A Ribband of Blue | Page 9

conditions. They neither can, nor desire to, avoid
the counsel, the society, or the ways of their own fellows; and they lack
that spiritual insight which is essential to delighting in GOD'S Word.

Instead of being full of life, like the tender grain, they become hard and
dry; and the same sun that ripens the one prepares the other for
destruction. Instead of being "planted," the wind drives them away; and
He who delights in the way of His people, causes the way of the
ungodly to perish.

Blessed Adversity.
INTRODUCTORY.
In our meditations on the first Psalm we have dwelt on "Blessed
Prosperity." But all GOD'S dealings are full of blessing: He is good,
and doeth good, good only, and continually. The believer who has
taken the LORD as his SHEPERD, can assuredly say in the words of
the twenty-third Psalm, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for
ever;" or, taking the marginal reading of the Revised Version, "Only
goodness and mercy shall follow me." Hence, we may be sure that days
of adversity are still days of prosperity aso, and are full of blessing.
The believer does not need to wait until he sees the reason of GOD'S
afflictive dealings with him ere he is satisfied; he knows that all things
work together for good to them that love GOD; that all GOD'S dealings
are those of a loving FATHER, who only permits that which for the
time being is grievous, in order the accomplish results that cannot be
achieved in any less painful way. The wise and trustful child of GOD
rejoices in tribulation, "knowing that tribulation worketh patience,"
experience, hope--a hope that "maketh not ashamed; because the love
of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is
given unto us."
The history of Job is full of instruction, and should teach us many
lessons of deep interest and great profit. The veil is taken away from
the unseen world, and we learn much of the power of our great
adversary; but also of his powerlessness apart from the permission of
GOD our FATHER.

GOD'S TESTIMONY AND CHALLENGE. "The LORD gave, and the
LORD hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD."--Job i.21.
In the 8th verse of the 1st chapter, GOD Himself bears testimony to His
servant: "that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an
upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil; and in the 2nd
chapter and 3rd verse, He repeats the same testimony, adding: "still he
holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst Me against him, to
destroy him without cause." Stronger testimony to the life which
GOD'S grace enabled Job to live can scarcely be imagined. The
chastisement that came upon him is declared to have been without
cause so far as his life and spirit were concerned. Let us thank GOD
that the same grace which enabled Job, so long ago, to live a life that
pleased GOD and received His repeated commendation, is unchanged;
and that by it we may also live lives that will be well-pleasing to Him
with whom we have to do.
Satan would very frequently harass the believer in times of sorrow and
trial by leading him to think that GOD is angry with him--that this is a
punishment for some unknown offence, and many of the comforts and
consolations that might otherwise be enjoyed may thus be clouded. Do
we not rather see from the Word of GOD that He is like a glad father,
delighting to be able to encourage a strong healthy son to undertake
some athletic feat which will entail arduous effort and careful training,
or to stimulate him to prepare for a difficult literary examination by a
prolonged and toilsome course of study, knowing he will obtain
honours and permanent advantage from his attainments? So, our
HEAVENLY FATHER delights to trust a trustworthy child with a trial
in which he can bring great glory to GOD, and through which he will
receive permanent enlargement of heart, and blessing for himself and
others.
Take the case of Abraham: GOD so thoroughly trust him, that He was
not afraid to call upon His servant to offer up his well-beloved son.
And here, in the case of Job, it was not Satan who challenged GOD
about Job, but GOD who challenged the arch-enemy, the accuser of the
brethren, to find any flaw in his character, or failure in his life. In each

case grace triumphed, and in each case patience and fidelity were
abundantly rewarded; but more of this anon.
THE UNSEEN HEDGE.
The reply of Satan is noteworthy. He does not need to ask, "Which