Matthew Henry Commentary Job 33
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 33
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 33
"Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words. Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life. If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth. Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee." — Job 33:1-7 (ASV)
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.
"Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying], I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me: Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy: He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths. Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?" — Job 33:8-13 (ASV)
Elihu charges Job with questioning the justice and goodness of God. When we hear anything said to God's dishonor, we ought to bear our testimony against it. Job had represented God as severe in noting what he did wrong. Elihu urges that Job had spoken wrongly, and that he ought to humble himself before God and, by repentance, retract what he said.
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, even when we cannot perceive it.
"For God speaketh once, Yea twice, [though man] regardeth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from man; He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword." — Job 33:14-18 (ASV)
God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers; Elihu discourses on all of these. At that time, as far as we know, there was no Divine revelation in writing, though now it is our principal guide.
When God intends people's good, through 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 purpose and design of these admonitions are to keep people from sin, particularly the sin of pride.
While sinners are pursuing evil purposes and indulging their pride, their souls are hastening to destruction. Whatever turns people from sin saves them from hell. What a mercy it is to be under the restraints of an awakened conscience!
"He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones; So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers. If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him; Then [God] is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child`s; He returneth to the days of his youth. He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness. He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not: He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light." — Job 33:19-28 (ASV)
Job complained of his diseases and concluded from them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too. But Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for the good of the soul. This thought will be of great use for us to derive good from sickness, in and by which God speaks to people. 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 will 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 will 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 contrite heart, confess our sins to God (1 John 1:9). We must 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?
"Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, [yea] thrice, with a man, To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living. Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom." — Job 33:29-33 (ASV)
Elihu shows that God's great and gracious design toward humankind is to save them from being forever miserable and to bring them to be forever happy.
By whatever means we are kept back from that, we shall at least bless the Lord for those means, and we should also bless Him for them, even if they are painful and distressing.
Those who perish forever are without excuse, for they would not be healed.
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