He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways. Sermons
I. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED IS AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY. Even with the clearer light that now shines on human life it is not possible wholly to divest the mind of the feeling of surprise at the anomalous instances of prospering wickedness and suffering virtue. II. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED A FURTHER EXERCISE TO THE PATIENCE AND FAITH OF THE GODLY. It demands that the eye of faith be turned upwards to God. Events do not explain themselves. Nor are men able to find the Divine purposes revealed by events. More and more must the tried and tempted believer look off from the uncertain event, and place his faith in God alone. That faith is strained, but it grows thereby. III. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED IS NO GUARANTEE OF DEFENCE FROM JUDGMENT. Judgment lingers. It is even hidden. The good Lord of all would fain altogether restrain it. He rejoices in mercy. Wickedness often takes advantage of the withholding of judgment; but in this is no assurance that the judgment which is held back shall not be revealed. IV. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED NEEDS THE SOLUTION OF THE FUTURE. It points to a future judgment when men must give account, and seems to demand it. In that future what is mysterious in history will doubtless be made plain. No work can be fairly estimated until its completion. If it ever please the Lord of all to justify his dealings with men, he will do it in that dread judgment when each shall receive the due reward of his deeds. V. THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED MAY BE A MERCIFUL FORBEARANCE IN THE HOPE OF REPENTANCE. God is kind, and waiteth long for the returning one, in hope that even the goodness of God may lead him to repentance. How often is this abused! but such is the spirit of wrong that it abuses the best of God's gifts, and is indifferent to the kindest of God's dealings. The Book of Job represents the entanglement of human affairs, but it throws light upon it and helps to resolve it. We live in clearer light, but the clearest light of all has yet to shine when we shall see light in his light. For this we must prepare and patiently wait. - R.G.
Yet His eyes are upon thy ways. to call them to account for them. We have here a threefold act of providence about wicked oppressors, whom yet God suffereth to prosper.1. That God's eye is upon them, to mark all their debordings. 2. That after their exaltation for a little while, they are cut off. 3. That yet this is done but in an ordinary way, as befalls all others. As the tops of the ripe ears of corn are cut down and gathered in.Learn — 1. Outward safety is in itself a mercy. Therefore men ought to improve this mercy aright, and should be sensible of their ill-improvement thereof, when they are deprived of it. 2. Safety is from God, and gifted by Him. No man can secure himself without God. 3. God in His long suffering and indulgence may set the wicked in safety for a time, for a snare upon them. 4. It is a plague upon the wicked that they rest and secure in the enjoyment of outward mercies. 5. It is, in particular, a plague upon the wicked, that their outward security and safety quiets all their fears, so that they have no doubt of God's favour, or of their own good estate, so long as they are in such a condition. 6. God does not give safety to wicked men because He approves of them or seeth not their wickedness; but He hath an eye upon them all the while, and particularly notices how they abuse these providences. 7. Albeit the Lord be not still punishing the wicked, yet this is sad, that He is still observing and marking all their ways, to call them to account for them in a day of reckoning. (George Hutcheson.). Dominion and fear are with Him. Homilist. I. MOST EXALTED IDEAS OF GOD. He speaks of Him —1. As the head of all authority. "Dominion and fear are with Him." 2. As the maintainer of all peace. "He maketh peace in His high places." Who maintains the order of the stellar universe? He is peaceful in His own nature, and peaceful in all His operations. 3. As the commander of all forces. "Is there any number of His armies?" What forces there are in the universe, material, mental, moral! 4. As the Fountain of all light. "Upon whom doth not His light arise?" He is the Father of lights. 5. As the perfection of all holiness. "How then can man be justified with God?" In this chapter Bildad gives — II. MOST HUMBLING IDEAS OF MAN. He represents him — 1. As morally degenerate. "How can he be clean that is born of a woman?" 2. As essentially insignificant. He is a "worm." How frail in body! He is crushed before the moth. How frail his intellectual powers! Morally he is "without strength." Conclusion — 1. The glorious light of nature. There is no reason to believe that Bildad had any special revelation from God. 2. The unsatisfactoriness of religious controversy. What has been the effect of all the arguments on Job? Not correction of mistakes, but great irritation and annoyance. (Homilist.) People JobPlaces UzTopics Confidence, Danger, Fear, Feeling, Gives, Giveth, Provides, Rest, Resteth, Safety, Security, Setteth, Support, Supported, Takes, Thereon, Though, Whereon, YetOutline 1. Wickedness often goes unpunished17. There is a secret judgment for the wicked Dictionary of Bible Themes Job 24:23Library Whether the Husband Can on his Own Judgment Put Away his Wife on Account of Fornication?Objection 1: It would seem that the husband can on his own judgment put away his wife on account of fornication. For when sentence has been pronounced by the judge, it is lawful to carry it out without any further judgment. But God, the just Judge, has pronounced this judgment, that a husband may put his wife away on account of fornication. Therefore no further judgment is required for this. Objection 2: Further, it is stated (Mat. 1:19) that Joseph . . . being a just man . . . "was minded to put" … Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether to be Eternal Belongs to God Alone? Whether in Hell the Damned are Tormented by the Sole Punishment of Fire? Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members of the Household? Degrees of Sin The Desire of the Righteous Granted; Job Links Job 24:23 NIVJob 24:23 NLT Job 24:23 ESV Job 24:23 NASB Job 24:23 KJV Job 24:23 Bible Apps Job 24:23 Parallel Job 24:23 Biblia Paralela Job 24:23 Chinese Bible Job 24:23 French Bible Job 24:23 German Bible Job 24:23 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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