Christian Calmness
C. A. Heurtley, B. D. Job 34:29 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him?… I. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE QUIETNESS HERE SPOKEN OF? When God enables a man to rest peacefully, tranquilly, without let or hindrance, without anything to molest, or harm, or disturb, or terrify him, "who can make trouble?" 1. External quietness, as when God interposes in the defence of His people. Here is the Christian's comfort, that no harm can happen to him without God's permission. He is safe beyond the reach of danger. But we cannot be certain at any time that it is God's pleasure wholly to deliver us. He may let the evil come. He may keep us in suspense. 2. There is another way. God may supply us with inward peace — such peace as shall set us free from anxious fears as to trials that may be coming upon us, or shall hear us up, and sustain us, in the midst of trials which have come. Often the trials which we dread do not come; and often, when they do come, they prove less than we had imagined. God gives quietness in such cases by enabling us to look up to Him as our Father, our reconciled Father, in Christ Jesus, and so to feel assured that we are the objects of His fatherly care. II. THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLESSED PEACE — GOD. We are perfectly secure from all molestation, and all danger, because He that keepeth us is the eternal, unchangeable, almighty, ever-present God. III. IN WHAT WAY IS THIS QUIETNESS TO BE ATTAINED? 1. The first step towards it is to make sure that we are in a state of reconciliation with God; and this is to be attained by earnestly and heartily returning to Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. The second step is to live closely to God — to walk before Him in all holy obedience, serving Him faithfully, unreservedly, diligently. We may rest assured that real, solid, well-grounded peace is to be enjoyed by none but those who do thus serve Him. 3. We must learn to cast all our care on God in the full assurance that He careth for us. We must look off from ourselves. We must walk by faith, not by sight. 4. We should acquire the habit of carrying our cares, and anxieties, and sorrows to God, and spreading them before Him in prayer. It is true that He knows them all without our telling Him; but He would have us tell Him notwithstanding. Prayer is His own appointed ordinance. (C. A. Heurtley, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: WEB: When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,