A Byword Of The People

A BYWORD OF THE PEOPLE

JOB 17:6 - “He has made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret”

Job was as a Tabret, in good repute, respected and adored but became a by- word, a scorn and a song of disgrace. As the fortunes of men change, so usually do our opinions of them. Job’s heart was the same as before, he was holy but was not so wealthy as he was; his spirit was full of grace but his purse was not so full of Gold as before. He suffered in men’s affection because of the change in his condition, all were glad of him but he became a by-word, the scorn of all.

Jesus Christ gave testimony of John the Baptist in John 5:35, “He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light”. Though John did burn and shine all the while which God made him the candlestick of the church with equal heat and luster, yet they rejoiced in him but for a while, or for a season. The Jews changed their thoughts of John, and their esteem of him was weakened, though John continued in the same strength of gifts. The people’s hearts were turned against him, though his abilities were not; John had not that repute and honor after a few years which he had at the first. The Tabret is a musical instrument, at the sound of which men dance and leap; for a time they leaped about John; he was a burning and shining light, and they danced and skipped about him, as children did about a blazing fire in the streets, but this was only for a season.

Jesus Christ find himself in such situation too. The Jews cried HOSANNA, they wanted to make him a king, he had much adore to keep himself from a crown; the Jews echoed with “BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD” ; yet presently after, the cry was, “CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM, HE IS NOT WORTHY TO LIVE”(Luke 23:21); a murderer is preferred before Him, “They cried, NOT THIS MAN BUT BARABBAS” (John 18:40).

Also, the tide and streams turned against Paul in Acts 14, when he and Barnabas had done a great cure, the people wanted to make gods of them, to offer sacrifice, and said, “THE gods ARE COME DOWN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN (ACTS 14:11)”; and before the end of chapter 14 of the book of Acts, the people’s acceptance of Paul came to an end; and Paul was stoned as unworthy in the society of men, by the same men, and in the same place where he was saluted as a god.

Job was a by-word, in disgrace; God made him a by-word too, but for His honour. Job is famous to a popular proverb, we say “HE IS AS POOR AS JOB” when we set forth the greatness of any man’s suffering. When we set forth the greatness of any man’s patience, we say “HE IS AS PATIENT AS JOB”. All the virtues and graces which the saints have manifested under sufferings are proverbially expressed under the sufferings and patience of Job. There is no great Heroes of the world who had obtain such name and glory, by victories over men, as Job did by patient suffering under the hand of God.

As he is proverbially spoken of for his suffering, so likewise for his holiness, God made his piety a proverb too, though his friends suspected him for a hypocrite. When the Lord would show himself so unalterably resolved, that nothing should take him off from bringing judgement upon a sinful people, He said, “I WILL NOT DO IT, THOUGH NOAH, DANIEL AND JOB STOOD BEFORE ME” (Ezekiel 14:14). As if he had said, I will not do it, though the most eminent men in holiness, or the greatest favorites that ever I had in the world should sue that they might be spared. Job was lifted with honourable name and crowned with honour by God with other great men like Noah and Daniel.

It is no new thing in the world, to see a by- word of the people, who even now were their Tabret: to adore one, and to despise another; to applaud today, and to dislike tomorrow; now to smile, later to frown ; is the constant inconstancy of the creature.

Therefore, DON’T LIVE UPON THE BREATH OF MEN, UPON POPULAR AIR OR THE SPEECH OF PEOPLE: Though to have credit with men is a blessing, yet let us live upon the credit which we have with God, and rejoice only in His esteem. Most men are full of change, and are apt to vary their aspects every moment, their affections are as movable as their outward condition is. Only God never alters His opinion of any man, He never rejects where He has accepted, not casts off where He has embraced; once a friend and always a friend, once pleased with us and always pleased with us; yes God is pleased with His people while He manifest a fatherly displeasure against them; and they are as a Tabret to Him while He makes them a by-word among the people.