Job 36:7

"He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous." That is the great point of this chapter. In chapter 33 it was "man," but here it is "the righteous" man that He looks at with special care. God disciplines man to win him to Himself. He disciplines the righteous man far more strictly, to keep him right. God has justified that man, and the result must not bring dishonour on Him. It is a terrible thing when one of God's people goes wrong.

Notice next the government that God exercises over His children. He warns them by His word. If they do not listen, He steps in with power to stop them, so that He can bless them. In God's dealings salvation is never in question. He looks upon His children, and chastens those whom He loves. The people the Holy Spirit speaks of in Job are called "the just." God does not withdraw His eyes from them. He also says to Israel through the prophet Amos, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities" (Amos 3:2).

In Job 33 God corrects inward things; He corrects an attitude, to turn man back from his own purpose. In Job 36 it is actual failure — discipline for real faults: "the Lord disciplines the one He loves." The Lord has laid His hand upon me, and I must bow. It may not be for an actual sin. It may be an attitude He wants to correct. He has something for me to learn; there is something wrong, so He puts His hand on me in discipline.

"He gives right to the poor. He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them." It does not matter whether they are the poor or kings on a throne. They all come under the eye of God.

God never takes His eyes off them in Christ. "He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted" (Job 36:7). It must be so. Once God sees the poor, guilty sinner as righteous in Christ, He never takes His eyes off him in Christ. So that sinner must be established for ever, because Christ is established for ever. If Christ is exalted for ever, then the believer in Him is exalted for ever.

He kept them depending on the word of God to guide them. At the same time He did not let the cloth of their coats wear out. He thought of everything for them. "He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous" — there is not a moment when He is not thinking of them... I am not only rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. I am also glorying in troubles, because God is not withdrawing His eyes from me in them.

Yes; marvellous to declare, God did this. God does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous. His ear is always open to the cry of the needy. His hand is always stretched out to defend the weak and the helpless. Yet He, even He, turned away His face from His own beloved Son, and for the moment refused to hear His cry.