Job 34:33 Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I… This was a very proper question to be put to Job, whose danger was, to challenge and arraign the ways of God. But the principle reproved in him is largely diffused among men. Our proneness to oppose our judgments to the Divine determinations sometimes appears. I. WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTENT OF THE DIVINE LAW. We allow His right to govern. God claims to govern the opinions of men; to regulate the will, by a wise adjustment of its degrees of choice to the degrees of moral goodness. II. WITH RESPECT TO RELIGION AS A MATTER OF EXPERIENCE. If it were "according to thy mind," what would be the system of experimental piety set before us? III. WITH REFERENCE TO THE METHOD OF OUR PARDON AS SINNERS. That beings who have so greatly offended should ever stand upon being pardoned in a way prescribed by themselves to their greatly-offended God, though a strange fact, is yet established. And here man claims, proudly and petulantly claims, that it shall be according to his mind. IV. THE PRINCIPLE IS ILLUSTRATED IN ANOTHER, BUT NOT AN UNINSTRUCTIVE MANNER BY THAT TENDENCY THERE IS IN US TO WRESTLE WITH THE APPOINTMENTS OF GOD IN THE CHOICE OF OUR LOT AND PORTION IN LIFE. Here, indeed, we not unfrequently think that it ought to be according to our mind: and we as often find ourselves very painfully crossed in our endeavours to make it so. V. THIS PRINCIPLE IS APT TO SHOW ITSELF, EVEN IN GOOD MEN, IN WHAT WE MAY CALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR EXPERIENCE. Far better take religion as described in the Scriptures. To take our providential lot, and extract good from it. And to leave the process of our recovery from sin to holiness in the hands of God. (R. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. |
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