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The very life of religion is communion with God. Everything short of this is mere formality or superstition. Observe —

I. JOB'S DIGNIFIED APPEAL TO THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. Charged with being disingenuous and deceitful, Job meekly but firmly refers to Him who "tries the heart and the reins." "He knoweth the way that I take." This expression implies —

1. Consciousness of integrity. The way he took was the way of truth, in opposition to error, deceit, and falsehood; the way of holiness, in opposition to sin; the way of faith, in opposition to self-dependence.

2. A persuasion of Divine superintendency. "He knoweth." Job speaks of it as a fixed and settled principle in the Divine economy, that He knows, because He superintends, all the ways of His people.

3. Entire satisfaction with the Divine judgment. In the estimate which men form of our character, they may be misled by ignorance, or warped by prejudice. But with Him this is impossible.

II. JOB'S ENLIGHTENED VIEW OF THE DIVINE CONDUCT. "When He hath tried me." This refers either to that scrutiny which he so much desired, or to the affliction with which he was so painfully exercised. Apply this trial —

1. To your faith. So the apostle applies it. To believe that God designs mercy while He inflicts punishment, and to rest satisfied that He will fulfil His covenant, when He seems to be annulling it, is indeed a trial of faith.

2. To your love. That this should be strong and glowing, when your peace is undisturbed, is not surprising. The more painful and protracted the affliction, the more strong and decided the trial.

3. To your resignation. For the exercise of this feeling, affliction is absolutely necessary. It implies a state of things opposed to our wishes. Resignation is the yielding of a will subordinated to the will of God.

4. To the grace of patience. Patience waits for deliverance, and refers the time, the manner, and the degree, to Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. For patience the name of Job has become proverbial.

III. JOB'S CHEERFUL EXPECTATION OF THE DIVINE GOODNESS. "I shall come forth as gold" proved, purified, and declared. Learn, from this subject —

1. The special design of all the diversified afflictions with which the people of God are exercised. Is it not a design of which you must cordially approve?

2. Your special duty in affliction. To commit your way, and, in the exercise of faith and resignation and patience, to refer your cause to Him.

3. What should be your special concern if delivered from affliction? To ascertain if the result correspond with the design.

(Essex Remembrancer.)

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KJV: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

WEB: But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.