FIFTH PART OF INTRODUCTION—THE RESULT OF SATAN’S ATTEMPTS
I. Job’s grief (Job 1:20). “Then Job arose.” Probably found by the tidings in the usual posture of Orientals. Aroused from wonted calmness. His nature now stirred to its depths. Deeply moved, but not prostrated by his calamities.—“Rent his mantle,” or robe; long outer garment worn by men of rank (1 Samuel 15:27; 1 Samuel 18:4), and by priests (1 Samuel 28:14; Exodus 28:13); still worn by wealthy Arabs. Rent it in token of sorrow and humiliation (Genesis 37:34). Job neither too insensible to feel grief, nor too proud to acknowledge it. Piety not stoicism; sharpens rather than blunts sensibility. As little virtue in not feeling sorrow as in being overcome by it. Not to feel is to be either more or less than a man. Jesus wept. Insensibility under chastening reproved as a sin (Jeremiah 5:3; Hosea 7:9). When God afflicts us we should afflict ourselves (Jeremiah 31:18). Grace teaches us, not to be without sorrow, but to moderate it, and to connect with it penitence and submission, faith and hope (2 Corinthians 7:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).—“Shaved his head.” Another token of mourning (Ezra 9:3; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 41:5). Forbidden by the law only in certain cases and in certain forms (Leviticus 19:27; Lev. 31:5; Deuteronomy 14:1). Nature demands some external sign of grief, and religion does not forbid it.—“Fell down upon the ground.”
(1) In grief; so Joshua (Joshua 7:6);
(2) In humiliation;
(3) In adoration. Trouble a blessing when it leads to self-abasement before God. Satan expected to see Job standing on his feet and cursing the author of his troubles.
II. His piety (Job 1:20-21). “And worshipped.” Praised God and acknowleged his sovereignty. Bowed submissivly to His will and dispensations. Instead of cursing God Job adores His justice, goodness, and holiness. Afflictions draw a godly man nearer to God instead of driving him from Him. A sign of a gracious state to be worshipping when God is chastising. The best way to bear and be benefited by trials is to take them to God. That trouble cannot but be blest which brings us to our knees. Faith calms the crushed spirit by conducting it to a God in Christ.—“And said.” Job opens his mouth, but not as Satan expected. Serious and suitable considerations to be employed under trouble. Truths suggested by religion to quiet the spirit and preserve it in patience.—“Naked came I forth,” &c. Job’s first consideration. Nothing originally ours. Man by nature destitute even of clothes for his body. The truth in the text the apostle’s argument for contentment (1 Timothy 6:7).—“Naked shall I return thither.” Second consideration. Earth not our home. We return to our parent dust. Reference to Genesis 3:19. These words probably copied or referred to in Ecclesiastes 5:14; Ecclesiastes 12:7. Our condition in this world of less consequence as we are so soon to leave it.—Third consideration. We must leave the world naked as we entered it (1 Timothy 6:7). Death strips Dives of his fine linen and Lazarus of his filthy rags. Grace the only riches we can carry out of the world with us. To be stripped of earthly possessions only a question of time. “Thither,”—unto my mother’s womb, used figuratively for the earth. So the “lower parts of the earth” used for the womb (Psalms 139:15). The same term sometimes used both literally and figuratively in the same sentence. So Matthew 8:22.—“The Lord gave.” The language of truth and piety. Contrasted with that of pride and atheism,—“My own hand hath gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17). Heathens by the light of nature called God the “Giver of good things.” Power to get wealth the gift of God (Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 10:22). “Gave,” and therefore has the right to withdraw at his pleasure. What we possess we hold only as stewards of mother’s goods (Luke 16:1-12; 1 Peter 4:10.)—“The Lord hath taken away.” God’s hand in our losses as well as our gains. Divine philosophy. So Joseph Genesis 45:5-8; David, Psalms 39:9; Eli, 1 Samuel 3:18. “The Lord,”—not the Sabeans and Chaldæans, the lightning or the whirlwinds. The philosophy that rests on second causes or natural laws a philosophy falsely so called. Satan only the author of Job’s calamities as he received permission from God. The arrows God’s, whoever shoots them. Evil as well as good from God either directly or permissively (Isaiah 45:7; Amos 3:6). Man’s and Satan’s sin overruled by God for good; not therefore the less sinful (Acts 2:23). God’s hand in trouble seen by the eye of faith, an alleviation; otherwise an aggravation.
III. The Victory
1. Positive side. Job blesses God instead of cursing Him (Job 1:21). “Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” The word chosen with reference to Satan’s charge. The same word used, but in its opposite and proper sense. Satan thus entirely defeated. Every word of Job gives the lie to his slander. Power of grace that teaches us to bless God in troubles and adversities (2 Samuel 15:26). No ground, even in the worst times, to murmur against God, much to bless Him. Such grounds are:
(1) Often greater love and richer blessing when He takes away than when He gives. Our greatest trials and losses often our richest mercies. “For all I bless Thee, most for the severe” [Young].—
2. In the greatest sufferings and losses the believer’s main interests are secure. The pieces of silver may be lost, the casket of jewels remains safe.
(3.) The sufferings of believers are seeds to bear precious fruit both here and hereafter (Romans 8:24; Hebrews 12:10-11). Believers therefore strengthened “unto all patience and long sufferings with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). True Christian piety the purest heroism. Widely different from stoical insensibility and pride. Believers weep, but bless God through their tears. Job’s blessing God must have sent an echo through the heaven of heavens. Unprecedented trials, heightened by the contrast of unprecedented prosperity, meet not merely with submission, but with blessing on the Author of both. To bless God in prosperity is only natural; to bless Him in adversity and trouble is music that fills heaven and earth with gladness. Job’s calamities appeared only to argue God against him. Mighty faith that blesses God while smiting our comforts to the ground. The grace enjoined on N. T. believers, exemplified in this O. T. saint (1 Thessalonians 5:18). To bless God in our comforts the way to have them increased; to bless Him in our afflictions the way to have them removed [Augustine]. A thankful and pious spirit the true philosopher’s stone—turns all things into gold. Faith gilds our crosses and sees a silver lining in the darkest cloud.—Matter for praise under the most trying dispensations:—
(1) The past enjoyment of undeserved mercies so long continued;
(2) The present enjoyment of some mercies however few;
(3) The possession of God Himself as in Christ our God and portion;
(4) The assurance that the heaviest trials work together for our good;
(5) The hope of a better and enduring inheritance reserved for us in heaven.—“The name of the Lord,”—the Lord Himself as revealed to us in the Word. Here “Jehovah,” the everliving faithful covenant God of His people. The name here thrice repeated. Perhaps not without a mystery, like Numbers 7:24-27, compared with Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7. The name fondly dwelt upon by the afflicted patriarch. The name of the Lord the tried believer’s sweetest consolation and strongest support. A strong tower into which the righteous runs and is sale (Proverbs 18:10.)
2. Negative side of victory. In all these trials Job kept from sinning (Job 1:22.) “Sinned not,” as Satan desired and declared he would. Glorious triumph of grace to keep from sinning in such circumstances. Sinned not, either by impatience or passion. Reference to the case in hand. Grace given to keep us from sin, not absolutely, but relatively and comparatively. Sin more or less in all a believer’s actions, though all his actions not sinful. Scripture written that the believer sin not (1 John 2:1). Looking to Christ, Peter walked on the water; looking to the wind, he began to sink in it (Matthew 14:28-31). The flesh or old nature in a believer must sin; the spirit or new nature in him cannot. (1 John 3:9). A constant struggle between the spirit and the flesh (Galatians 5:17). A believer’s duty and privilege to walk in the spirit, and so be kept from fulfilling the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). I feel and grieve, but by the grace of God I fret at nothing [John Wesley].—“Nor charged God foolishly.”
(1) Imputed no folly, injustice, or impropriety to God;
(2) Vented no foolish and impious murmurs against Him. Ascribed nothing to God unworthy of His justice, goodness, and wisdom. Entertained no dishonourable thought, uttered no murmuring word against Him. Impiety the greatest folly. To murmur against God’s dealings is as foolish as it is wicked. To misconstrue God’s character and conduct, the great sin to be guarded against under heavy trials.