Seeking unto God. I. WHAT IT PRESUPPOSES . 1 . Belief in the existence of God ( Hebrews 11:6 ). 2 . Consciousness of need ( James 1:5 ). 3 . Desire for Divine assistance ( Psalms 63:1 ). II. WHAT IT IMPLIES . 1 . A realization of God's nearness to the soul ( Psalms 145:18 ). 2 . A solicitation of God's help for the soul ( Matthew 7:7 ; Hebrews 4:16 ). 3 . An acceptation of God's provisions for the soul ( Matthew 5:6 ). III. WHAT IT... read more
Eliphaz to Job: 4. The saint's confidence in God. I. THE SAINT 'S CHARACTER DESCRIBED . 1 . Negatively. By way of contrast to the ungodly, who are depicted as 2 . Positively. Exhibiting them as II. THE SAINT 'S GOD EXTOLLED . 1 . As a God of power. 2 . As a God of benevolence. Operating: (a) confounding the crafty,—exploding their schemes, neutralizing their actions, outwitting their cunning, precipitating their purposes, so causing their... read more
God the true Refuge in affliction. "I would seek unto God." Wisely did Eliphaz urge his friend to seek refuge in the only true and safe resort. "Under his feathers shalt thou trust." In the midst of all sorrows— "God is the Refuge of his saints, When storms of sharp distress invade; Ere we can offer our complaints, Behold him present with his aid." To seek this Refuge men are encouraged by— I. THE GREATNESS OF THE DIVINE POWER . He "doeth great things and... read more
Seeking unto God. As usual, the advice of Eliphaz is excellent in the abstract. The error is in the particular way of applying it to Job. Here is the sting of it. But its general truth is always instructive. This is certainly the case with the recommendation to "seek unto God." I. INQUIRE WHAT IT IS TO SEEK UNTO GOD . 1 . It begins with remoteness from God. We have lost God if we have to seek him, as we need not think of finding what we already possess and enjoy.... read more
Refuge from trouble in the thought of God. Conclusion of Eliphaz's address. His language suddenly changes into a gentler strain. It is like the clearing of a dark sky, revealing once more the deep blue; or the bend of a stream which has been flowing through a stern gorge, now broadening out into a sunlit lake. I. THE GREATNESS AND BENEFICENCE OF GOD . ( Job 5:8-16 .) Let men turn to him for comfort and for strength. It is a bright gem of description. 1 . God is the... read more
Which doeth great things and unsearchable . These are reasons why Job should "seek unto God." "Great things are those which he has done." There is none like unto him. His ways are "unsearchable;'' no one may think fully to search them and seek them out (comp. Job 9:10 ; Job 37:5 ; Psalms 145:3 : Romans 11:33 ). It may be that, if Job will appeal to him, a result will follow that at present seems impossible. For he doeth marvellous things without number (comp. Psalms 40:5 ; Psalms... read more
The great works of God. I. THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE . A signal display of Divine power and wisdom. II. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD . A striking evidence of the Divine omniscience and omnipresence. III. THE REDEMPTION OF THE RACE . A sublime revelation of Divine grace and compassion. read more
Who giveth rain upon the earth . To the dweller in the parched regions of South-Western Asia rain is the greatest of all blessings, and seems the greatest, of all marvels. When for months and months together the sun has blazed all day long out of a cloudless sky, when the heaven that is over his head has been brass, and the earth that is under him iron ( Deuteronomy 28:33 ), a great despair comes upon him, and that it should ever rain again seems almost an impossibility. Where is the rain... read more
Rain. I. GOD 'S CREATURE . 1 . Made by God ( Job 28:26 ; Job 38:28 ; Jeremiah 14:22 ). 2 . Sent by God ( Psalms 65:10 ; Psalms 68:9 ; Jeremiah 5:24 ). 3 . Withheld by God ( 1 Kings 17:1 ; Amos 4:7 ; Zechariah 14:17 ). II. EARTH 'S SERVANT . 1 . Cleansing the atmosphere. 2 . Fertilizing the soil. 3 . Filling the riverses 4 Moderating the heat, III. MAN 'S TEACHER . 1 . A symbol of truth ( Deuteronomy 32:2 ; Isaiah 4:1-6 ... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Job 5:8
I would seek unto God ; rather, as in the Revised Version; but as for me , I would seek ' etc.; i.e. if the case were mine, if I were afflicted as thou art, I would not betake myself to any of the angels (see Job 5:1 ), but would cast myself wholly upon God. It is necessarily implied that Job had not done so. And unto God would I commit my cause (comp. Psalms 37:5 ; Proverbs 16:3 ). read more