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Two chapters in the hook of human life are hard to understand — the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous. The Book of Job is a luminous commentary on both. Carefully studied, these verses furnish a chain of reason which will make clear to reverent minds the source and meaning of earthly affliction.

I. THE LORD JEHOVAH IS A SOVEREIGN (ver. 13). "He giveth not account of any of His matters." It is from this point that the problem of human evil in all its forms must begin to be solved. And if our inquiries should end where they begin, with the absolute sovereignty of God, there would be no just ground of complaint. God has all power and right in His own universe. He is not bound to justify any single act of His to human reason. The first treatment of all affliction, is to give it welcome. It is the uttered will of God. It is to be taken without any reason, not because there is none, but because we have no right to be shown it. But while God is a sovereign, and does His pleasure, it is not His pleasure to afflict men willingly nor hastily, for —

II. HE SPEAKS AGAIN AND AGAIN BEFORE HE STRIKES (vers. 14-18). These verses are a picture of the patience of God in His dealings with men. He will exhaust every form of warning and every tone of voice. When men in their waking hours are dull to the voices of God, then He invades their sleep.

III. SUFFERING UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD IS OFTEN ADDED TO INSTRUCTION AND ENTREATY (vers. 19-22). The discipline of suffering is not confined to any one part of man's nature. It ranges freely through body, mind, and spirit. It appears in disordered nerves; in the failure of natural desires; or the very sources of health become choked and deranged; with many the joy of living is clouded with the shadow of an ever-present death. All this we recognise as the faithful picture of many a human life, and wonder at it. We call it a mystery; but the mystery ceases when we look at these things from the right angle of vision. Suffering under the government of God is a necessity of Divine benevolence. It is the last device of love. We have to learn that this world is not our real home. Nothing but suffering, in most lives, can work this healthful conviction. It is among the first laws of a successful life that the kingdom of Christ and its righteousness must stand before the kingdom of self and its pride. How do men learn this? The great mass of men are made perfect in this wisdom by means of suffering. They must be bitterly disappointed in their struggle after the lower things before they learn to put the first last and the last first. Failure is the keen knife that pierces their pride.

IV. EARTHLY AFFLICTIONS CEASE WHEN THREE RESULTS ARE ATTAINED. when men understand their purpose (ver. 23). When men turn to God with prayer (ver. 26). And when they repent of their sins (ver. 27). Understanding, prayer, penitence, — look at these conditions of relief for a moment. Affliction can do us no good till we bow to its meaning. The ends of all God's acts are moral ends. As a result of affliction, how natural, as a condition of relief, how indispensable is prayer! The twin grace of prayer is penitence. Neither can survive the other. Neither can exist without the other. These three are the first fruits of sanctified trial. Only the doctrine of Divine providence, ruling the world for moral ends, has ever riven the dark clouds of human suffering, and drawn the blessing of their spring rain upon the hearts of men.

(Sermons by Monday Club.)

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KJV: He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

WEB: He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;