Job 33 could be outlined -
Elihu wants to speak to Job (Job 33:1-7)
Elihu blames Job (Job 33:8-12)
God’s desire to save mankind (Job 33:13-18)
God’s messenger (Job 33:19-30)
Elihu wants Job’s undivided attention (Job 33:31-33)
In this chapter Elihu will continue his argument that Job is not righteous before God – that Job is being punished because of some sin in his life.
1 "But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words. 2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth. 3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. 4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand. 6 Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay. 7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you. Job 33:1-7 (NKJV)
ELIHU WANTS TO SPEAK TO JOB
In verses one and two Elihu asks Job to listen to what he says.
In verse three Elihu says that his words “come from an upright heart.” Is there such a thing? Is the heart of man pure and upright? The Genesis flood came because the heart of man was not pure:
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5 (ESV)
“The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Genesis 8:21 (ESV)
We all have a tainted heart – even if we think our thoughts are pure and holy – they have been affected by sin. We live in a fallen world that is bent and twisted. Let us be careful therefore not to get too attached to this world – where mouth and rust will consume that which is material. Let us put our hope in heaven where judgment will be pure and holy.
Not only does Elihu claim to have an upright heart – he also claims to have “pure knowledge”. Again I ask – can a man have such a thing? All of man’s knowledge is limited. All of man’s knowledge has been affected by the world in which he lives. Again we have – in this world been affected by sin. Only God is pure – only God is holy. The sin of man has not touched the purity or holiness of God’s character in any way. He remains pure – even in the fall of mankind. God dwells in heaven not on earth. The earth – all of creation has been affected – infected – by the fall of man. We live in a world where we have seen and known no difference – but:
“I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV)
In verse four Elihu again appeals to Job to listen to him. “God’s Spirit has made him. The breath of God gives him life.” Every human can make this claim. We are all on level ground when it comes to this fact. God breathed life into man – in a real sense He still does.
In verse five the NASV says:
“Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.” Job 33:5 (NASV)
In other words; “Get your arguments ready – I am about to let you have it. Take your stand – I’ve listened to the whole debate – now I’m ready to let you have it.”
The NKJV in the first part of verse six makes it sound like Elihu is better than Job when he says that he is Job’s “spokesman before God.” But if you look at most translations they give the impression that Elihu is saying that Job and he are equal – both of them have been made out of “clay”. The Message Bible says:
“Look, I’m human—no better than you; we’re both made of the same kind of mud.” Job 33:6 (MSG)
Elihu goes on to say in verse seven: “Because we are equal – you don’t have to fear me. With my words – I will not put much pressure on you.”
8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, 9 ’I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; 11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ 12 "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. Job 33:8-12 (NKJV)
ELIHU BLAMES JOB
Elihu now gives the reason that he feels he must speak up. He has heard the debate. He has been there all the time. He has heard every word. He knows Job argument.
Elihu says that Job had claimed:
1. I am pure – without iniquity.
2. I am innocent – my conscience is clear.
Elihu says that Job had claimed that God had:
1. Found occasions to punish him.
2. Counts him as his enemy.
3. Places his feet in stocks.
4. Watches each and every step taken.
Now Elihu says plainly – “You are not righteous. Job you are a sinner. I’ll tell you why – because God is punishing you and He is much greater than any man.”
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. Job 33:13-18 (NKJV)
GOD’S DESIRE TO SAVE MANKIND
Elihu now asks Job, “Why are you fighting with God? He does not have answer to you!” God never has to give us an answer for what happens in lives. Someone has said – if we only receive salvation – we have already received more than we deserve. What truth! He does not answer to man. It is God’s character alone that we can count on. He does not lie. He does not break His word. His words endure – forever.
Who can understand the deep things that only God can understand? There is no one! We ask, “Why is this happening to me?” We try to reason – only God knows sometimes for we surely don’t. But we must trust His word:
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (ESV)
Elihu tells Job in verse fifteen that God speaks to man:
1. In a dream.
2. In a vision.
While man is in a deep sleep – or while he is slumbering on his bed. God opens the ears of man – if he will only listen. Why? Verse seventeen tells us.
1. In order to keep man from sinning.
2. In order to keep man from falling into pride.
3. In order to keep man from going to hell.
4. In order to keep man from dying a violent death.
Remember:
“It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:14 (ASV)
Also:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ASV)
It is God’s will that no one would perish.
19 "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, 20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 23 "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ’Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’; 25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. 27 Then he looks at men and says, ’I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’ 28 He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. 29 "Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, 30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. Job 33:19-30 (NKJV)
GOD’S MESSENGER
Elihu now changes from focusing on Job to talking about mankind in general. Elihu says that man is corrected for sin – by God sending suffering into the world. Mankind suffers:
1. While lying in bed.
2. In his bones.
3. In his flesh.
4. In his body.
Man will suffer so much that there will be no desire for food. (Verse twenty) He will not want to eat.
Every man’s soul is drawn to the grave. We all die. The grave is the final resting place of us all. This life will end in death. Death is our executioner.
But what if there is an angel – a messenger – a mediator – who will bring us good news – who will show us righteousness – will we not have hope? It’s a long shot I know – perhaps one in a thousand – but it could happen. Then God would be gracious to us. God’s messenger – His mediator – could deliver us from the pit – could bring us hope of what lies beyond the grave! How wonderful that would be! We all could cry out:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV)
If we had such a message – such a messenger – such a mediator – we would have hope that our flesh would one day be restored – made new – like that of a child’s and we would have the energy of our youth.
We would pray to God and He would take delight in us. Our faces would be full of joy. God Himself would restore us to right standing before Him.
When all is said and done man will proclaim that he has sinned. He has taken that which is good – that which is right – and bent and twisted it and made it perverted. This truly is sin. To take that which God has made – and said it is “good” and to make it unholy. There are many good things in the world – yet they can easily be perverted for ones own selfish desires. There will be no profit in these actions.
But God can redeem us from ourselves. He along can keep our souls from the eternal grave. He alone can shine His light upon us – so that His revelation can open our eyes to salvation.
Verses twenty nine and thirty say, “Behold, God can work the work of salvation. Once – yes! Twice – yes! Three times – yes! God is able – where man is unable. He alone gives life. To give us hope beyond he grave. To know that even if we die physically – there is spiritual life – everlasting life – hope eternal in the light of God.”
Here in these verses we find the hope of the Biblical message. Our hope is found in the Messenger – the Mediator – the Redeemer who was placed in a grave – yet lies there no more. Our hope lies in the fact that God became flesh and died on our behalf – and rose from the dead. Let us always remember:
“If the dead can’t be brought back to life, then Christ hasn’t come back to life. If Christ hasn’t come back to life, our message has no meaning and your faith also has no meaning.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (GW)
31 "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom." Job 33:31-33 (NKJV)
ELIHU WANTS JOB’S UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
In these last verses of this chapter Elihu asks Job to listen to him. Listen to him intently and if Job has any thing to reply back he is welcome to do so. But if Job will just listen – hold his peace – then Elihu says that he will teach Job wisdom.
