The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-19
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
APRIL %.
Lesson Text: "Job's Confession and
Restoration" Job KILL, 1-1O-
Golden Text. James ", II
commentary.

I. "Then Job answered the Lord an1
said" After time the three men ceased to
answer Job, because he was righteous in bis
own eyes and justified himself rather than
God (chapter x1Hi., /, q. Then to the enc
Of chapter xxxvn we have the wise and
weightv words Of Elihu tthe name signifies
''God Himselfh speaking on Gods behalf
(xxxvi., o., to which job makes no reply
From xxxviii., l, to xii. 81, Jehovah speaks,
and now for tine first time sircs the three
friends stopped, with the exception Of chap
ter xl., 3-5. Job makes reply, but We shall
hear MIN as an entirely different man from
the one who made reply to Eliphaz and the
Others, giving them as good as they gave
him.
2. II know Thou canst do everything, and
that no thought can be withholden from
Thee" 1t is a good and helpful thing to
believe that God can do everything, and that
nothing is too hard or wonderful for
Him tJer; xxi. ~; Sarah stumbled here
and so did Moses and the ten spies and hosts
OF others {Gen. xviii. 49, IA; Mum. XII. 81
23). Let US also believe that no purpose Of
God can be frustrated (Ps. x1xiii., IL; lisa.
xvi, "a, and since His ways and thought are
as far above ours as heaven is above the
earth lisa. w.. s, 81 let US away with ours,
however attractive to ourselves. and be filed
with His, which are sure of accomplishment.
3."Who is he that hideth counsel with
out knowledge? Therefore have uttered
that I un ierstood not; things too wonderful
Jehovah had taken hold of him (chapter
x1xviii.. 9, 81 and laid him low, exposing mis-
folly. Elihu had spoken wisely when he
said, "We cannot order our speech by rea.
son OF darkness (chapter xxxvii, 19l. And
the Holy Spirit through Paul assures us that
''in us-that is, our hesh-1welleth no good
thing" and 1--WE are not sufficient of our
selves to think anything as Of ourselves"
from. vii, Is; II Cor. ILL.,, 81.
4. Hear. beseech Thee, and will speak.
will demand Of Thee aud declare Thou unto
me-" Job had talked thus foo!ish!y xiii,
22), and God had given him back his own
words (xx1viii, g.; xl., y, and 1t would
seem that Job now quotes them in deep hu.
mility and self condemnation. for he had
already said: II will lay mine hand upon
nv mouth. Once have spoken, but I will
not answer. Yea, twice, but will proceed
no further t1!., 4. 81.
5. II have heard Of Thee by the hearing
of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee"
1t is to be feared that much hearing Of the
Gospel is merely hearing by the ear. In
fact, He who is perfect in knowledge
(xxxvi., A. told rs in the parable OF the sower
that it would be 20. The question for US is,
NHow do hear?n For the Saviour teaches
us to take heed how we hear and what we
hearn Mark iv, "a; Luke viii, 1Sl. As to
seeing God, it is written, "Blessed are tbs
pure In heart. for they snail see Col" tMarh.
", 81. But God said TO Moses. "There shall
no man see Me and live" tEx. Ixxiii, 20.
And yet again it is said, They saw Goa and
did eat and drink" tEx. xiv, 1D. The key
to these sayings is probably found in John
j., ls.
g. Wherefore abhor myself and rspsnt
in dust and ashes" This is a wondrous
change from chapter XXX, where in reply.
ing to Bildad and singing his own praises hs
uses the pronouns I. he, My about so times.
In the presence Of Col che holiest men ara
made to feel ashamed. Isaiah said, "Wos is
for me, for / am q man OF uuclean lips
Daniel said, "All my comeliness was turned
to corruption in me-" And even John fell on
his face as one dead lisa. vi, 5; Dan. &,
viii; Rev. l., xviii. The Righteousness o.
filthy rags (Pnil ILL.,, s; lsa. Xiv, o., while
the serving of Christ makes ours 70 appear
as not worthy Of mention. The Language Of
the self emptied man will be in thu line OF
this verse, or that Of Paul, when he says:
"Not I, but Christ, who liveth in me. "NoE
L but the grace of God, which was with
mel (Gal. H., 20; Cor. xv., 10). It is God
who worketn in Us both to will AM to do OF
His good pleasure, and it Is our place to let
Him, yielding ourselves fully to Him pail.
ii. IS; Heb. xiii, 90, 2ll.
Z. And it was so that, after the Lord
had spoken these words unto Job. the Lord
said to Eliphaz the remanite, My wrath is
kiudled against thee and against thy two
friends, for ye have not spoken Of Me right
as NV servant JOB" We are to give an ac-
count OF our words, and If by our words we
honor God He will honor US (Mata. Kit, 35;
I Sam. H., 3OD. What a word is hare for
every teacher and preacher-do we say
what is right of God? Do we honor Him,
telling Of dis salvation from day to day? Is
it His Righteousness and this only that we
preach? Do we magnify His gracs and in
every way by word and deed exalt the Lord
Jesus Christ.
g. Therefore take unto you now seven
bullocks and seven rams, ami go to My ser.
want Job and off up for yourselves burnt
offering, and My servant Job shall pray for
YOU" There is no forgiveness of sin with
out the shedding Of blood, for it is the blood
that maketh atonemsnt tor the soul Heb.
tx, %; Lev. xvii, Ill. But. blessed be God,
there Is forgiveness for all who come in true
peniteuce. Not by the blood OF bulls and
goats, but by His own blooj. He hath OBJ
tained eternal redemption for Us tHeb. L.,
l9. Observe also how as deals with those
who touch His servants-they must obtain
forgiveness from God, and they must also be
BUNDLED before those servants of God whom
they have toucaed. Let the afflicted and
prosecuted rejoice In Isa. liv., II, and in
great quietness and confidence commit their
case to God and let Him see to it.
9. $50 Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad
the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite
went and did according as the Lord com :
inanded them. The Lord also accepted job"
Note the grace OF God to these men and
how He made known to them the way OF the
forgiveness Of sins. But it would have
awaited nothing if they mad not dons as com.
manded. Many know the way Of life who
do not accept that life, and many more who
are true servants Of God, as Job was, waste
much precious time in fruitless talk.
IN. "And the Lord turned the captivity
of Job when he prayed for his friends; also
the Lord gave JOB twice as much as he had
before" The rest Of the chapter is the de-
rallied statement OF which this is summary:
Que hundred and forty years Of life, twice
the allotted span (Ps. xc., 10y, the same
number Of sons and daughters (cnapser ], q.
which, those gone before, would make the
double? As to all his cattle, they were lit
orally doubled. Then see iu verse III how au
his relations and acquaintance brought him
presents and comforted him. So being tried
he came forch as gold. His latter end being
blessed more than his beginning IS sugges-
tive OF lsrae.'s latter day glory.-Lesson
Helper.