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Job_17:9
“A little boy (whose name I shall call John) was observed to wash his hands many times in a day—a most praiseworthy exercise. The unusual frequency with which he repaired to the hollow stone by the well, led his elder brother Henry to ask him why he washed his hands so often.
“‘Because I wish to be strong.’
“‘Do you think that washing your hands will make you strong?’
“‘Yes.’
“At evening, as the two brothers were sitting in the porch of the farm-house, listening to the notes of the Whip-poor-Will, Note: Whip-poor-Will—a name imitating the note of the American bird it indicates (the Caprimulgus vociferus). It is curious that the Indians, also imitating the note, give it the very different name of Muck-a-wiss, a remarkable instance how differently the same word or name may strike the ear of different peoples, or how differently they may represent the sounds they hear. This accounts for the exceedingly different account which an Englishman, a Frenchman, or a German will give of the name of a foreign place or person.—J.K. Henry asked John why he thought that washing his hands would give him strength.
“‘Because I read it in the Bible,’ was the reply.
“‘Where did you find that passage?’
“‘I will show you.’ He got the Bible, and read the latter part of the 9th verse of the seventeenth chapter of Job—‘He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.’ John was very confident that his position was the right one, for it had the support of Scripture. Henry proceeded to explain to him the meaning of the passage, and convinced him that he had taken in a literal that which was intended to be taken in a figurative sense—that the passage taught, that those who do right shall increase in strength to do right.”
This is the passage which we have chosen for consideration this day.
The hand is the instrument of action, and “clean hands” hence become the symbol of holy things, and of the absence of any appearance of unholy conduct. It is not the same as uprightness of heart; but something supplemental to it, and needful to constitute the character fairly complete in living grace. There must be cleanness of hands, as well as cleanness of heart. The cleanness of heart is expressed in preceding verses; and now “cleanness of hands” is added to complete the whole; and it is declared that he who, besides the uprightness of heart, and the general innocency and righteousness of his way, is also careful to keep himself free from every spot that might stain his hands, shall wax stronger and stronger. Without doubt, a man’s general uprightness will powerfully restrain him in the main: yet if there appear upon his hand any stain or defilement in his conversation or dealings with man, this will be a damp upon his spirit and a deadening to his heart—although the bent of his heart be towards God. Yet let none say, when taxed with uncleanness of hands, that their hearts are nevertheless right. That although they fail often, and would be better and do bettor, yet they have good meanings, and feel that they are upright before God. This is self-delusion. It is easier to keep the hands right than the heart right; and he whose hand is foul, may depend upon it that his heart is fouler still. Where there is a clean heart, there will be clean hands. Many have clean hands who have unclean hearts; but no man ever yet had a clean heart whose hands remained unclean. As, therefore, the clean heart makes the hand also clean, the clean hand becomes a probable evidence of the cleanness of the heart.
It is of these two things taken together—the clean heart and the clean hand—as forming the perfection of godliness, that Job speaks, when he says, that the man thus complete in his character, “shall wax stronger and stronger,” or, as the original has it, “shall add strength,” especially in time of trial and affliction. This is spiritual “strength.” It is the same strength which the apostle had in view when he said (2Co_4:16), “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” It cannot be otherwise. The man thus endowed is in a state of grace before God: and grace is a living thing, and while it lives must grow—even as the grain of mustard seed must increase to a large tree.
It is in a time of trouble that this progress from strength to strength is most active, and is most sensibly discerned; and we cannot doubt that it was this which Job had especially in view. It is affliction that, beyond all things, gives proof of godliness—whether it be true or not. That which is untrue—that which has no firm foundation—cannot abide this test; but he whose heart is well established in grace, not only does not fall off in time of trouble, but grows and increases in grace; thereby “he added strength.” It is said of the Lacedemonian republic, that whereas all other states were undone by war, that alone grew rich and was bettered by it; and we may say that whereas all hypocrites and worldly men are undone by affliction, true believers thrive under it, and are advantaged by it. He who possesses, through the grace of the Divine Spirit, the upright heart and the clean hands, grows stronger and stronger. His inward man increases as his outward man decays. It is said of the Israelites, that the more the Egyptians afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. This was in things temporal, but so it is in spiritual things with all who are Israelites indeed. This was known of old; and it was from the deep conviction of this truth, that the ancient saints learned to rejoice in tribulation as a sure means of spiritual advancement. The apostles rejoiced when they were threatened; and although their shrinking flesh might for the moment complain, they were emboldened by scourging. It is said of the suffering saints, that “they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods;” Note: Heb_10:34. and Paul tells us that “many waxed confident by”—by what, think you? By his preaching? by his successes in high places? by the power with which he silenced the gainsayers? Nay, but by “his bonds.” Note: Php_1:14.
But how can these things be? It is not natural in man to be strengthened by affliction, but rather to be weakened. It is not inherent in affliction to make a man better, but to harden him—to make him worse. It is therefore not from any spontaneous quality in us of being improved by affliction, or of affliction in improving us, but from the fresh anointings of the Spirit, “that we are strengthened with might in the inner man,” Note: Eph_3:16.—from that only that “we are strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, into all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.” Note: Col_1:11. The increase of strength comes from the same fountain whence we had the first strength. All is from God.
It is, therefore, only by compelling us to go out of our own strength to seek the strength of God, that even under affliction we wax stronger and stronger. Only so, that Paul could avouch that noble paradox, “When I am weak, then I am strong:” and it was only when he was brought to the conviction that his own strength was wholly insufficient, that he heard the comfortable words, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”