Homilist Job 8:20-22 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:… I. THE REAL CONDITION OF THE GOOD. By the real condition we mean the relation of the soul, not to the circumstantials and temporalities of existence. 1. It is a condition in which they will never be deserted of the eternal. "God will not cast away a perfect man." Whatever may be the alternations in the life of the good, whoever may shun and reject them, the Great One will never forsake them. All men, said Paul, forsook me; notwithstanding, the Lord stood by me. 2. It is a condition in which God will inspire them with happiness. "Till He fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing." He not only never deserts them, but He always blesses them. He "fills them with joy and peace in believing." Although Bildad did not regard Job as a good man, but on the contrary considered him to be a great sinner and a great hypocrite, he here assures him that if he were good, his Maker would never desert him, but always be with him to inspire him with joy. Goodness is blessedness. II. THY REAL CONDITION OF THE WICKED. What is the true moral state of the ungodly? It is here given negatively and positively. 1. The negative form. Neither will He help the evildoers. They need help; they are involved in difficulties and exposed to dangers. But He will not help them. 2. The positive form. "They that hate Thee shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought." The wicked here even hated the godly, but the time comes when they shall be abashed and confounded on account of their enmity. They have frequently here grand "dwelling places," mansions, and palaces as their homes, but all are temporary. They shall come to nought. (Homilist.). Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:WEB: "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers. |
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