Job 33:19 Commentary and Bible Study

One such means is the very thing that Job has experienced: strong pain upon a bed of sickness. This discipline and pain are so that he will review life and turn from sin. Not everyone who experiences sickness is guilty of some sin which they need to repent of, there are many cases in Scripture where this is not so. The Apostle Paul was troubled by a thorn in the flesh but this was not given to him as a rebuke for sin already committed, but rather to prevent his falling into future sin, the sin of pride which might have resulted from such great revelations (2 Corinthians 12:7). Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary died but that death was for the glory of God so that Christ’s works might be made known. Others like Joseph experienced strong persecution apparently for no other reason than that they were being taught to share in the sufferings of the righteous in this life, so that they might look to God to raise them up and learn that the best things are in the world to come. In Job’s case however there was a secret discipline of God, the need for which was apparent from Job’s reaction to his suffering. Elihu describes the severity of these chastisements. They affect a man’s bones, bringing the deepest of pains. This pain is so strong that it takes away his appetite, for he cannot comfort himself with food when there are such strong discomforts that he knows he is unable to shift. He does not even want his staple food, far less the delicacies which previously he looked forward to. His bed which used to be a place of rest and invigoration has become an instrument of torture to him. Strong pain denies him sleep and makes time pass slowly and causes life to seem unbearable. As a result he does not eat for a prolonged period, and this weakens him so that he wastes away; his sickness sucks all vitality out of his body. He seems to draw near to death and in considering his future he finds it hard to believe that it will not lead to the grave. This is true in his own estimation and in the estimation of those around him. Elihu saw Job’s condition yet he believed that all this could easily be reversed by God, and, the way he spoke to Job, he showed that he believed it would be reversed. Such a man is overcome with gloom about his eternal future. This was a very graphic description of exactly what Job was going through, yet Elihu is careful not to say that these things are the result of God’s punishing Job for some sin committed before all his troubles began. Rather they are strong disciplines and corrections to train him and to help one who had already made such progress in sanctification to progress even further.