Job 33:1 Commentary and Bible Study

Having finished explaining why he waited till that time to speak and his motivation in speaking, Elihu addresses Job directly. He is the first one speaking to Job to use his name in addressing him and this immediately communicates a more friendly approach. He knows that Job has been involved in a battle with the three friends and perhaps fears that Job will assume that he is going to take the same line and simply add further criticism. But Elihu has something different to say and he wants Job to prepare his mind to receive much more sympathetic counsel. We must make some effort when dealing with a sensitive subject to open the minds of our hearers and get them listen without fear of simply being attacked. Against Job, he makes the following charges:{(1) He does not charge him, like the comforters did, with gross sin or hypocrisy, nor does he deny that Job is a converted believer, but he accuses him of grossly overestimating his own righteousness and challenging the justice and kindness of God (Job 33:8-12).(2) He condemns Job for expecting God to explain himself (Job 33:13).(3) He condemns Job for failing to be grateful for all that God has done for him (Job 33:14 etc).}He proceeds then to pure evangelical instruction and reminds Job of God’s positive sanctifying motives in allowing suffering (Job 33:17-22).A man is pictured in terrible suffering just like the situation Job himself was in. ‘Then,’ says Elihu, (verse 23) ‘if there is a messenger with the suffering, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto that man his uprightness’ – or lack of it – ‘then God will be gracious to him and say, “deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom for him.” ‘Here, in the oldest biblical literature is the gospel of conviction, repentance, substitutionary atonement and conversion quite plainly unfolded. Elihu, in this gospel message, uplifts the only way of salvation. In tragedy and need, when the soul is brought low, a gracious Holy Spirit will explain the meaning of our condition to our hearts. We sorrow in repentance and find in our unworthiness and conviction a Saviour’s ransom.The great transformation of conversion will be the fruit, when all will be changed and ‘His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy’ (Job 33.25-26). Elihu is expounding a felt salvation, an experienced salvation, ‘For he will render [restore, give] unto man his righteousness’ (an imputed righteousness). ‘If a man repents,’ say verses 27-28, ‘he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.’But is not this a reference to the sequence of events when a lost sinner is saved? Yes, but it is more. ‘Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened’ (Job 33:29-30). There is a continuing discipline and sanctifying in which the Lord graciously uses all problems and trials.‘Pay careful attention Job, listen to me,’ says Elihu ‘…I desire to justify you.’ Job is being reproved for doubting God and over­estimating himself, but he is also going to be vindicated because he is not a hypocrite, but a true believer.