Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-08-02
CHRISTIAN ENOEAvOR


Topic.-IeB0Ono Irom 8Te8k uvoA-Vlu
Job.--Job vi. Ill; Kill la (Consecration
meeting) Edited BY Rev. Sherman H
Doyle. D. D.
The book Of Jot has been called q
y. losophical discussion Of the prob
lem OF human suffering. The discus
sion revolves around tho life Of real
historic character, but undoubtedly the
purpose II didactic and not simply the
recording Of historical facts. It Is
clearly intended to deal with moral
and religious problems and their solu-
non-the problems Of prosperity and
adversely, the suffering Of the right
eous. the extent of Gods interest In
man. the possibility Of q future life,
the ability Of man to know God
great and interesting problems and
wisely discussed. and yet after all Is
said and done the conclusion as sum-
med up in the words Of Elihu seems to
be that 1t Is impossible for man by
searching to find out God" Gods
ways are not our ways. He moves IN
mysterious way, His wonders to
perform" and we must trust Him re-
gardless of the fact that we cannot
always understand the purposes Of His
dealings with us
The life Of Job. however, still teaches
many comforting and helpful lessons.
Let Us note the following:
!. The faithfulness of Job under test
ing. The first question discussed Is
that Of the possibility Of disinterest-
ed goodness. Satan raises. the ques-
ton when he asks, docs Job serve
God for naughtT To prove that
man may love Him and delight In His
service God puts Job to severe tests.
He Il tried and tested In every possible
way. He suffers great misfortunes.
deep befeavements. personal affection,
his wife mocks him, his friends mis-
understand him Yet he remains faith
full to God. Job stood the test and
thus demonstrated the possibility Of
disinterested righteousnesa Such right
eousness II the moro possible today
through the possession Of the Spirit
and the example Of Christ who was
''trisd in al points - We arS. Pct with
out sin.- Through love to God W
should serve Him regardless Of the
tact that It may seem to cost ~ sacri-
dee and suffering. II tested let u.
IKE Job, still remain faithful and true
TO God. Though he slay me- yst viii
trust Him"
2 The purpose Of God In the suffer
ing Of the righteous Why do the
righteous suffer- Why did Job sufferi
His friends declared that his sufferings
were proof Of the fact that he was not
righteous They took the usual posi-
toh Of the ancient Jews that temporal
prosperity u an evidence Of righteous
ness, while temporal adversely y
sure proof OF unrighteousness. But
Job knew that this was not true, that
he was not afflicted because Of his sins,
yet he Is almost driven to despair and
comes near to the point Of questioning
the justice Of God. as countless others
have done under similar circum-
stances. The final answer given Is
that God sends calamities on good
men by way of chastisement not Of
punishment; In love. not In anger; to
purity and strengthen them. to purge
out faults, to save from the pitt"
This u undoubtedly the teaching Of
the book Of Job upon this question.
and 1t accords With that Of the entire
word Of God upon the same subject,
and through his Affections Job 10 made
to zee that 1t II not because Of per-
sonal righteousnesa, but through the
mercy Of God. that the greatest bless
ings are to be obtained and the truest
Fellowship with God enjoyed
It was through repentance and COM
plete submission to the win Of God
that he came into bis greatest prosper
ity. When be humbled himself. ''ab-
horred himself" and '-repented In sack
cloth and ashes" God exalted him.
Gods purposes toward His children
are always good whom the Lord
loveth, he ~chasteneth."
not punishes. True, We cannot always
understand Why should we tryf Can
the child understand the purposes Of
tn parent In disciplined But can It
doubt that they are good? Let N trust
Him and not seek to undefstand Him
Judge not the Lord by feeble ssnsA
But trust Him for Els gracA
Behind q frowning prov1denao
He hides smiling faea
& The problem Of The future ltfa
This question y raised In connection
with the fife Of job IF . man de.
shall be i've againr b asked. and In
one passage At least Job answers clear
b. definitely and with evident assur-
ance. II know that my Redeemsr Nv
eth and after my skin has been
destroyed in my desh shall I zee God"
Like CLEAN of sunlight between dark
clouds comes the expression OF deep
conviction on the part Of the ancient
patriarch concerning the future. And
what was . personal conviction with
Job. Christ has demonstrated to be a
certainty. God does care for His own.