A Pitiful Plea

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

Job 13:25

Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?

Poor Job! Who could have been brought lower? In his deep distress he turns to God, and finding no other plea so near at hand he makes a plea of his own distress. He compares himself to the weakest thing he could think of. He draws an argument out of his weakness. It is a common figure he uses, that of a leaf driven to and fro. To this Job likens himself — a helpless, hopeless, worthless, weak, despised, perishing thing. And he appeals to God. "Out of pity upon my utter weakness and nothingness, turn away Thy hand, and break not a leaf that is driven to and fro." The apprehension is so startling, the appeal is so forcible, that the argument may be employed in a great many ways. How often have the sick used it, when they have been brought to so low an ebb with physical pain that life itself seemed worthless. Not less applicable the plea to those who are plunged into the depths of poverty. So too with those who are in trouble through bereavement. Perhaps it is even more harassing in cases of mental distress, for, after all, the sharpest pangs we feel are not those of the body, nor those of the estate, but those of the mind. When the iron enters into the soul, the rust thereof is poison. Many a child of God may have used this plea, or may yet use it.

I. THE PLEA IS SUCH AS ARISES FROM INWARD CONSCIOUSNESS. What plea is more powerful to ourselves than that which we draw from ourselves? In this case Job was quite certain about his own weakness. How could he doubt that? I trust many of us have been brought into such a humble frame of mind as to feel that, in a certain sense, this is true of us. What a great blessing it is to be made to know our weakness! But while it is a confession of weakness, the plea is also an acknowledgment of God's power to push that weakness to a direful conclusion.

II. THIS IS ALSO A VERY PITIFUL PLEA. Though there is weakness, yet there is also power, for weakness is, for the most part, a prevalent plea with those who are strong and good. The plea gathers force when the weakness is confessed. How a confession of weakness touches your heart when it comes from your child!

III. THIS PLEA IS RIGHTLY ADDRESSED. It is addressed to God. It can be used to each person of the Blessed Trinity in Unity. "Oh, the depths of Thy loving kindness! Is it possible that Thou canst east away a poor, broken-hearted trembler, a poor, fearing, doubting one, who would fain be saved, but who trembles lest he should be cast away?"

IV. THE PLEA IS BACKED UP BY MANY CASES OF SUCCESS. Give one illustration. The case of Hannah, the mother of Samuel; or the case of King Manasseh. Or our Lord's dealing with sinful women.

V. THE TEXT IS A FAINT PLEA WHICH INVITES FULL SUCCOUR. It meant this. "Instead of breaking it, Thou wilt spare it; Thou wilt gather it up; Thou wilt give it life again." Oh, you who are brought to the very lowest of weakness! use that weakness in pleading with God, and He will return unto you with such a fulness of blessing that you shall receive pardon and favour.

VI. WE MAY USE THIS PLEA — MANY OF US WHO HAVE LONG KNOWN THE SAVIOUR. Perhaps our faith has got to be very low. O Lord, wilt Thou destroy my little faith? It is weal: and trembling, but it is faith of Thine own giving. Oh, break not the poor leaf that is driven to and fro! It may be your hope is not very bright. You cannot see the golden gates, though they are very near. Well, but your hope shall not be destroyed because it is clouded. Perhaps you are conscious that you have not been so useful lately as you were. Bring your little graces to Christ, as the mothers brought their little children, and ask Him to put His hands upon them and to bless them. Bring your mustard seed to Christ, and ask Him to make it grow into a tree, and He will do it; but never think that He will destroy you, or that He will destroy the work of His hands in you.

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