A STUDY FROM THE BOOK OF JOB JOB 10:8 10:8 - “Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.” In these verses we may observe how Job eyes God as his Creator and preserver, and describes his dependence upon him as the author and upholder of his being. This is one of the first things we are all concerned to know and consider. God made us, he, and not our parents, who were only the instruments of his power and providence in our production. He made us, and not we ourselves. His hands have made and fashioned these bodies of ours and every part of them, and they are fearfully and wonderfully made. The soul also, which animates the body, is his gift. Job takes notice of both here. The body is made as the clay - 10:9, cast into shape, into this shape, as the clay is formed into a vessel, according to the skill and will of the potter. We are earthen vessels, mean in our original, and soon broken in pieces, made as the clay. Let not therefore the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? We must not be proud of our bodies, because the matter is from the earth, yet not dishonor our bodies, because the mold and shape are from the divine wisdom. The formation of human bodies in the womb is described by an elegant similitude - 10:10, Thou hast poured me out like milk, which is coagulated into cheese), and by an induction of some particulars - 10:11. Though we come into the world naked, yet the body is itself both clothed and armed. The skin and flesh are its clothing; the bones and sinews are its armor, not offensive, but defensive. The vital parts, the heart and lungs, are thus clothed, not to be seen - thus fenced, not to be hurt. The admirable structure of human bodies is an illustrious instance of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator. What a pity is it that these bodies should be instruments of unrighteousness which are capable of being temples of the Holy Ghost! The soul is the life, the soul is the man, and this is the gift of God: Thou hast granted me life, breathed into me the breath of life, without which the body would be but a worthless carcass. God is the Father of spirits: he made us living souls, and endued us with the power of reason; he gave us life and favor, and life is a favor - a great favor, more than meat, more than raiment - a distinguishing favor, a favor that puts us into a capacity of receiving other favors. Now Job was in a better mind than he was when he quarreled with life as a burden, and asked, Why died I not from the womb? Or by life and favor may be meant life and all the comforts of life, referring to his former prosperity. Time was when he walked in the light of the divine favor, and thought, as David, that through that favor his mountain stood strong. God maintains us. Having lighted the lamp of life, he does not leave it to burn upon its own stock, but continually supplies it with fresh oil: “Thy visitation has preserved my spirit, kept me alive, protected me from the adversaries of life, the death we are in the midst of and the dangers we are continually exposed to, and blessed me with all the necessary supports of life and the daily supplies it needs and craves.”
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 03:04:43 +0000
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