Job 33

Elihu’s appeal to be heard

1 But now, listen to me, Job; pay attention to all my words.

2 Notice that I am opening my mouth; my tongue is speaking in my mouth.

3 My words come from a virtuous heart; my lips speak knowledge clearly.

4 God's spirit made me; the Almighty's breath enlivens me.

5 If you are able, answer me; lay out your case before me and take a stand.

6 Notice that I'm just like you to God; I also was pinched from clay.

7 Surely fear of me shouldn't scare you; my pressure on you shouldn't be heavy.

The argument

8 You certainly said in my hearing; I heard the sound of your words:

9 "I'm pure, without sin; I'm innocent, without offense.

10 Notice that he invents arguments against me; he considers me his enemy,

11 ties up my feet, watches all my paths."

12 Now you're wrong about this; I'll answer you, for God is greater than anybody.

13 Why do you contend with him, saying that he doesn't answer all your words?

14 God speaks in one way, in two ways, but no one perceives it.

15 In the dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon humans, during their slumber on a bed,

16 then he opens people's ears, scares them with warnings,

17 to turn them from a deed and to smother human pride.

18 He keeps one from the pit, a life from perishing by the sword.

19 Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in bed, bones ever aching

20 until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a delicacy;

21 the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden, protrude.

22 A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death dealers.

23 Surely there's a messenger for this person, a mediator, one out of a thousand to declare one's integrity to another

24 so that God has compassion on that person and says, "Rescue this one from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom."

25 That person's flesh is renewed like a child's; they regain their youth.

26 They pray to God, and God is pleased with them; they behold God's presence with a joyful shout. God rewards a person's righteousness.

27 They sing before people and say: "I have sinned, perverted justice, but didn't experience the consequences.

28 He ransomed me from crossing into the pit; my life beholds light."

29 Look, God does all this, twice, three times with persons

30 to bring them back from the pit, to shine with life's light.

31 Listen, Job; hear me; be quiet, and I will speak.

32 If you have words, answer me; speak, for I want to be innocent.

33 If not, you must hear me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

Job 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

Elihu offers to reason with Job. (1-7) Elihu blames Job for reflecting upon God. (8-13) God calls men to repentance. (14-18) God sends afflictions for good. (19-28) Elihu entreats Job's attention. (29-33)

Verses 1-7 Job had desired a judge to decide his appeal. Elihu was one according to his wish, a man like himself. If we would rightly convince men, it must be by reason, not by terror; by fair argument, not by a heavy hand.

Verses 8-13 Elihu charges Job with reflecting upon the justice and goodness of God. When we hear any thing said to God's dishonour, we ought to bear our testimony against it. Job had represented God as severe in marking what he did amiss. Elihu urges that he had spoken wrong, and that he ought to humble himself before God, and by repentance to unsay it. God is not accountable to us. It is unreasonable for weak, sinful creatures, to strive with a God of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness. He acts with perfect justice, wisdom, and goodness, where we cannot perceive it.

Verses 14-18 God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers; of all these Elihu discourses. There was not then, that we know of, any Divine revelation in writing, though now it is our principal guide. When God designs men's good, by the convictions and dictates of their own consciences, he opens the heart, as Lydia's, and opens the ears, so that conviction finds or forces its way in. The end and design of these admonitions are to keep men from sin, particularly the sin of pride. While sinners are pursuing evil purposes, and indulging their pride, their souls are hastening to destruction. That which turns men from sin, saves them from hell. What a mercy it is to be under the restraints of an awakened conscience!

Verses 19-28 Job complained of his diseases, and judged by them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too: but Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for good to the soul. This thought will be of great use for our getting good from sickness, in and by which God speaks to men. Pain is the fruit of sin; yet, by the grace of God, the pain of the body is often made a means of good to the soul. When afflictions have done their work, they shall be removed. A ransom or propitiation is found. Jesus Christ is the Messenger and the Ransom, so Elihu calls him, as Job had called him his Redeemer, for he is both the Purchaser and the Price, the Priest and the sacrifice. So high was the value of souls, that nothing less would redeem them; and so great the hurt done by sin, that nothing less would atone for it, than the blood of the Son of God, who gave his life a ransom for many. A blessed change follows. Recovery from sickness is a mercy indeed, when it proceeds from the remission of sin. All that truly repent of their sins, shall find mercy with God. The works of darkness are unfruitful works; all the gains of sin will come far short of the damage. We must, with a broken and ( 1 John. 1:9 ) confess the fact of sin; and not try to justify or excuse ourselves. We must confess the fault of sin; I have perverted that which was right. We must confess the folly of sin; So foolish have I been and ignorant. Is there not good reason why we should make such a confession?

Verses 29-33 Elihu shows that God's great and gracious design toward the children of men, is, to save them from being for ever miserable, and to bring them to be for ever happy. By whatever means we are kept back from the we shall bless the Lord for them at least, and should bless him for them though they be painful and distressing. Those that perish for ever are without excuse, for they would not be healed.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or palate
• [b]. Heb lacks your case.
• [c]. Or his words

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 33

In this chapter Elihu addresses Job himself, and entreats his attention to what he had to say to him, and offers several things to induce him to it; and recommends himself as one that was according to his wish, in the stead of God, a man like himself, and of whom he had no reason to be afraid, Job 33:1-7; and then he brings a charge against him of things which he himself had heard, of words that had dropped from him in the course of his controversy with his friends; in which he too much and too strongly insisted on his own innocence and purity, and let fill very undue and unbecoming reflections on the dealings of God with him, Job 33:8-11; to which he gives an answer by observing the superior greatness of God to man, and his sovereignty over him, not being accountable to him for anything done by him; and therefore man should be silent and submissive to him, Job 33:12,13; and yet, though he is so great and so absolute, and uncontrollable, and is not obliged to give an account of his affairs to man, and the reasons of them; yet he condescends by various ways and means to instruct him in his mind and will, and even by these very things complained of; and therefore should not be treated as if unkind and unfriendly to men; sometimes he does it by dreams and visions, when he opens the ears of men, and seals instruction to them, and with this view, to restrain them from their evil purposes and doings, and to weaken their pride and humble them, and preserve them from ruin, Job 33:14-18; and sometimes by chastening and afflictive providences, which are described, Job 33:19-22; and which become teaching ones; through the interposition of a divine messenger, and upon the afflicted man's prayer to God, and humiliation before him, God is gracious and favourable to him, and delivers him; which is frequently the design and the use that he makes of chastening dispensations, Job 33:23-30; and the chapter is concluded with beseeching Job to mark and consider well what had been said unto him, and to answer it if he could or thought fit; if not, silently to attend to what he had further to say to him for his instruction, Job 33:31-33.