The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-05
Christian EndevOr

Praysr Meeting Topic Fer the Weak
Beginning Aug. g. 1911.
Topic--Lessons from great lfves.-vIII
Job.-Job vi. ILL: Kiln. Id CConsecration
meetingl Edited by Rev. Sherman II.
Doyle. D. D.
The book Of Job has been called q
philosophical discussion OF the prob
lem Of human suffering. The discus.
sion revolves around the life Of real
historic character. but undoubtedly the
purpose Is didactic and not simply the
recording OF historical facts. It is
clearly intended to deal with moral
and religious problems and their soiu.
tion-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 ~ 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
q mysterious way. His wonders to
perform" and we must trust Him re-
CARELESS 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. Does Job serve
God for naughtY' To prove that a
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 bereavements. personal aftiiction.
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 righteousness. Such right
eousness is the more possible today
and the example OF Christ, who WAS
"tried in all points as we are, yet with
out SIM" Through love to God We
should serve Him regardless of the
fact that 1t may seem to cost US sacri-
fee and suffering. II tested let u.s..
like Job, still remain faithful and true
to God. Though He Stay me. yet will
/ trust Him."
2 The purpose Of God in the suffer
ing Of the righteous. Why do the
righteous suffer? Why did Job suffer?
His friends declared that his sufferings
were proof Of the fact that he was not
righteous. They took the usual posi-
ton of the ancient Jews that temporal
prosperity is an evidence of righteous
ness. while temporal adversely Is a
sure proof Of unrighteousness. But
Job knew that this was not true, that
he was not afflicted because Of his sins,
yet he IL almost driven to despcir and
comes near to the point of questioning
have done under similar circun-
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
purify and strengthen them. to purge
out faults. to save from the pit !"
This is undoubtedly the teaching OF
the book Of Job upon this question.
and it accords with that Of the entire
and through his Affections Job ia made
to see that it Is not because OF per-
sonai righteousness, but through the
mercy Of God. that the greatest bless
ings are to be obtained and the truest
fellowship with God enjoyed.
1t was through repentance and com
plete submission to the will of God
that he came into his greatest prosper
ity. When he BUNDLED himself. lab
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 Observation-Disclosures
not Furnishes. True, we cannot always
understand. Why should we try? Can
the child understand the purposes OF
its parent in discipline? But can II
doubt that they are good? Let US trust
Him and not seek to understand Him
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense.
But trust Him for His grace.
Behind frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
8. The problem Of the future life.
This question Is raised in connection
with the life Of Job. III a man die
shall be live again?" is asked. ana In
one passage at least Job answers clear
~. definitely and with evident assur.
ance. Il know that my Redeemer liv
eth and after my skin has been
destroyed in my flesh shall see God. =
Like a 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 a personal conviction with
Job. Christ has demonstrated to be d
certainty. God does care for His own
BIBLE READINGS.
Job 1, l. 1922; II. ITO: Kill. Is:
xiv. II. With xix. %, &c: xxxv,