IN THIS chapter Job looks back over his former way of life, to those days of his prosperity— “When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil,” which is figurative language, of course. “When His candle shined upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness.” He attributed all his privileges and blessings to God rightly enough, as the One who preserved him and gave him wisdom for his pathway. Nevertheless it is evident that there was pride in what grace had wrought in him. There was a spirit of self-complacency in Job; he felt secure in his prosperity and thought that this state of things would continue.
“Oh that I were in months past,” says Job. It is not a good thing for a child of God to dwell too much on the past, yet how many look back on their conversion to God or some former experience as the brightest thing in their Christian life. Surely we ought never to forget the wonderful grace that picked us up and brought us to Christ, but then there is “this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)). Scripture supposes in a normal Christian life a growing enjoyment of Christ and of the Father’s love, even as the Apostle Peter exhorts us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 3:1818But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18).
Job speaks of how when he sat in the gate, “The young men saw me and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up.” When he spoke even “the princes refrained from talking and the nobles held their peace.” All sought his counsel. Truly he had been a benefactor to the poor and afflicted, the widows and the fatherless. He had borne an admirable character, but then Job admired himself and this is where he failed. How much better had he been occupied with Him who was the Source of all his blessings and made Him alone his boast. “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,” the Lord has told us (Matt. 6:33But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (Matthew 6:3)). If through grace we have been able to do something for the Lord, for others, we ought not to think about it; it is done as unto Him alone.
Job speaks of his former glory, of how his root was spread out by the waters (v. 19), but he did not understand that pride was behind all his glorying in the position his wealth gave him. He did not realize that this pride was hateful to the Lord. He went too far in his glorying, not knowing that in this great affliction the Lord was speaking to him about that very thing.
Psalm 1 tells us of One who was to come and who would be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.” His leaf also should not wither and whatsoever He did would prosper. The coming of the Lord Jesus into this world brought the fulfillment of this. The work He wrought upon the cross was in its season, in the fullness of time (Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). The effect of that work has never faded nor withered. It is still as efficacious as it was when it was wrought upon the cross, and its effects will last throughout eternity. Oh that there were more hearts ready to receive the gospel concerning Him and the counsel of God against themselves (Luke 7:3030But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. (Luke 7:30)), that they might be justified by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
ML-06/26/1960