Job's Prayer

BY C. CALTHROP, A RECENT ENGLISH ILLUSTRATOR.

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"And my servant Job shall pray for you."—Job, 42, 8.

WITH Job's submission ends the poetical portion

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of the book of Job. The poem has however a brief prose epilogue or appendix. In this the Lord speaks to the three friends of Job, or rather He addresses Eliphaz as leader of the three, declaring that His wrath is kindled against them "for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." The meaning is apparently, that Job had at least been honest, though at times mistaken; while they had denied obstinately the thing they knew, the goodness of Job's life. Elihu is neither condemned nor praised; he had spoken well, but only according to the dictates of mere human wisdom.

The Lord then bids the three friends prepare a sacrifice, "seven bullocks and seven rams," and go therewith to Job that he may offer the sacrifice for them and pray for them; "for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly." The command is obeyed, and Job makes prayer for his friends' pardon.

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends." His sufferings were removed from off his mind and body.

PSALM CXXX- -OUT OF THE DEPTHS

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7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor hẹ that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Psalm 130

1 The psalmist professeth his hope in prayer, 5 and his patience in hope. 7He exhorteth Israel to hope in God. A Song of degrees.

UT of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

mercy,

ORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Psalm 132

1 David in his prayer commendeth unto God the religious care he had for the ark. 8 His prayer at the removing of the ark, 11 with a repetition of God's promises.

A Song of degrees.

ORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:

2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;

3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;

4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.