Job 29.
THE evil in Job was want of submission to the will of God, an evil which we, beloved, often fall into. Instead of simply leaving his case with God, he justifies himself. This is brought out through the false accusations of others: they said he was a hypocrite, and they accused him falsely. He seems at one time to be willing to leave his cause with God; “days shall speak,” &c.; but he is provoked to self-justification. Are we content to leave all with God, and leave him to justify us? Are we willing, in the midst of present trial, more severe, perhaps, than we have ever before gone through, to say, “Thy will be done?” We often say, “Any other trial than this, Lord,” instead of simply saying, “Lord, Thou knowest best.” We are even disposed to look at things through our own vision, rather than by faith, to judge of them. We are here reminded of Jacob, who said, “All these things are against me.” He should have rather said, “Lord, I see the coat that it is covered with blood; I hear the report of the death of Joseph; but, Lord, I believe Thy word concerning Joseph, and leave it with Thee.” He had heard God’s truth as to the glory of Joseph. So let us, beloved, seek submission to the will of our heavenly Father, under whatever trial we may be, and say, The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
GOD in His wisdom has ordered our trials, and it is our folly that causes us not to welcome them. God sends us such trials as are exactly fitted for us. Who would reject a garment that every way suited him?
Our Heavenly Father knows best what will best serve us. He serves us by trials and by comforts. He says to one, come, and it cometh; to another go, and it goeth; to another do this, and he doeth it. Who would refuse servants of the best kind, when there is much work to be done? “To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” Let us remember that our trials are few―our evil ways many; our worthiness nothing―our comforts great. When God tries us let us consider how we have been trying Him. By grace we will not murmur, but humble ourselves under His mighty hand, and He will exalt us in due time.
The bud, bitter as it is, if examined into will be found beautiful; it comes from the hand of a divine workman; it has its pleasant odor. Wait a little, ―it will expand, and “sweet shall be the flower.”
THE sad and sorrowful heart has a special claim upon Jesus. Take it into His presence, He will bind up the broken-hearted. He knows how to succor those who are tried. He did not first appear to the strong, so to speak, not to him who had begged His body, but to the poor broken-hearted Mary.
If I live for myself, I shall please the world.
If I live for the world, I shall please myself.
These two are one.
If I live for Christ, it should please His body, the Church.
If I live for the Church, I shall please Christ, the Head.
These two are one.
If we receive Truth notionally, we shall receive error also; there is no guard. The Divine guard against error is the Spirit of Truth, reading the truth in the written word, to the lowly, prayerful soul.
IMITATION AND POWER. ― To imitate the early Church, to set things in the order once established, is not faith. Faith in God leads us to cast ourselves upon Him. We want power, and imitation is not power, nor will it give power; power comes from God alone. We cannot imitate power. We are guilty in regard to what we have lost, but God has infinite resources in Himself. We may discover our sin by comparing ourselves with the early Church, but we must find the joy of the Lord to be our strength. We may find many things at the close of the dispensation which were not known or realized at the commencement. Humiliation and sorrow, casting ourselves upon God in earnest prayer, is our best remedy for the evil of the Church. This is but little recognized, practiced, or valued; but, we may be assured it is well pleasing to God, and will have its sure reward.