Job 33:11

_HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS, HE MARKETH ALL MY PATHS._ (Job 13:27.) MARKETH - narrowly watches (Job 14:16; Job 7:12; Job 31:4)...

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....

Verse Job 33:11. _HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS_] Job 13:27....

HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS - This also is language which Job had used; see Job 13:27. “He marketh all my paths;” in Job 13:27, “Thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths;” see the notes at that verse....

EXPOSITION JOB 33:1 In this chapter Elihu, turning away from the "comforters," proceeds to address Job himself, offering to reason out the matter in dispute with him, in God's stead. After a brief exordium (verses 1-7), he takes exception (1) to Job's self-assertion (verses 8, 9); and (2) to his charges against God (verses 10-13), which (he says) are unjust. He next brings forward his theory of God-inflicted sufferings being, in the main, chastisements proceeding from a loving purpose, intended to purify, to strengthen, to purge out faults, to "save from the pit," to improve, and to enlighten (verses 14-24). He points out in what spirit chastisement should be received (verses 25-30); and concludes with a recommendation to Job to remain silent, and hear him out, while at the same time he expresses a willingn

HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS,.... This also he had said, Job 13:27; by which he would suggest not only that his afflictions were painful and disgraceful, and from which he could not extricate himself, being close fettered by them; but that they were inflicted on him as punishments, and he was treated as a criminal, as a malefactor, who had been guilty of some notorious breach of the law: HE MARKETH ALL MY PATHS; looked narrowly at them, numbered and counted them; this also he had said, Job 13:27; meaning not only his natural and civil paths and steps, but his moral ones, that he could not step the least awry, but presently it was marked and observed, Job 10:14; but though God does take notice of the sins

This is a speech of young Elihu, who had sat quietly listening to the taunting words of the three «candid friends» of Job, and to the somewhat exasperated replies of the patriarch. At last, the young man breaks the silence, and with some dignity, and quite sufficient of self-content, he thus addresses himself to Job: Job 33:1. _Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words._ «I am but a young man, but I speak because I cannot be quiet. An impulse moves me; I am as a vessel wanting vent. I desire to speak impartially; therefore, hear me, but hear all that I have to say; do not listen merely here and there to a part of my speech, but hearken to all my words.» Sometimes, it is very necessary to beg our hearers not to run away with only one sentence, or even with one sentiment. «Hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words,» for there is a proportion

CHAPTER 33:8-33 _ 1. Elihu rebukes Job (Job 33:8)_ 2. How God deals with man (Job 33:14) 3. How God in grace recovers (Job 33:23) 4. Mark well, Job, hearken unto me (Job 33:31) Job 33:8. Elihu treats Job in a dignified, yet firm manner. He speaks as one who is sure of the whole matter. He has heard Job's speeches; he knows the mistake Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar made, in treating Job as a suspicious character, a hypocrite and a godless man. No such wrong accusations are made by Elihu. He knows where Job's trouble lies and already spoke of

To Job's complaint that God shewed a hostility to him which was arbitrary and without cause Elihu replies that such a thing was unbecoming God and not to be thought of, for God is greater than man....

He challenges Job's claim that he suffers because God counts him an enemy. (Job 33:8-12) TEXT 33:8-12 8 SURELY THOU HAS SPOKEN IN MY HEARING, And I have heard the voice of _thy_ WORDS, _saying,_ 9 1 AM CLEAN, WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me: 10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy; 11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man. COMMENT 33:8-12 JOB 33:8God is too great to be guilty of the behavior alluded to in Job's charges. He has never persecuted a righteous man. At this point Elihu gets down to his self-appointed task of effectually res