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‘But ye should say, Why persecute we him? seeing the root of the matter is found in me.’
Job_19:28
I. It is the beginning of religion.—In such a world as ours all true religion begins in the faith of God’s love to us—‘the record He has given concerning His Son.’ ‘Add to your faith virtue, and knowledge,’ and the rest (2Pe_1:5-7). This is a noble superstructure; but it is ‘built up on our most holy faith.’ These form a precious cluster of graces, but they are all fruits of faith.
II. It is the stability of it.—It is the root that keeps the tree firm in the earth; if the root were cut away, it would fall before the first rude blast, with all its honours thick upon it. So it is faith that sustains religion amid the assaults of temptation and the blast of persecution. ‘Who is he that overcometh, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?’ ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’
III. It furnishes the nourishment of it.—The various root-fibres are so many means of gathering nourishment for the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, blossoms, and fruit; so religion owes its strength, beauty, and blessedness to faith. But the root has no supplies of its own. It attaches itself to the earth, draws out of it the virtue it possesses, and transmits this to the topmost branch, the uppermost bough, and the remotest leaf; and so it is with faith. It has no merit of its own, but looks for all in Christ. It is the fibrous root that attaches itself to the sacred soil of Scripture, and finds nourishment in the grace that is enshrined there.
Illustration
‘Here is the secret of the difference between Job and his friends. There were roots to his religious life, and just as the roots of the vine will travel far under the soil to reach the river, so he sent out the radicles of his soul-life to that Redeemer Whom he knew to be alive, and Who would presently come to vindicate His afflicted servant.
Look at the branchlets of these roots. First, he asserts his belief that a divine Redeemer, his Goël and nearest Kinsman, was living. His soul drew sustenance and strength from direct contact with the Lord Jesus in His pre-existent state. Next, he believed that this glorious Ally would come one day to stand upon the earth on his behalf. In addition, he believed that though his body might be destroyed, yet with the eyes of a body that should be bestowed on him, he would see God. With personal conscious identity, he would behold Him for himself. See how the roots of his soul went out to the living Saviour, and to the great future, and the resurrection. Was it possible that one so moored to the Eternal could be overthrown by the storm-blasts of a day? Could such a soul be withered by sirocco of fiery trial?’