew the dangers incident to wine. God’s judgments often come when men are most secure (Luke 12:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). Good to rejoice as though we rejoiced not (1 Corinthians 7:30). The Saviour’s caution (Luke 21:3-4). Changes in circumstances to be prepared for (Proverbs 27:1). A day may have a fair beginning and a foul ending. ‘In the greatest calm provide for a storm’ [Queen Elizabeth],—“In their elder brother’s house.” Hence no ordinary feast. The celebration of the eldest son’s birthday chosen with characteristic malignity.
II. The trial itself in its four particulars
1. Attack of the Sabeans on the oxen and asses (Job 1:14-15). “There came a messenger,”—spared in Satan’s malice to carry the news. A “cruel messenger” to be sent to Job, as if a “rebellions man” (Proverbs 17:11).—“The oxen.” Satan begins with the cattle. The trial must rise in a climax.—“Were ploughing,”[1] preparing for the next year’s crop, thus also to be lost.—“Asses feeding beside them,” so arranged that both might share the same fate. The picture of security and repose heightens by contrast the calamity of the attack.—“Sabeans.” A warlike marauding people in the north parts of Arabia Deserta. Those in South Arabia, or Arabia Felix, merchants, not marauders (Job 6:19; 1 Kings 10:1). Bedoween incursions able to reduce a rich man to poverty in a few days. Satan at no loss for instruments to do his work. Possesses a mysterious power to influence men’s minds to evil. The ungodly already prepared for that influence. Satan’s temptations suited to men’s natural inclinations. Bad men often used by God for the trial and chastening of his children.—“Fell on them,”—rushed on them with a view to spoil. An unprovoked attack. Exceptions to the general rule in Proverbs 16:7.—“Slain the servants.” Preparation for death to be taken into daily duties. Blessed to be ready when the Master calls. Sudden death then sudden glory.—“I only am escaped,” by God’s special Providence and Satan’s malice. Some escape from danger as “brands plucked out of the burning” (Amos 4:11).
[1] Oriental ploughing, as in the south of Europe, done by oxen. Plough of wood, consisting of a share, two handles, and a pole or beam. Drawn by two oxen yoked together, and guided by a ploughman using a goad.
2. Destruction of the sheep by lightning (Job 1:16). “While he was yet speaking.” Fiendish rapidity of Satan’s work. Aims at stunning and overwhelming the sufferer. Trials often like rapidly succeeding billows. Deep calleth unto deep (Psalms 62:7). Troubles seldom single. “Welcome misfortune, if you come alone” [Basque Proverb].—“Fire of God.”—Marg., “a great fire,” (like Psalms 104:16). “Hot thunderbolts” (Psalms 78:48). Rapid lightnings, apparently sent by God though really by Satan. A cut in the words put into the mouth of the shepherds. Act of an angry God. The object to represent God as cruel and unjust, and so bring Job to curse Him. A limited mysterious power given to Satan over the elements of nature (Ephesians 2:2).—“From heaven.” From the upper regions of the air, but apparently from God. The air or lower heavens the place of Satan’s special presence and operations (Luke 10:8; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12).—“Sheep.” The greatest part of Job’s wealth (Job 1:3.) Most frequently used in sacrifice. Smitten, though sanctified by frequent offerings. God’s ways often dark and mysterious.
3. Capture of the camels (Job 1:17). “Chaldæans,” Heb. “Chasdim.” The name related to that of Chesed, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 22:22). Two such peoples mentioned in Genesis:—
(1) The old Semitic Chaldæans of the mountains, in the north of Assyria and Mesopotamia (Genesis 10:22; Genesis 11:28; Genesis 11:31); Abraham himself of these (Genesis 11:28).
(2) The later Chaldæans of Mesopotamia, descended from Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Genesis 22:22). Called by Jeremiah an “ancient nation” (Jeremiah 5:15). A fierce and warlike people (Hebrews 1:6; Hebrews 1:11). First subdued by the Assyrians. In time overcame their masters, and formed the Chaldæan or Babylonian Empire under Nabopolassar, a viceroy in Babylon, about 600 B.C. Their empire overthrown by Cyrus, who took Babylon, 583 B.C. In Job’s time a body of hardy monntaineers. Always strong enough to make such a raid. More fierce and powerful than the Sabeans. Strokes increase in severity. Satan inflames his instruments with his own. murderous passions.—“Three bands.” To attack in various directions and let nothing escape. (So Genesis 14:15). Three bands under so many captains, Satan really commander-in-chief.—“Fell upon the camels.” Marg. “rushed.” Made a raid upon them, as 1 Samuel 23:27; 1 Samuel 30:14. Arabs sometimes make a raid twenty or thirty days’ march from their tents.—“Carried them away.” Three thousand camels no slight loss. Satan goes the full length of his cord. More grevious to be stripped of riches than to be always poor.
4. Loss of all his children (Job 1:18-19). “While he was yet speaking.” Satan never at rest till he has done all the mischief he is permitted. Good to be always ready for another and a worse encounter. Seneca says, ‘Cæsar sometimes put up his sword, but never put it off.’—“Thy sons.” The trial reaches its climax. His sons the object of his greatest solicitude. The subjects of so many prayers might have been expected to be spared, or at least some of them. The mystery increases.—“Were eating and drinking.” When Job feared most they might be sinning (Job 1:5). Possible to be taken from the festive board to the Judgment-seat. Festivity unsafe without God and His blessing in it. Well to be prepared to pass from earthly joys to heavenly ones.—“Behold.” Marks the greatness of the calamity. Seven sons and three daughters,—the whole of Job’s children,—all arrived at maturity,—all prosperous and happy,—cut off at one stroke,—suddenly and unexpectedly,—amid the hilarity of a feast!—“A great wind.” A tornado, cyclone, or whirlwind. Common in the East. Mysterious power of Satan to excite the atmosphere into a storm. ‘Prince of the power of the air.’ Wind in God’s hand, but now for His own purpose, partially and for a time, transferred to Satan’s” (Proverbs 30:4).—“From the wilderness.” Whence the fiercest winds came (Jeremiah 4:11; Jeremiah 13:24). From the south part of the great North Arabian Desert (Isaiah 21:1; Hosea 13:15).—“Smote the four corners of the house.” At once or successively; coming with force and steady aim as under Satan’s direction. All the appearance of the work of an angry God.—“And it fell.” The object for which Satan raised the storm. Such catastrophes not uncommon in the East. Houses of comparatively frail construction (Matthew 7:27). Well-known violence of tornadoes. One in England, in 1811, tore up plantations and levelled houses with the ground, carried large trees, torn up by the roots, to the distance of twenty or thirty yards; lifted cows from one field to another; and carried haystacks to a considerable distance. Camels sometimes lifted off their legs by Eastern whirlwinds. God able to make our plagues wonderful (Deuteronomy 28:59).—“Upon the young men.” Mentioned as more likely to overwhelm the father; sisters included.—“And they are dead.” Crashing tidings for a father’s ears. All dead,—dead all at once,—dead prematurely,—dead by a sudden, unusual, and miserable death,—dead as if by the hand of God Himself, as Bildad regarded them,—dead at the time that Job had most need of their comfort under his other calamities. Job reduced, in one short day, from being one of the happiest of fathers to a state of childlessness and misery. Our heaviest trials often through our sweetest comforts. The sharpest thorns on the same tree with the loveliest flowers. The beauty of all earthly blessings quickly blasted (Isaiah 60:6; Isaiah 60:8). Too much not to be expected from God, nor too little from the creature.