in prophetic vision.  But Zion is not an individual.  She is a divine organization which God has destined to universal victory, and around which revolve, under his almighty guidance, the great movements of the heathen nations.  The prophet, accordingly, has to do not so much with particular persons, as with the destiny of society, which is involved in that of Zion.  He describes her present conflicts and her future triumphs in his own peculiar and gorgeous imagery.  But the problem before the author of the book of Job is God’s providence towards individuals, as viewed from the position of the Old Testament before the fuller revelations of the New.  He is occupied with the destiny of particular persons, rather than of nations or of human society at large.  To the solution of the question of God’s justice towards individual man he directs all his energy, and he discusses this great theme in a manner as effective as it is original.  His imagery is as forcible as that of Isaiah, but how different, and how powerfully adapted to his end!  A few passages from each of these great poets, set side by side, will exhibit the contrast between them in a striking manner.

JOB.  ISAIAH

THE PROSPERITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS.  THE PROSPERITY OF ZION.

He shall deliver thee in six Violence shall no more be heard in troubles:  yea, in seven there shall thy land, wasting nor destruction no evil touch thee.  In famine he within thy borders, but thou shalt shall redeem thee from death:  and call thy walls Salvation, and thy in war from the power of the sword. gates Praise.  The sun shall be no Thou shalt be hid from the scourge more thy light by day; neither for of the tongue:  neither shalt thou brightness shall the moon give be afraid of destruction when it light unto thee; but the Lord shall cometh.  At destruction and famine be unto thee an everlasting light, thou shalt laugh:  neither shalt and thy God thy glory.  Thy sun thou be afraid of the beasts of the shall no more go down; neither earth.  For thou shalt be in league shall thy moon withdraw itself; for with the stones of the field:  and the Lord shall be thine everlasting the beasts of the field shall be at light, and the days of thy mourning peace with thee.  And thou shalt shall be ended.  Thy people also know that thy tabernacle shall be shall be all righteous:  they shall in peace; and thou shalt visit thy inherit the land forever, the habitation, and shalt not sin.  Thou branch of my planting, the work of shalt know also that thy seed shall my hands, that I may be glorified. be great, and thine offspring as A little one shall become a the grass of the earth.  Thou shalt thousand, and a small one a strong come to thy grave in a full age, nation:  I the Lord will hasten it like as a shock of corn cometh in in his time.  Ch. 60:18-22. in his season.  Ch. 5:19-26.