51 “Call now; is there any who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 For resentment kills the foolish man,
and jealousy kills the simple. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root,
but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety.
They are crushed in the gate.
Neither is there any to deliver them, 5 whose harvest the hungry eats up,
and take it even out of the thorns.
The snare gapes for their substance.
6 For affliction doesn’t come forth from the dust,
neither does trouble spring out of the ground; 7 but man is born to trouble,
as the sparks fly upward. 8 “But as for me, I would seek God.
I would commit my cause to God, 9 who does great things that can’t be fathomed,
marvelous things without number; 10 who gives rain on the earth,
and sends waters on the fields; 11 so that he sets up on high those who are low,
those who mourn are exalted to safety. 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise. 13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness;
the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the day time,
and grope at noonday as in the night. 15 But he saves from the sword of their mouth,
even the needy from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor has hope,
and injustice shuts her mouth.
17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects.
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For he wounds, and binds up.
He injures, and his hands make whole. 19 He will deliver you in six troubles;
yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you. 20 In famine he will redeem you from death;
in war, from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth. 23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field.
The animals of the field shall be at peace with you. 24 You shall know that your tent is in peace.
You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing. 25 You shall know also that your seed shall be great,
Your offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 You shall come to your grave in a full age,
like a shock of grain comes in its season. 27 Look this, we have searched it, so it is.
Hear it, and know it for your good.”
61 Then Job answered, 2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas,
therefore have my words been rash. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me.
My spirit drinks up their poison.
The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. 5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or does the ox low over his fodder? 6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 My soul refuses to touch them.
They are as loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh that I might have my request,
that God would grant the thing that I long for, 9 even that it would please God to crush me;
that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Be it still my consolation,
yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare,
that I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
What is my end, that I should be patient? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh of brass? 13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me,
That wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend;
even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook,
as the channel of brooks that pass away; 16 Which are black by reason of the ice,
in which the snow hides itself. 17 In the dry season, they vanish.
When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside.
They go up into the waste, and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema looked.
The companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were distressed because they were confident.
They came there, and were confounded. 21 For now you are nothing.
You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, ‘Give to me?’
or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’ 23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’
or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’ 24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace.
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forcible are words of uprightness!
But your reproof, what does it reprove? 26 Do you intend to reprove words,
seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind? 27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless,
and make merchandise of your friend. 28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me,
for surely I shall not lie to your face. 29 Please return.
Let there be no injustice.
Yes, return again.
My cause is righteous. 30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
71 “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth?
Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand? 2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow,
as a hireling who looks for his wages, 3 so am I made to possess months of misery,
wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise, and the night be gone?’
I toss and turn until the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust.
My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
and are spent without hope.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath.
My eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more.
Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away,
so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house,
neither shall his place know him any more. 11 “Therefore I will not keep silent.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit.
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster,
that you put a guard over me? 13 When I say, ‘My bed shall comfort me.
My couch shall ease my complaint;’ 14 then you scare me with dreams,
and terrify me through visions: 15 so that my soul chooses strangling,
death rather than my bones. 16 I loathe my life.
I don’t want to live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him,
that you should set your mind on him, 18 that you should visit him every morning,
and test him every moment? 19 How long will you not look away from me,
nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? 20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men?
Why have you set me as a mark for you,
so that I am a burden to myself? 21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity?
For now shall I lie down in the dust.
You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.”
81 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” 11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” 25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.
(Read Acts 8:1-4)
Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.
(Read Acts 8:5-13)
As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged, particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul are such. Distempers are here named, the most difficult to be cured by the course of nature, and most expressive of the disease of sin. Pride, ambition, and desire after grandeur have always caused abundance of mischief, both to the world and to the church. The people said of Simon, This man is the great power of God. See how ignorant and thoughtless people mistake. But how strong is the power of Divine grace, by which they were brought to Christ, who is Truth itself! The people not only gave heed to what Philip said, but were fully convinced that it was of God, and not of men, and gave up themselves to be directed thereby. Even bad men, and those whose hearts still go after covetousness, may come before God as his people come, and for a time continue with them. And many wonder at the proofs of Divine truths, who never experience their power. The gospel preached may have a common operation upon a soul, where it never produced inward holiness. All are not savingly converted who profess to believe the gospel.
(Read Acts 8:14-25)
The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we should use our best endeavours to instruct those for whom we pray. Simon Magus was ambitious to have the honour of an apostle, but cared not at all to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was more desirous to gain honour to himself, than to do good to others. Peter shows him his crime. He esteemed the wealth of this world, as if it would answer for things relating to the other life, and would purchase the pardon of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. This was such a condemning error as could by no means consist with a state of grace. Our hearts are what they are in the sight of God, who cannot be deceived. And if they are not right in his sight, our religion is vain, and will stand us in no stead. A proud and covetous heart cannot be right with God. It is possible for a man to continue under the power of sin, yet to put on a form of godliness. When tempted with money to do evil, see what a perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere. Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God.
