what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent. Sermons
I. THAT THE WORK OF THE WICKED IS FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD. First there is the negative side of the truth. Bad people do not enjoy the fruits of their own misdeeds. They may heap up riches, but they are not able to keep possession of them; for even if they meet with no reverse of fortune, they must forsake all when they die. But now we are carried a step further. What becomes of the forsaken wealth? Job says that it falls into the hands of the just, who put on the raiment which the wicked have prepared. This does not always happen in the direct manner that Job's words indicate, though sometimes his statement is literally verified. But in indirect ways it has a much wider application. "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). The earth helps the woman (Revelation 12:16). The meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Nebuchadnezzar fought for his own advantage only. Yet he was used as God's servant (Jeremiah 25:9), and his achievements were turned to the real advantage of the devout remnant of Israel. Persecution has spread the gospel, as when the Church was scattered at the death of Stephen, and so became missionary. Thus "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Modern wars have opened up countries to the gospel of Christ - not wars of the cross in the interests of Christianity, but selfish, wicked wars, the leaders of which had no good end in view. So it may be that all sin and Satanic evil will be utilized, like offensive manure out of which spring beautiful and fragrant flowers. II. HOW THE WORK OF THE WICKED COMES TO BE FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD. This thing is not aimed at by the wicked, nor do they imagine that it will come about. How, then, is it produced? 1. By the overruling providence of God. God governs even through the wicked deeds of bad men. He "shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will." "Man proposes, and God disposes." We are not like pawns on the chess-board, because we have free-will. But God is infinitely greater than a skilful chess-player. He does more than manipulate inert things. He works among the wild and wayward wills of men, and so acts that they result in accomplishing his great purposes. Thus God employs unconscious agents and brings good out of evil. 2. Through human fitness. The good must be fit to profit by God's providential use of the work of the wicked. That work tends to their advantage just in proportion as they are capable of being benefited. (1) Moral fitness. This is a condition of the special favour that is indicated by the providential action. God will give as a favour what, indeed, is not earned, but what is in a measure the reward of fidelity. (2) Personal fitness. We can only receive real good in proportion to our capacity for it. There are men who cannot take God's blessings, simply because they have no susceptibility for them. Now, the real good even of property is not in the thing itself, but in the right use of it. God will make things a blessing to those who are in the condition to use them well. - W.F.A.
Though he heap up silver as the dust. Homilist. I. THE WICKED HOARDING THEIR WEALTH. They "heap up silver as the dust." As a rule, this is the grand work of wicked men on the earth. On it they concentrate all their energies; to it they devote all their time.II. THE HOARDED WEALTH OF THE WICKED COMING INTO THE HANDS OF THE GOOD. "The just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver." 1. This is partially taking place now every day. Wicked worldlings die, and the righteous get possession of their wealth. 2. This will be the case universally, one day. All the wealth amassed by wicked men shall fall into the hands of the Christly. If the wicked man is blessed with children, punishment may come from that quarter. The sword and famine may deprive him of them; and so desolate will he become that all his sorrowing friends shall be buried. If wicked men are blessed with great riches, their wealth shall fall into the hands of the good. "He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on." That if the wicked man is blessed with houses they will not stand. (Homilist.) People JobPlaces UzTopics Apportion, Divide, Free, Heritage, Innocent, Pile, Prepare, Prepareth, Putteth, Ready, Righteous, Silver, Sin, Upright, WearOutline 1. Job protests his sincerity8. The hypocrite is without hope 11. The blessings which the wicked have are turned into curses Dictionary of Bible Themes Job 27:16-17 5476 property 8761 fools, in teaching of Christ Library The Touchstone of Godly SincerityWho, then, is this "wicked man," thus portrayed before us? And what are the first symptoms of his depravity? We ask not the question idly, but in order that we take heed against the uprise of such an evil in ourselves. "Beneath the saintly veil the votary of sin May lurk unseen; and to that eye alone Which penetrates the heart, may stand revealed." The hypocrite is very often an exceedingly neat imitation of the Christian. To the common observer he is so good a counterfeit that he entirely escapes … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871 Whether Hypocrisy is Contrary to the virtue of Truth? On the Interior Man Wesley in St. Albans Abbey The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted. God's Sovereignty and Prayer Job Links Job 27:17 NIVJob 27:17 NLT Job 27:17 ESV Job 27:17 NASB Job 27:17 KJV Job 27:17 Bible Apps Job 27:17 Parallel Job 27:17 Biblia Paralela Job 27:17 Chinese Bible Job 27:17 French Bible Job 27:17 German Bible Job 27:17 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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