lihu desires Job's attention. (1-4) The methods in which God
deals with men. (5-14) Elihu counsels Job. (15-23) The wonders
in the works of creation. (24-33)
Verses 1-4: Elihu only maintained that the affliction was sent for his
trial; and lengthened because Job was not yet thoroughly humbled
under it. He sought to ascribe righteousness to his Maker; to
clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. Such
knowledge must be learned from the word and Spirit of God, for
naturally we are estranged from it. The fitness of Elihu's
discourse to the dispute between Job and his friends is plain.
It pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which
he had been pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials
with which he had been visited. It taught that God had acted in
mercy towards him, and the spiritual benefit he was to derive
from them. It corrected the mistake of his friends, and showed
that Job's calamities were for good.
Verses 5-14: Elihu here shows that God acts as righteous Governor. He
is always ready to defend those that are injured. If our eye is
ever toward God in duty, his eye will be ever upon us in mercy,
and, when we are at the lowest, will not overlook us. God
intends, when he afflicts us, to discover past sins to us, and
to bring them to our remembrance. Also, to dispose our hearts to
be taught: affliction makes people willing to learn, through the
grace of God working with and by it. And further, to deter us
from sinning for the future. It is a command, to have no more to
do with sin. If we faithfully serve God, we have the promise of
the life that now is, and the comforts of it, as far as is for
God's glory and our good: and who would desire them any further?
We have the possession of inward pleasures, the great peace
which those have that love God's law. If the affliction fail in
its work, let men expect the furnace to be heated till they are
consumed. Those that die without knowledge, die without grace,
and are undone for ever. See the nature of hypocrisy; it lies in
the heart: that is for the world and the flesh, while perhaps
the outside seems to be for God and religion. Whether sinners
die in youth, or live long to heap up wrath, their case is
dreadful. The souls of the wicked live after death, but it is in
everlasting misery.
Verses 15-23: Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own
trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even
good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's
wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his
stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his
providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin,
never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu thinks Job
needed this caution, he having chosen rather to gratify his
pride and humour by contending with God, than to mortify them by
submitting, and accepting the punishment. It is absurd for us to
think to teach Him who is himself the Fountain of light, truth,
knowledge, and instruction. He teaches by the Bible, and that is
the best book; teaches by his Son, and he is the best Master. He
is just in all proceedings.
Verses 24-33: Elihu endeavours to fill Job with high thought of God,
and so to persuade him into cheerful submission to his
providence. Man may see God's works, and is capable of
discerning his hand in them, which the beasts are not, therefore
they ought to give him the glory. But while the worker of
iniquity ought to tremble, the true believer should rejoice.
Children should hear with pleasure their Father's voice, even
when he speaks in terror to his enemies. There is no light but
there may be a cloud to intercept it. The light of the favour of
God, the light of his countenance, the most blessed light of
all, even that light has many a cloud. The clouds of our sins
cause the Lord to his face, and hinder the light of his
loving-kindness from shining on our souls.
lihu desires Job's attention. (1-4) The methods in which God
deals with men. (5-14) Elihu counsels Job. (15-23) The wonders
in the works of creation. (24-33)