The Iniquities of Youth Repossessed
Job 13:26
For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.


I. EXPLAIN THE LANGUAGE OF THE TEXT.

1. "Thou writest bitter things against me." This refers either to the record which God keeps of our offences, or to the punishments which He has decreed against us. Men cannot bear to be reminded of their sins. God keeps a record. There is an avowed and express purpose for which our sins are written down. With every sin God writes a curse.

2. "Thou makest me to possess the inequities of my youth." The conscience of the sinner himself is also made the depository of his manifold offences. It is an unspeakable mercy, if, by any means, God makes us to possess or remember the iniquities of our youth. But the manner in which He does this is often most painful and distressing. He sends affliction upon men in such ways that they are often compelled to see the very sin which they have committed in the temporal chastisement which they suffer. Some sins are brought to our recollection —

1. By bodily diseases.

2. By the ruin of our worldly circumstances.

3. By our feeling the influence of bad habits.

4. By trouble of conscience and a restless mind.

II. APPLY THE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS CHARACTERS.

1. Awaken those who are secure and asleep in a careless and irreligious life.

2. Affectionately warn young people against the temptations to which they are exposed.

3. Speak words of comfort to the humble-minded.

(J. Jowett, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

WEB: For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:




The Influence of Youthful Sin
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