Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-04-22

ory verses, D, 6-Golden Text, JAS. v,
IL Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
l. ''Then Job answered the Lord and
said" After time the three men ceased
to answer Job. because he was righteous in
his own eyes and justified himself rather
than God (chapter xxxii, 1,2). Then to the
tnd of chapter xxxvii we have the wise and
weighty words Of Elihu (the name signifies
GOD Himself) speaking on Gods behalf
(xxxvi, q, to which Job makes no reply
From xxxviii, I, TO XII, "a, Jehovah speaks,
and now for the first time since the three
friends stopped, with the exception Of chap
ter xl, 3-5, Job makes reply, but we shall
hear him as an entirely different man from
the one who made reply to Eliphaz and the
others, giving them as good as they gave
him.
.. II know that Thou canst do every
thing, and that no thought can be with
holden from Thee" 1t is good and help
ful thing to believe that God can do every
thing, and that nothing is too hard or won.
derful for Him der. xxxii, I'D. Sarah
stumbled here, and so did Moses and the 10
spies and hosts of others (Gen. xviii, 1S, I4
Mum. xi, 2l-23; xiii, 81, S8). Let us also be-
heve that no purpose of God can be frus-
trated Cps. xxxiii, IL; lisa. xiv, 24), and since
His ways and thoughts are as far above ours
as heaven is above the earth Qsa. lv, 8, 81
let us away with ours, however attractive
to ourselves, and be filled with His, which
are sure of accomplishment
3. "Who Is he that hideth counsel with
out knowledge? Therefore have uttered
that ] understood not; things too won
derful for me that l knew not" The
words of Jehovah had taken hold of him
Chapter xxxviii, 2, 81 and laid him low, ex
posing his folly. Elihu had spoken wisely
when he said, I'VE cannot order our speech
by reason of darkness" Chapter xxxvii, 19)
And the Holy Spirit through Paul assule es
us that "in us-that is, In our hesh-dwell
eth no good thing" and I'VE are not sufIi.
cient Of ourselves to think anything as of
ourselves" (Rom. vii, Is, ii Cor. fiji, s..
4. Hear, | beseech thee, and ! will speak
| will demand of thee and declare thou
unto me-" Job had talked thus foolishly
(xiii, 22), and God had given him back his
own words (xxxviii, 8; xl, y, and it would
seem that Job now quotes them In deep
humility and self condemnation, for he had
already said: II will lay mine hand upon
my mouth. Once have spoken, but will
not answer. Yea, twice, but will proceed
no further" (xl, 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 IL perfect In knowledge
(xxxvi, y told us In the parable of the
sower that it would be so. The question
for us is, How do heari" For the Sav.
four teaches us to take heed how we hear
and what we hear" Mark iv, "a; Luke viii,
lS). AS to seeing God, 1t Is written,
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
shall see God" (Msth. v, g. But God said
to Moses, There shall no man see Me and
live" Ex. xxxiii, 20). And yet again it is
said, "They saw God and did eat and
drink" (Ex. xiv, IL The key to these
sayings is probably found In John 1, 1S
Q. Wherefore ! abhor myself and repent
in dust and ashes" This is a wondrous
change from chapter xxx, where in replying
to Bildad and singing bis own praises he
uses the pronouns l, me, my about so
times In the presence Of God the holiest
men are made to feel ashamed. Isaiah said,
Woe Is me, for | am q man Of unclean
lips" Daniel said, "All my comeliness
was turned to corruption In me-" And
even John fell on his face as one dead Qsa
vi, 3; Dan. K. viii; Rev. 1, xviil The right
eousness Of Christ makes ours to appear as
dross and filthy rags phil iii, 8; Isa- Xiv,
o. while the serving Of Christ makes oura
to appear as not worthy of mention. The
language of the self emptied man will be in
the line Of this verse, or that of Paul, when
he says: "Not i, but Christ, who liveth ia
me-" Not !, but the grace of God, which
was with me" (Gal. H. 90; Cor Nv, 10l II
IA God who worketh In US both to will and
to do OF His good pleasure. and it Is our
place to let Him, yielding ourselves fully to
Him phil ii. Is; Heb. xiii, 20, 21l
r.H 1.~< -.
spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said
to Eliphaz the Temanite, Ny wrath is kin
died against thee and against thy two
friends, for ye have not spoken Of Me right.
as My servant Job" We are to give an ac-
count Of our words, and II by our words we
honor God He win honor us CMath. xii, 80;
| Sam. II. S0). What word is here for
every teacher and preacher-do we say
what n right of Godi Do we honor Him.
telling of His salvation from day to dayi Is
it His righteousness and this only that we
preachi Do we magnify His grace and in
every way by word and deed exalt the Lord
Jesus Christ
s Therefore take unto you now seven
bullocks and seven rams, and 90 to Ny
servant Job and offer ND for yourselves a
Surnt offering, and Ny servant Job shall
pray for you" There In no forgiveness of
ain without the shedding Of blood. for it is
the blood that maketh atonement for the
soul (Heb. TX, %; Lev. xvii. IL But
blessed be God, there is forgiveness for all
who come In true penitence. Not by the
blood OF bulls and goats, but by His own
blood He hath obtained eternal redemp-
tion for as (Heb. TX, 12). Observe also
how He deals with those who touch His
servants-they must obtain forgiveness
from God, and they must also be humbled
before those servants Of God whom they
have touched. Let the afflicted and perse
cuted rejoice in Isa- hv, II. and IN great
quietness and confidence commit their case
to God and let Him see to 1t.
Q. $50 Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad
the Shnhite, and Zophar the Naamathite
went and did according as the Lord com
manded them. The Lord also accepted Job"