1.
Then Job answered and said,
2.
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3.
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4.
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6.
Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9.
He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11.
God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12.
I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13.
His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16.
My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17.
Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20.
My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21.
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22.
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
OUR LAST JOURNEY
‘When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.’
Job 16:22
I. Let us realise our inevitable journey.
II. Let us contemplate its nearness.
III. Let us consider our non-return from the journey.
IV. Let us inquire whither we are going on our last journey.
Illustration
‘We need not wish to return. What is there here that should either tempt us to stay in this world or induce us to return to it if we could? Still, I could suppose in a future state some reasons for wishing to return. I can suppose we might have it in our hearts, for instance, to wish to undo the mischief which we did in life. If a dying man should receive mercy in his last moments, one might imagine him as desiring to return to earth to tell the glad tidings and beseech his family and friends to seek salvation. Who would not wish for once to plead with his children if he felt that he had neglected his duty to them? A man might wish, even if he were in the unquenchable flame, to come back to earth or to send a messenger, as the rich man did, to tell his brethren, lest they should come into the place of torment. Selfishness might wish to be spared the reproaches of those we helped to ruin. But you cannot come back or send back to undo your ill deeds. Therefore seek to mend matters now. Avoid the doing of evil, and as for that which is already done, confess it before God, and seek to administer the antidote by an earnest and godly life.’