“When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?” Job 34:29.
The Lord is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He superintends all its affairs. He does so personally and directly. He deals with nations and He deals with men. Indeed, the smallest creature is individually attended to be Him no matter how small or inconsiderate. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father,” Matthew 10:29.
Elihu continues his remonstrance with Job. He chides him for quarrelling with God about His dealing with him as he did. God was just and holy in all His ways.
How wrong it was of Councillor Bertie Kerr to say that it was unfair that Mr. Peter Wilson was killed in a car crash. I must rebuke Mr. Kerr for his rash and foolish words. The matter was sad and tragic for Mr. Wilson’s wife and family but we blaspheme when we charge the Almighty with injustice.
God is all-knowing, verse 21-22. He sees what we cannot. He knows what we cannot. We are in no position therefore to challenge His actions. Rather we are to submit to His providences at all times.
God is almighty. He is irresistible in His power. None can withstand His hand. This is but another evidence of the justice and holiness of God. None are beyond His jurisdiction and power.
His power is seen in our text.
I. THOSE TO WHOM GOD GIVES QUIETNESS NONE CAN TROUBLE
This is a quietness that only God can give.
1. There is a quietness that the world enjoys. It is a vain and false thing. It is a false gold that will be exposed as such in the light of God. “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace, Luke 11:21. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked,” Isaiah 57:21.
2. Quietness is the very essence of the Gospel’s blessing. Isa 14:4-7. This is the rest that the earth shall enjoy after Christ returns.
The blood bestows quiet upon the conscience, Hebrews 10:22.
The Holy Spirit bestows quietness upon the soul, Rom 5:5.
The Word of God bestows quietness to our minds, Acts 10:36.
3. It is a quietness that extends to all matters of life. Job 5:19-24.
4. It is a quietness that will be maintained in the most trying of circumstances. God does not say that our quietness will not come under attack, II Tim 3:12, I Pet 5:8. Rather, He says that nothing or no one shall succeed in destroying it. Rom 8:31, II Cor 12:9-10. Thus we may share in Christ’s confidence, Isaiah 50:7-9.
II. THOSE FROM WHOM GOD HIDES HIMSELF CAN NEVER BE COMFORTED
There is a reverse side to this truth.
1. As the revealing of God’s face is the greatest of all blessings, so the hiding of His face is the greatest of all woes. What a dreadful thing it is for God’s face to be hidden. The saints dread it, Ps 13:1, 30:7, 102:1-11. How the Saviour complained of it, Matt 27:46.
2. There is no source of comfort that can compensate for the hiding of God’s face. Job 12:14.
3. Sin is the cause of God hiding His face. Ps 17:15, Rev 22:4.
4. Sinners stand in immediate danger of this happening. Sinner, you may be insensible of the offensiveness of your sin at this moment and of the consequences of God hiding His face, but one day you shall know if you continue in your present ways. “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile,”Romans 2:8-9.
There is no hope of comfort for those from whom God hides His face. Judas — “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself,” Matthew 27:3-5.
Esau— “Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears,”Hebrews 12:16-17.
None can comfort the sinner then, not even those who all their days sought to offer comfort and quietness through the gospel.
“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented,” Luke 16:24-25.