CHAPTER XXXIII _Elihu offers himself in God's stead to reason with Job in_ _meekness and sincerity_, 1-7. _Charges Job with irreverent expressions_, 8-12. _Vindicates the providence of God, and shows the various methods_ _which he uses to bring sinners to himself:-By dreams and_ _visions_, 13-... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:3. _MY WORDS_ SHALL BE OF _THE UPRIGHTNESS_] As God has given me his Spirit, from that Spirit alone will I speak; therefore all my words shall be of uprightness, knowledge, and truth. _KNOWLEDGE CLEARLY._] דעת ברור _daath barur, pure science_. I shall lay down no _false positions_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:4. _THE SPIRIT OF GOD HATH MADE ME_] Another plain allusion to the account of the _creation of man_, Genesis 2:7, as the words נשמת _nishmath, the breath_ or _breathing_ of God, and תחיני _techaiyeni,_ _hath given me life_, prove: "He _breathed_ into his nostrils the _breath_ of _lives_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:6. _I_ AM _ACCORDING TO THY WISH IN GOD'S STEAD: I ALSO AM_ _FORMED OUT OF THE CLAY._] Mr. _Good_, and before him none other that I have seen, has most probably hit the true meaning: - "Behold, I am thy fellow. I too was formed by God out of the clay." The word כפיך _kephicha_, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:7. _MY TERROR SHALL NOT MAKE THEE AFRAID_] This is an allusion to what Job had said, Job 9:34: "Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me." Being thy _equal_, no fear can impose upon thee so far as to overawe thee; so that thou shouldst not be able to conduct th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:8. _SURELY THOU HAST SPOKEN_] What Elihu speaks here, and in the three following verses, contains, in general, simple quotations from Job's own words, or the obvious sense of them, as the reader may see by referring to the margin, and also to the notes on those passages.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:11. _HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS_] Job 13:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:12. In _THIS THOU ART NOT JUST_] Thou hast laid charges against God's dealings, but thou hast not been able to _justify_ those charges; and were there nothing else against thee, these irreverent speeches are so many proofs that thou art not _clear_ in the sight of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:13. _WHY DOST THOU STRIVE AGAINST HIM?_] Is it not useless to contend with God? Can he do any thing that is _not right_? As to his giving thee _any account_ of the _reasons why he deals thus and_ _thus_ with thee, or any one else, thou needest not expect it; he is sovereign, and is not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:14. _FOR GOD SPEAKETH ONCE_] Though he will not be summoned to the bar of his creatures, nor condescend to detail the reasons of his conduct, which they could not comprehend, yet he so acts, in the main, that the _operation_ of his _hand_ and the _designs_ of his _counsel_ may sufficien... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:15. I. _IN A DREAM - WHEN DEEP SLEEP FALLETH UPON MEN_] Many, by such means, have had the most salutary warnings; and to decry all such, because there are many _vain dreams_, would be nearly as much wisdom as to deny the Bible, because there are many foolish books, the authors of which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:16. _THEN HE OPENETH THE EARS OF MEN, AND SEALETH, C._] III. _By secret INSPIRATIONS_. A dream or a vision simply considered is likely to do no good it is the _opening of the understanding_, and the _pouring in of the light_, that make men wise to salvation. Serious alarms, holy purpos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:18. _HE KEEPETH BACK HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT_] By the above means, how many have been snatched from an untimely death! By taking the warning thus given, some have been prevented from perishing by the _pit _- some _sudden accident_; and others from the _sword_ of the _assassin_ or _nocturn... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:19. _HE IS CHASTENED ALSO WITH PAIN UPON HIS BED, C._] IV. - AFFLICTIONS are a _fourth_ means which God makes use of to awaken and convert sinners. In the hand of God these were the cause of the salvation of _David_, as himself testifies: _Before I_ _was afflicted, I went astray_, Psal... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:20. _HIS LIFE ABHORRETH BREAD_] These expressions strongly and naturally point out that general _nausea_, or _loathing_ which sick persons feel in almost every species of disorder.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:21. _HIS FLESH IS CONSUMED AWAY_] As in atrophy, marasmus, and consumptive complaints in general.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:22. _HIS SOUL DRAWETH NEAR UNTO THE GRAVE_] נפש _nephesh,_ _soul_, is here taken for the _immortal spirit_, as it is distinguished from חיה _chaiyah_, the _animal life_. The former draws near to the pit, שחת _shachath, corruption_; perhaps he meant dissipation, considering it merely as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:23. _IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM, AN INTERPRETER, C._] V. - The MESSENGERS of righteousness this is a FIFTH _method_, אם יש עליו מלאך מליץ im yesh alaiv malach melits, "If there be over him an interpreting or mediatorial angel or messenger." _One among a_ _thousand_, אחד מני אלף e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:24. _THEN HE IS GRACIOUS UNTO HIM_] He exercises mercy towards fallen man, and gives command for his respite and pardon. _DELIVER HIM FROM GOING DOWN TO THE PIT_] Let him who is thus instructed, penitent, and afflicted, and comes to me, find a _pardon_; for:- VI. _I HAVE FOUND A RANS... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:25. _HIS FLESH SHALL BE FRESHER THAN A CHILD'S_] He shall be born a _new creature_. _HE SHALL RETURN TO THE DAYS OF HIS YOUTH_] He shall be _born_ _again_, and become a _child of God_, through faith in Christ Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:26. _HE SHALL PRAY UNTO GOD_] Being now adopted into the heavenly family, and become a _new creature_, he shall have the _spirit of prayer_, which is indeed the very _breath_ and _language_ of the _new_ or _spiritual life_. _HE WILL BE FAVOURABLE UNTO HIM_] He shall manifest his good w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:27. _HE LOOKETH UPON MEN_] אנשים _anashim_, wretched, fallen men. He _shines into them_, to convince them of sin; and if any, under this convincing light of God, _say, I have sinned_ against _heaven_ and before thee, _and perverted the right _- abused the powers, faculties, mercies, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:28. _HE WILL DELIVER HIS SOUL_] He will do that to every _individual penitent sinner_ which he has promised in his word to do for a lost world - he will deliver his soul from going down to the pit of hell. _AND HIS LIFE SHALL SEE THE LIGHT._] He shall walk in the light, as Christ is in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:29. _LO, ALL THESE_ THINGS _WORKETH GOD_] God frequently uses one, or another, or all of these means, to bring _men_, גבר gaber, stout-hearted men, who are far from righteousness, to holiness and heaven. _OFTENTIMES_] פעמים שלש _paamayim shalosh_, "three times over;" or as פעמים _paama... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:30. _TO BRING BACK HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT_] Nearly a repetition of the promise in Job 33:28. _TO BE ENLIGHTENED WITH THE LIGHT OF THE LIVING._] An echo of Psalms 56:13: "Thou hast delivered my soul from death, that I may walk before God in the light of the living;" and probably quoted f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:31. _MARK WELL, O JOB_] Pay the deepest attention to what I have said, and to what I shall say.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:32. _IF THOU HAST ANY THING TO SAY_] If thou hast any objection to make against what I have already stated, now answer, now speak freely; for it is my desire that thou shouldst stand clear of all charges.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 33:33. _IF NOT_] Then I will proceed: _listen_ carefully, _keep_ _silence_, and _I will teach thee_ what true _wisdom is_. Job was silent; none of his friends chose to intermeddle farther; and in the next chapter Elihu addresses both Job and them. THERE are some _various readings_ in the... [ Continue Reading ]