Job 35:14
“Although you say you shall not see him—yet judgment is before him; therefore trust in him.”
In controversy there is need of the utmost fairness; nor can we ever hope for a favorable outcome without fairness. The friends of Job were grievously defective in it; and therefore utterly failed, either to convince him, or to be convinced themselves.
Elihu, who was an attentive auditor of the dispute, and who, on account of his youth, judged it indecorous to offer his opinions until he saw that his elders were silenced, took up the matter with incomparably better temper and judgment, and, instead of bringing railing and unfounded accusations as the others had done, called Job’s attention to many expressions he had used, and endeavored to convince him out of his own mouth. This was wise, and well adapted to the end proposed; and it is observable, that when God reproved the manner in which the other three had conducted the controversy, he said nothing to the disparagement of Elihu, nor required any sacrifice on his account.
It is certain that Job, though far from being a hypocrite, as his friends had represented him, had not always spoken quite advisedly with his lips. His self-justification had been occasionally too strong, and his complaints of God’s conduct towards him had been somewhat irreverent; he had yielded also too much to despondency. He had complained that he could not understand God’s dealings with him, and that he had no hope or prospect of deliverance from his troubles, Job 23:8-9.
This is noticed by Elihu in the words before us; and the proper remedy for such desponding fears is pointed out to him, “Although you say you shall not see him—yet judgment is before him; therefore trust in him.” That is: place in God that confidence he deserves; and all will yet be well.
From the words thus explained, we shall be led to consider,
I. The source of desponding fears.
There is far more of despondency in men than is generally supposed. Perhaps despondency is, as much as any other thing whatever, a ground of their continuing impenitent in their sins.
The ostensible ground of men’s fears is usually a sense of the extreme difficulty of their case.
Thus it was with Israel at the Red Sea, at the waters of Marah, at the borders of Canaan also, when the spies represented the cities as impregnable, and the inhabitants as irresistible. Thus it was even with the pious Hezekiah, when his sickness appeared to be unto death, Isaiah 38:10-13.
And thus it is with multitudes among ourselves, who imagine that their circumstances are so calamitous, as to be beyond the reach of any remedy. More particularly is this the case with people under spiritual trouble—they are apt to imagine that their sins are unpardonable, and that their corruptions are too inveterate ever to be subdued.
The real ground for their despondency, is a low apprehension of the perfections of their God.
This is the interpretation which God himself puts on the unbelieving fears of his people. When Sarah laughed at the promise made to her, the answer was, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” The complaint of God against the unbelieving Israelites was, that “they limited the Holy One of Israel.” In fact, a just view of God’s perfections would silence all fears; for if his wisdom, his power, his love, his faithfulness are really infinite—then we have nothing to do but to repose our confidence in him, and we are safe!
But it is a small thing to know the source of desponding fears, unless we apply,
II. The remedy for desponding fears.
This is prescribed in the words of our text:
1. Contemplate God.
What we are to understand by that expression, “Judgment is before him,” may be ascertained by consulting a similar passage in the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 30:18. He will do nothing but what is right and good; nor will he omit anything which it befits him to do.
Consider what he has done in a way of power and grace; and is he not the same God as ever?
Consider what he has engaged to do: Is there anything that we can need, which is not made over to us by an express promise? Has he not said:
that “his grace shall be sufficient for us;”
that “we shall have no temptation without a way to escape;”
that “as our day is, so shall our strength be;”
that “he will give grace and glory, and withhold no good thing” from his believing people?
“Has he then said these things, and will he not do them? Has he spoken, and will he not make them good?”
Consider, above all, the gift of his only dear Son! If so, then what else will he, or can he, withhold from us? “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32.””You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat! Isaiah 25:4.”
Did we but duly consider his glorious perfections as already exercised for his people, and as specially pledged to be exercised for us—we would never entertain a doubt of his constant and effectual care. “His name would be to us as a strong tower, to which we should run and be safe.”
2. Trust in him.
“Those who know his name will trust in him;” and to trust in him is the certain way to dissipate all fear. See how a confidence in God operated in the case of David, Psalm 46:1-3; Psalm 11:1-4; and the same effect will it produce in us, “if we commit our ways to him, our very thoughts” (which are by nature fluctuating as the wind) “shall be established.”
This, then, is what we must do; we must “cast all our care on Him who cares for us.” It is the very direction which God himself gives to “those who walk in darkness and have no light, Isaiah 50:10;” and if we follow this direction, “God will keep us in perfect peace, Isaiah 26:3;” and we shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but stands fast forever! Psalm 125:1.”
ADDRESS.
1. To those who overlook their difficulties.
This is the habit of men in general; and hence it is that they are so much at their ease. But it is no easy matter to turn to God aright. To repent and to believe in Christ, are works far beyond the ability of man; nor can any man do either the one or the other, but by the influence of the Holy Spirit! Acts 5:31. Philippians 1:29. O let this be duly weighed! Let us remember, that “we cannot even say that Jesus is the Lord,” (that is, we cannot feelingly and believingly say it) “but by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:3;” and let us not delay one hour to seek his effectual aid.
2. To those who unduly magnify their difficulties.
We certainly magnify our difficulties too much, when we deem them insuperable; for “the things that are impossible with man, are possible with God.” See the state of Jonah in the whale’s belly—could any condition be conceived more hopeless? Yet from thence did he cry; and his prayer entered into the ears of the Lord Almighty! Jonah 2:1-7.
Just so, let us “never stagger at the promises of God through unbelief, but be strong in faith, giving glory to God, Romans 4:20.” The greater our difficulties, let our application to him be the more earnest, and our expectations of his gracious interposition be the more enlarged, “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24.”
Charles Simeon