Job 16:20

Hebrew, "are my scorners"; more forcibly, "my mockers--my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox [UMBREIT]. God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this.

WE know that Job's sorrows were recorded, not for his honor, but for our profit. We are told to consider the patience of Job and truly we might often be sustained, cheered and comforted if we would but look upon that Patriarch in the depths of his grief. We are "born to sorrow" and if our cup is not embittered with it tonight, we must not expect to be long without a taste of the gall in our mouths.

WE know that Job's sorrows were recorded, not for his honor, but for our profit. We are told to consider the patience of Job and truly we might often be sustained, cheered and comforted if we would but look upon that Patriarch in the depths of his grief. We are "born to sorrow" and if our cup is not embittered with it tonight, we must not expect to be long without a taste of the gall in our mouths. There is one particular sorrow, however, which appertains to the early days of our spiritual life, concerning which I intend to speak tonight. It is the sorrow caused by the scorning of us by our friends. This becomes a very little sorrow to us in later days, but at the first it is a "trial of cruel mocking," and a very severe one. I suppose the advanced Christian at last can even come to "rejoice in tribulations" of this sort—he counts it to be an honor—he rejoices and is exceedingly glad when men say all manner of evil against him falsely for Christ's name's sake. But at the first there is nothing, perhaps, more staggering to the young Christian than to find that his "worst foes" are they of his own household and that they who should have cherished and nurtured in him the piety which is so excellent a flower, do their cruel worst to nip it in the bud! Without further preface, therefore, we shall try, as the Holy Spirit shall teach and help us, to speak to you upon a very common trial, ' 'My friends scorn me." And then, yet again, meditate on a remarkable resort and exercise, ' 'But my eyes pour out tears unto God." First, then, let us think upon— I. A VERY COMMON TRIAL. "My friends scorn me." What is it they do? They scorn me. I shall apply the text tonight to scorn on account of religion. It is lately, my dear young friends—I address myself particularly to you—it is lately that you have been impressed. It is lately that you have considered your ways.

My friends scorn me - They deride and insult me, but my eye is towards God; I look to him to vindicate my cause.