Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII.
After the former general Preface, Elihu comes now to deal more particularly with Job, without medling any more with his Friends. This he doth in four speeches; in the firſt three whereof (contained in this and the two following Chapters) he more particularly reprehends ſome of Jobs raſh expreſſions. And in the laſt (Chap. 36. and 37.) he more generally taxeth his complaints powred out againſt God. In all which diſcourſes, as he doth not quarrel the ſtate of Jobs perſon, but only his faults, eſpecially, his impertinent language under trouble; ſo he divides what he hath to ſay in ſo many speeches, not only that he may draw his breath between them, but alſo becauſe he gives Job leave, at the end of every one of them, to anſwer for himſelf, if he had any thing to ſay; as appears expreſly from the cloſe of his firſt ſpeech, v. 31, 32, 33.
In this Chapter (which contains his firſt ſpeech) his ſcope is to instruct that Job had unjuſtly taxed the Dispenſations of God toward him a righteous man. The Chapter may be taken up in three Heads, Firſt, A particular Preface to this ſpeech, directed to Job; wherein he craves his attention, v. 1. And that for weighty reaſons and conſiderations, v. 2. — 7. Secondly, The Speech it ſelf; wherein we have, 1. An Accuſation, or, a rehearſal of thoſe diſcourſes of Job which he is to refute, v. 8. —11. 2. A refutation of thoſe his diſcourſes, by two Arguments, One, taken from the Soveraignty of God, who is greater than all, and accountable to none, v. 12, 13, The other, taken from Gods condeſcendence to inſtruct men by various means, whereof they make but little uſe; Which is generally propounded, v. 14. Inſtanced (on Gods part, and as to the means he uſeth, and the end for which he uſeth them) in viſions and the like extraordinary wayes of revealing his mind, v. 15, 16, 17, 18. In afflictions, and particularly ſickneſs, v. 19, 20, 21, 22. And, in the miniſtry of men accompanying thoſe afflictions, v. 23. — 28. And ſummarily recapitulated, v. 29, 30. Thirdly, The Concluſion of the ſpeech, wherein he again craves Jobs attention; v. 31. Being willing to hear if he had any thing to ſay for himſelf. v. 32. And (if he had not) to inſtruct him yet more, v. 33.