p. 4 | T. E. BOWEN by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1912

T. E. BOWEN

By T. E. Bowen

Job’s Experience—No. 4

T. E. BOWEN

WHEN the words of Job were ended, and these three men ceased to answer him, “because he was righteous in his own eyes,” and after one other young man who had been listening had spoken also, God granted Job’s request. Job had said, in his closing remarks to his three tempters: “Oh that One would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me;” and before, “Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him.” This prayer is now to be answered, only God is coming to him, instead of his going to God’s throne.

Presently a mighty whirlwind passed by Job’s home in the land of Uz. God was in this whirlwind. That God had been listening to all these words, is clear from his first question: “Then the Lord

answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” And that he had come down in answer to Job’s challenge and repeated prayer is evident, for he continues: “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.”

Job is silent. He is startled by this first question. Truly, it is God talking. It is he who laid the foundations of the earth. That it was the Son of God who had come down is very evident; for he it was who had brought into existence all the creation of God; for “without him was not anything made that was made.”

Answer after answer is demanded of Job, each one wholly beyond his power. “Whereupon are the foundations thereof [the earth] fastened [“made to sink,” margin]? or who laid the corner-stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” “Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place? . . . It [the earth] is turned as clay to the seal,” the earth on its axis, no doubt, being here described. “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?”

The Lord then comes to the things in the earth itself, and asks Job about the beasts, the birds, the great leviathan of the deep, the behemoth, every question being so worded as to make Job appear infinitesimally small in his own eyes. He is utterly bewildered, and at a complete loss to know what to think. At last the Lord gives his servant an opportunity to speak. “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveeth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?” Then follow two chapters of further pointed questions.

In this last question God points out Job’s sin. In his contending with these men, in his efforts to convince them that he was righteous, he had unconsciously “condemned” God. Such disannul God’s judgment, God’s decision concerning man. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Rom. 3:10. If Job were righteous of himself, then God’s findings were untrue; and further, he would need no Saviour, as any man who can maintain before God that he is righteous, would be able to save himself.

Self-righteousness—how insidious it is! How hard for the one cherishing it to discover it in himself! Job did not realize that he cherished it. The long array of questions which God propounds to Job gives us an idea of the offensiveness of self-righteousness in a servant of his. Does not this record of Job’s experience contain one of the deep lessons to us upon whom the ends of the world are come? Is not one of the greatest dangers confronting us couched in the same self-confidence, trusting in some kind of works we may have done, as did Job, rather than constantly giving God the glory? “Buy of me gold tried in the fire,” is the counsel of the heavenly Merchantman. “Thou sayest, I am rich.” This was how Job felt and talked until God began to speak.

Once more opportunity is given Job to speak, and he said: “I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I know not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Ah! here is the secret. Man can be filled with himself, and will trust in his own goodness and count upon his own righteousness, unconsciously perhaps, so long as he is contented with hearing of Christ Jesus the Lord; but let him once get a real view of the blessed Son of God, and in an instant all his comeliness turns into corruption. That view still brings forth the “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,” as it did in God’s servant of old.

Job is truly humble now. All his self-sufficiency is gone. His captivity is about to be turned, yet there remains one more test. And in this, even though it is hard to do, Job comes off victorious.

“And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said unto Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept.”

This is a most humiliating requirement for all, not excepting Job. But as these three men come to him, Job humbly prays unto God for them. The record says, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.” God’s heart of pity was touched at the scene of his servant humbly pleading for these men who had so tried him; and when he could pray, God could work; and he did. How is it with us? Are there some in the church for whom we do not care especially to pray? Perhaps our captivity will be turned, too, when we begin to pray for them.

After this Job lived one hundred forty years, had seven sons and three daughters, and a large store of earthly possessions was once more entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father.

Job triumphed when he came to see himself in the light shed about him by the presence of the Son of God. All boasting is excluded at the cross of Christ. No one can glory in his own wisdom, in his own wonderful works, in his own righteousness, before God. Continuing to hide in the cleft of the Rock, continuing to proclaim our own unworthiness and in humility uplifting the perfect One, we are safe, and our victory is assured. We need Christ’s righteousness constantly imputed to us. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

Let us not be satisfied until we see Jesus with the eye of faith now, and a little from this, with Job, we shall see “this same Jesus” coming in the clouds, our glorious Redeemer, whom we shall see, as well as he, for ourselves, and not for another.

Washington, D. C.