Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-11-17


there sfill. Why did they not say
something about reunion in the Hsav-
emily realms with his children who
had been s'ain7 Why did they not
talk 10 him about the satisfactory ex-
plantations in the future world OF
things we do not understand in this
worldf Why did they not go to the
apothecary and buy a poultiee that
would have eoothed the carbuncles.
or some quieting potion that would
calm his nerves, or few drops of
febrifuge that would cool his heated
frame? Not For seven days aud
seven nights they did nothing and
said nothing for his relief. They must
have almost bored him TO death.
After these three friends had COM
pleted their infamous silence of
week they began TO lecture Job. First.
Eliphaz the Temanitc opens with a
long story about a dream which he
had in the night and irritates the suf-
ferer with words that make things
worse instead OF better and sets him
in an attitude OF defense against the
lecturer. Then comes Bildsd the
Shuttle. who gives the invalid a round
scolding and calls him garrulous and
practically tells him that he deserved
all that he got. and that IL he had be-
havcd himself Alright he would not
have lost his house or his children OF
his estate. He practically says: JOB.
! viii tell you what is the matter with
you. You are bad: you are hypO-
critic. you are now getting paid for
your wickedness" No wonder that
there came from Job an outburst OF
indignation which calls out the other
quOndsm friend. Zophar the Nsa-
mRthite. who begins denouncing job
by calling him n liar. md keeps on
the discourse until Job responds 20 oil
three Of them IN the sarcastic words:
NO doubt but ye are the people, and
wisdom shall die with you"
Oh. what friends job had. Heaven
deliver ne from having one such
friend. 20 cay nothing OF having three
of them. IL was for such friends tina {
Job prayed. and was II religious tri-
umph for him 20 do so2 Would you.
Tho very best % you. be in very devout
mood and capable Of making interces-
sion for people who had come 20 You
| in a day OF trouble and said: Good
FOR YOU. You ought 20 be chastissd
You are being taken in hand by etsr-
| nal justice. II you had behaved your
self Alright YOU would not have beer
| sick or prosecuted OF impoverished OF
| made childlcss." Oh. no. my friend
| YOU would not have felt like Job wher
| he prayed for his friends. but more
like Job when he cursed the day Of hi'
nativity!
Notice that this hagellation by th'
three friends was premeditated. The,
did not merely happen in and come
suddenly upon the trouble for which
they could not offer a compound. Th'
Bible saws: They had made an hp
pointnent together" The interview
was prearranged. They had agree
IS 20 what they would say 20 the sicl
man. You can SEE that their remark
were not extemporaneous. What the.
said was sublimely poetic. They ros.
in sssle into what IN later times "
would call the Homeric or Dantesqus
| But Job was not in need of poetry $
much as salve for his eruptive dis
order. He was not dying for lack @
a paragraph in blank verse. He wa
| not 80 much in need OF didaetic lee
ture about the justice OF God as a
| assurance CT the Divine mercy. Som
| pious rustic OF the land Of LIZ not alb
10 put three grammatical sentence
together could have said somethin
more consolatory.
The mearness OF the attack OF thes
religious critics was augmented b
the fact that they had the sufferer
their power When We are well Al
We DO not like what one is saying "
can get up and go away. But 10
was too ST. 20 get up and go ava.
| First he endured the seven days an
seven nights OF silence. and then
4 endured their arraignment OF his m'
l tlves and character, and after the
|. | cruel campaign was ended by a SUI
lime effort OF soul. which this day "a
, | hold for imitation, he triumphed
| prayer for his tantalizers. In all hi
, tory there is nothing equal TO IL e
1 cept the memorable imploration
= Christ Of His enemies. No wond'
; | fhat after that prayer OF Job wi
? 1 once uttered shrin OF recovery sh'
/ through every nerve and vein OF h
!. | tortured body and every passion Of h
o | great soul. and God answered IL
. adding nearly = century and a half
I his lifetime. aad whitened the hi
I with fiocks OF sheep. and hlied the q
? with the lowing of cattle. and wa
> sned the silent nursery OF his hor
with the swift feet and the langhil
Z voice. OF chiidhood-seven sons al
4 three daughters celebrated for the
J. beauty. the daughters 20 refine Z
, | sons. the sons 10 defend the dauR
9 ters. There is nothing that pave