October 23

The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed he the name of the Lord. - Job 1:21.

IN all Job’s trials and under his most painful bereavements, privations, and losses, it is said that he “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly,” but blessed the Lord for having “taken away,” as well as for what he “gave.” And so we may and should be thankful for our bitter mercies as well at our sweet mercies. But we have been reproached and persecuted; we have had a succession of losses and bereavements.

What! are we to bless God for them? Why not? If “all the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth,” why not these, for they are “a part of his ways?” If “all things work together for good to them that love God,” why should not these? “Shall we,” says Job, “receive good at the hands of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?” Not that we are required to bless God for these things themselves. The things may be considered in themselves as evils; and we are not allowed to make any evil thing the object of our desire or of our praise. But we may and we should be thankful for the principle by which these are sent to us; the covenant love of God in Christ. “Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” We should therefore be thankful for the love which sends them and attends them, and for the end which they are designed to accomplish; for;” these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

When a child comes of age, he feels thankful for many restraints and corrections which he thought hardly of during his minority. So will it be with tried Christians. “When Messias cometh he will show us all things.” In his light we shall see light, and be able to discern that “he hath done all things well,” that “God is a rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are done in judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Even before they reach Immanuel’s land, or walk the golden streets, they shall see enough in God’s dealings with them to produce acquiescence and submission, and to answer Job’s inquiry, “Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.” But then they will see more fully what evil it has prevented, and what good it has been the means of procuring. And not only do they see enough even here to produce this submission, but to call forth their gratitude and praise. And how many have been able to say,

“’Tis my happiness below

Not to live without the cross,

But the Saviour’s power to know,

Sanctifying every loss.

Trials must and will befal,

But with humble faith to see

Love inscribed upon them all,

This is happiness to me.”