The Colfax chronicle., 1900-06-16
Chronicle Bible Glass.
Synopsis Of Lesson 80.
The Book of Job,

Writers tell us that all of this mys-
terious book, except the first two
chapters and part of the last, is writ
ten in the highest style Of Hebrew poe
try. Job lived after restoration to
health and prosperity 40 years, and
he was evidently an old man before
his trials began. He is mentioned,
Eek. IA: IA, and James 5: IL, and,
moreover, his name and history have
been honorably perpetuated in the
east. His longevity, at least, would
Indicate that he lived before the food.
The author of the book, it is thought,
refers to the food, %: 1917, but
does not mention SodOm, and the
exodus from Egypt This wonderful
book has called forth much criticism.
Writer'S do not agree about who Job
was, nor when and where he lived.
Moses has been considered the most
probable author of the book. The
whole book exhibits marks OF origi-
nality; and the author seems to have
been n very wise man, whose scientific
knowledge and general information
point to later day. Therefore, some
are OF the opinion that Solomon
wrote this wonderful poem, and that
it is an allegory, or parable, rather
than a literal history, for surely God
would not subject a perfect and up
right man to such trials to satisfy
the curiosity of Satan. As a literal
history the book is local, and it's les
son is comparatively insignificant;
but, as an allegory it is a brief typi-
cal history of man from. his fall, to
redemption and gloritication. Job
means sorrow, and Uz means fire.
Job, like Adam, was at first perfectly
upright; but alike they fell into the
hands of Satan, and, deprived of all
wealth. health, and happiness, were
left alone to die. Job fOresaw the
coming of his redeemer, 10: 25, as the
prophets declared the coming of
Christ, Nal. 8: Ia. Job, after trial,
came forth a. gold, %: 10, and all
Was restored to him double, AZ: IL,
compare with 1: 3; just SO the Chris
tian, after being tried as gold. 1sr
Peter, i: z, in Christ, shall receive
double reward, Zech. 9: IL. Job had
three comforters: Eliphaz, the en-
deavor of God. Bildad, old love or
friendship. Zophar, rising early or
crown. They all labored hard to re-
store Job to state Of happiness,
health Of body, peace of mind, and
knowledge Of truth. These comfort
ers seem to typify, or represent, re-
spectively three classes of professional
men, viz: Clergymen, physicians, and
philosophers, who have ever peddled
their respective teaching as a panacea
for human woe. The priest or preach
er, as a worldly reasoner, like Eliphaz,
has labored for ages to make peace
of mind glorious reality, but in
stead of unity of the spirit and peace
of mind we find division and confu-
sion. Nor, has Bildad, the physician,
met with better success in preventing
sickness and death. Zophar, the phi
losOpher, has not yet found the phi
losopher's stone, nor answered the
important question, what is Truth. -
But, Elihu, the mouth of God, will
annihilate disease and death, give
peace of mind, reveal Christ, the one
generic truth, restore all things, and
give the faithful man of sorrow, from
the land Of fire (trial), a happy, ever
lasting life in the world to come. See
Job 80: 8, II, 16 and %. tits highly
probable that Solomon wrote this
poetic allegorical history Of man, and
that the light OF the now dawning
spiritual age will reveal it as trans.
lucent epit0me of the whole Bible
Childhood, Manhood, Old Age.-Phys-
ical, intellectual, spiritual. ''The man
of SIM" I'd Thes. 2: 3, (Deified Intel
lect), must be dethroned before Eli
hu's speech can be heard. The true
knowledge Of God, John II: 3, is not
only life eternal, but the embrlo of al
truth. John IA: 6.
Next l0esOn. Matthew. Mark. I.uka