Job 33
CHAPTER 33
Job 33:1-33 . ADDRESS TO JOB, AS ( Job 32:1-22 ) TO THE FRIENDS.
2. mouth--rather, "palate," whereby the taste discerns. Every man speaks with his mouth, but few, as Elihu, try their words with discrimination first, and only say what is really good ( Job 6:30 , 12:11 ).
hath spoken--rather, "proceeds to speak."
3. I will speak according to my inward conviction.
clearly--rather, "purely"; sincerely, not distorting the truth through passion, as the friends did.
4. The Spirit of God hath made me--as He did thee: latter clause of Job 33:6 ( Genesis 2:7 ). Therefore thou needest not fear me, as thou wouldest God ( Job 33:7 , Job 9:34 ). On the other hand, "the breath of the Almighty hath inspired me" (as Job 32:8 ); not as English Version, "given me life"; therefore "I am according to thy wish ( Job 9:32 Job 9:33 ) in God's stead" to thee; a "daysman," umpire, or mediator, between God and thee. So Elihu was designed by the Holy Ghost to be a type of Jesus Christ ( Job 33:23-26 ).
5. Images from a court of justice.
stand up--alluding to Job's words ( Job 30:20 ).
formed--Though acting as God's representative, I am but a creature, like thyself. Arabic, "pressed together," as a mass of clay by the potter, in forming a vessel [UMBREIT]. Hebrew, "cut off," as the portion taken from the clay to form it [MAURER].
7. hand--alluding to Job's words ( Job 13:21 ).
8. thy words--( Job 10:7 , 16:17 , Job 23:11 Job 23:12 , Job 27:5 Job 27:6 , 29:14 ). In Job 9:30 , 13:23 , Job had acknowledged sin; but the general spirit of his words was to maintain himself to be "clean," and to charge God with injustice. He went too far on the opposite side in opposing the friends' false charge of hypocrisy. Even the godly, though willing to confess themselves sinners in general, often dislike sin in particular to be brought as a charge against them. Affliction is therefore needed to bring them to feel that sin in them deserves even worse than they suffer and that God does them no injustice. Then at last humbled under God they find, affliction is for their real good, and so at last it is taken away either here, or at least at death. To teach this is Elihu's mission.
9. clean--spotless.
10. occasions--for hostility; literally, "enmities" ( Job 13:24 , 16:9 , 19:11 , 30:21 ).
11. ( Job 13:27 ).
marketh--narrowly watches ( Job 14:16 , 7:12 , 31:4 ).
12. in this--view of God and His government. It cannot be that God should jealously "watch" man, though "spotless," as an "enemy," or as one afraid of him as an equal. For "God is greater than man!" There must be sin in man, even though he be no hypocrite, which needs correction by suffering for the sufferer's good.
13. ( Isaiah 45:9 ).
his matters--ways. Our part is, not to "strive" with God, but to submit. To believe it is right because He does it, not because we see all the reasons for His doing it.