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God spoke again to Job out of the
whirlwind, that He might make him feel still more his own sinfulness and
folly, in trying to justify himself before God. And then, the Lord
told Job of other wonderful works of His. He described two great
animals, Behemoth and Leviathan, which were so strong and powerful, that
even mighty men were afraid of contending with them. How much
greater then, must He be who made them, and how vain and foolish to resist
His will! Then Job answered
the Lord, and said, "I know that thou canst do everything. I
have uttered what I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I
knew not. Wherefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes." And did God forgive Job? Yes; as soon as Job was
humble and penitent, God pardoned, and accepted, and blessed him. Afterwards,
the Lord spoke to Eliphaz, and said, "My wrath is kindled against
thee and thy two friends; because ye have not spoken of me that which is
right, as my servant Job has." And God commanded them to offer
sacrifice for their sin, and to ask Job to pray for them; and they did so,
and the Lord accepted Job. Did
Job still remain in sorrow and affliction? No;—"the Lord
turned his captivity." He took away his painful disease, and
made him well and strong again. He sent all his friends to comfort
him, and to give him presents; and the Lord himself gave Job twice as much
as he had before:—sheep, and oxen, and camels, and asses; and he had
also seven sons, and three daughters. Job lived in comfort and
prosperity for many years after, having the blessing of God to make him
happy; and at last he died, "old and full of days." And
now what are we to learn from the history of Job? One thing we may
learn from him is patience. St. James says, "We count them
happy that endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have
seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender
mercy." James 5:11. And this teaches us also, the
use and benefit of affliction to God's people. "God does not
afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." Lamentations
3:33. He afflicts in mercy. He would not have allowed Job to
be so tried and troubled but for Job's own good and profit. And we
are to learn, too, from Job, not to justify ourselves before God.
Job's afflictions were sent to teach him this. We should remember
how sinful we all are, and how often we offend God; and then when trouble
comes, instead of justifying ourselves, we shall confess, that "God
has punished us less than our iniquities deserve." Ezekiel
9:13. And the history teaches us another thing;—how to obtain
pardon. When Job and his friends sinned, they were to repent; to
humble themselves before God, to pray to Him, and to offer a sacrifice in
faith; and when they did so, they were forgiven and accepted. And
so, when we sin, we must repent, and pray for pardon too.
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