Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 33 · Verse 23
Verſe 23. If there be a Meſſenger with him, an Interpreter, one among a thouſand, to ſhew unto man his uprightneſs.
Followeth, the third mean, whereby God ſpeaks to man, together with an account of Gods mind, uttered thereby, to the ſick and afflicted perſon, and of the conſequents of mans entertaining this meſſage. In this Verſe we have to Conſider,
Firſt, The third mean, which God joynes with affliction, to declare his mind in it; Namely, Some Meſſenger ſent of God to the ſick man, to be with him in his low condition. This Meſſenger is here deſcribed,
1. From his Authority, that he is a Meſſenger, ſent by God, and authorized by a Commiſſion, to ſpeak in his name. Some do underſtand it of an Angel (as the word in the Original is indeed the name given to thoſe bleſſed Spirits) and ſome of Chriſt, the Angel and Meſſenger of the Covenant. But as the word is frequently taken in Scripture for men who are employed and ſent upon an Ambaſſage or meſſage; ſo here it is ſafer to underſtand it of ſome Miniſter, or man extraordinarily inſpired, who is preſent with the ſick man, as here Elihu was with Job.
2. From the nature and ſcope of his Work, that he is an Interpreter, to expound the diſpenſations of God to the ſick man, and to be a trench-man, both from God to him, and from him to God, as men who underſtand not one anothers language make uſe of Interpreters between them.
3. From his Rarity, that he is one among a thouſand, or, a perſon rarely to be found, even among many who are employed in that work; as this phraſe imports, Eccleſ. 7.28.
Doct. 1. However trouble may contribute to humble man, and lay his pride, and may bring him to deſire to know the mind of God concerning him; Yet, trouble, its alone, and without the Word, will do no good; For, here another mean muſt be added, to clear from the Word what God ſpeaks by that affliction. See Pſal. 94.12. We muſt not miſtake albeit afflictions do not produce all the good effects we deſire; it is well if they ſend us to the Word, and cauſe us ſtudy it better.
2. Albeit mens own Spirits ſhould be the Candle of the Lord, to let them ſee what they are, and ought to do, Prov. 20.27. and eſpecially it ſhould be ſo in a time of trouble; Yet ordinarily (as afflictions cannot be read without the Word, ſo) men need help to read Gods diſpenſations aright, and what God ſpeaks in his Word concerning them: For, the godly man needs a Meſſenger, for this end, in his ſickneſs.
3. It is a great tryal of mens ſubmiſſion, when they are put to ſtoop to ordinary means of comfort and inſtruction, even when their need is greateſt: For, now, under affliction, God ſends not viſions to the ſick man himſelf, as v. 15. nor doth himſelf immediately appear, as Job often deſired, but reveals his mind by the miniſtry of his Meſſengers, whom he ſends and employes upon that errand.
4. That theſe Inſtruments employed muſt be Meſſengers, doth not ſeclude that aſſiſtance which every godly man is bound, in charity, to afford to the afflicted, for his direction and comfort; But it ſheweth, That none ought to act thoſe things in a Miniſterial and authoritative way, but only they who have a Commiſſion from God for that effect. In no age of the Church was it lawful for men to intrude themſelves upon the Miniſterial calling; Nor would any Prince endure that a man ſhould behave himſelf as his Ambaſſadour, without his Commiſſion; nor would a Maſter endure ſuch Servants. And withall, it ſheweth, That they who are authorized by ſuch a Commiſſion ſhould carry as the Meſſengers of God, and ſhould be received and entertained as ſuch. See 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. Gal. 4.14.
5. That this Meſſenger is an Interpreter, or, trenchman, may teach,
1. That Gods diſpenſations toward his own Children need, oft-times, an Interpreter, or Commentary, as having more in them than can be ſeen at firſt, and ſome other thing than ſenſe will eaſily diſcern.
2. That ſuch as are employed about this work, have need of much skill and ability, to interpret that which cannot ſo well be read, even by thoſe who are concerned. See Iſ. 50.4.
3. That in their expounding of Gods diſpenſations by, and according to his Word, and generally, in revealing the counſel of God, we ſhould ſeriouſly ponder their authority; that they are Meſſengers, ſent of God, to be Interpreters; So that God ſpeaks by them, and they ſpeak in Gods ſtead, as his Ambaſſadours, 2 Cor. 5.20. Upon which account they are rather to be made uſe of than private Profeſſours.
Doct. 6. That this Meſſenger, and Interpreter, is, one among a thouſand, may teach,
1. That faithful Miniſters are very rare; The Miniſtry it ſelf is a difficult task, for which none are of themſelves ſufficient, 2 Cor. 2.16. And beſide, it is Calling that brings ſmall worldly profit, and is attended with great oppoſition; So that it is no eaſie task for men to acquit themſelves faithfully in it.
2. That it is b…t ſcarce one of many Meſſengers (even though they be otherwiſe able and honeſt) that is fit and able to deal effectually with troubled conſciences and afflicted perſons; which is the work here to be undertaken by this Meſſenger. So that it is a ſingular mercy when many of thoſe are in a Land.
3. That ſuch Meſſengers ought to be eſteemed of as rare Jewels, Iſ. 52.7. They are the fruit of Gods married love, Jer. 3.14, 15. and may ſweeten bitter lots, Iſ. 30.20, 21. And therefore ſhould not be the object of mens contempt.
Doct. 7. This Suppoſition is alſo to be marked, If he be with him; Which doth not import, That ſick perſons ſhould not ſend for faithful Miniſters, and will make uſe of them only if they come of their own accord, or be providentially preſent with them; For the contrary is enjoyned, Jam. 5.14. But it imports,
1. That Miniſters ſhould be careful to attend perſons in ſickneſs and affliction, to ſee what good they can do, and whom of them they can get gained to Chriſt.
2. That it is a mercy to have ſuch faithful men near us in our diſtreſſes; As Elihu was to Job. The Church found it ſad when ſhe wanted her Signes and Prophets, in the time of her trouble, Pſ. 74.9.
3. When God in his providence ſtrikes a godly man, he will be careful to provide comfort for him ſome other way; As here he provides a Meſſenger to be with the afflicted man.
Secondly, In this Verſe, Conſider, alſo, the account that is given of what God ſpeaks by his Rod, and this Meſſenger, and what this Meſſenger ſhould ſpeak as the mind of God in ſuch a diſpenſation; He ſhould ſhew unto man his uprightneſs, or, his rectitude, righteouſneſs, equity. Where the great Queſtion is, Who is meant by this relative, His, or, whoſe uprightneſs it is that this Meſſenger is to ſhew and declare? The antecedent immediately preceding is, Man, which ſhould ſeem to import, that it is mans uprightneſs that is ſhewed; and yet the context takes in God alſo, as he in whoſe name the Meſſenger ſpeaks, and who, in the following Verſe, gives him a further Commiſſion; and, accordingly, ſome do underſtand it of Gods uprightneſs, and ſome of mans. I conceive that where ſuch things are left undetermined, we may take the words in the fulleſt latitude, ſo as we keep by the ſcope of the words and purpoſe. And therefore if we conſider, that, when what is here ſhewed and declared takes effect, man is brought to need a ranſome, and God finds it for him, v. 24. He is alſo brought to be ſenſible of his ſin, v. 27. upon which God renders unto him his righteouſneſs, v. 26. If, I ſay, we conſider this, we may make up the tenour of this Meſſengers errand in theſe particulars,
1. He is to ſhew unto man Gods uprightneſs, that he is juſt and upright in his afflicting of him.
2. That man maybe convinced of this, he muſt ſhew that he is a ſinner who is afflicted, which he may do by pointing out the holineſs and righteouſneſs of God who afflicts him, and by pointing out to man what is the uprightneſs which God requireth of him, which will eaſily diſcover unto him his deviations from that rule.
3. He is alſo to convince man concerning the uprightneſs and equity of God, in his dealing with him, ſince he hath laid down a ſure way of reconciliation betwixt himſelf and man, and for man to attain to a good account of all lots that befall him; even by repenting of his ſin, v. 27. and fleeing to that ranſome, v. 24.
4. By pointing out thoſe, he ſheweth unto man wherein his uprightneſs and rectitude conſiſteth, or what may ſet him right in Gods favour, and is his duty, to prove himſelf an upright and righteous man; even to repent, and lay hold upon that ranſome which God hath found. So this direction will comprehend both Repentance, and Faith in the Meſſiah, or, cloſing with his imputed righteouſneſs. And albeit the word here rendred, Uprightneſs, doth no where (that I can obſerve) ſignifie the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to us; Yet, it may well ſignifie, that it is mans duty (if he would be upright, and ſtand right in Gods favour) to lay hold upon that righteouſneſs. This I take to be principally and ultimately meant in this p…ace, That this Meſſenger is to ſhew to the afflicted man, that it is his uprightneſs, and the way to ſet him right again, to repent and believe: Yet this cannot well be inculcated and demonſtrated to a godly man in affliction (who is the perſon here ſpoken of all along) unleſs he be firſt convinced of Gods uprightneſs in afflicting him, of his own ſin and deviation from the rule of righteouſneſs which is preſcribed to him, and of Gods equity in all his deſignes and actings about him. And therefore I take in all thoſe, as the full expoſition of the words, which comprehends a mans being laid low, in the ſenſe of his ſins, whereby he is made to juſtifie God in all that befalleth him, Neh. 9.33. Lam. 1.18. and his being lifted up and encouraged through faith in Chriſt; which were the ſumm alſo of Pauls doctrine, Act. 20.21. So the ſumm of all is, That whereas even godly men are, oft-times, ſliding, and do forget to renew their repentance and faith, God layeth them low under his afflicting hand, and by his Meſſengers tells them that they ought to be humbled in the ſenſe of their ſinfulneſs, and to renew their repentance, and lay hold upon the ranſome which God hath found.
From theſe words, taken in their full latitude, as hath been explained, Learn,
1. Such as have a calling to deal with the Souls of afflicted perſons, have need of Gods direction and aſſiſtance in managing that undertaking; For, they have much to ſhew, or, declare, unto them, as hath been ſaid, which requires no little furniture to find it out, and to propound it in the due order.
2. Albeit even Gods people be ready to miſtake him under trouble; Yet it is their duty to ſtudy the uprightneſs of God, in guiding them, and ordering their lots; As here we are taught. It is a bleſſed fruit of trouble, when men are made to grow thereby in their commendation of God, and when the ſight of their own ſinfulneſs, and of his holineſs, who afflicts them, doth contribute to lay them low, and to juſtifie and exalt him in their hearts.
3. When afflicted perſons are laid low in the ſenſe of their own ſinfulneſs, and of his holineſs, who afflicts them, their work is not yet done; but they ſhould be further convinced of the rectitude and equity of Gods procedure, and that he ſeeks no advantage of them, but to drive them to their duty, and (thereby) to their happineſs; For, this alſo is to be ſhewed unto man, as hath been explained.
4. The ſumm of afflicted godly mens duty, is, by renewing their repentance and faith, to cloſe with Chriſt, and imputed righteouſneſs; For, it is the reſult of all other inſtructions, to point out this as mans uprightneſs, or, rectitude. So that they miſtake Gods mind in his humbling diſpenſations, who run away from Chriſt, or think to work out a righteouſneſs of their own, wherewith to ſatisfie God. And though men ſhould preach and preſs the Law never ſo much upon afflicted man; Yet they have not done all their work, if they leave them there, and do not point out Chriſt unto them.
5. Even godly men are ſo much ignorant of the righteouſneſs of God, and taken up with a deſire to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs, Rom. 10.3. and do ſo frequently forget to humble themſelves, and make uſe of Chriſt, that they need, not only to have their duty pointed out to them, but to be brought to the gates of death, that they may hearken unto the doctrine of humiliation, repentance and faith; For, this muſt be declared, or, ſhewed, unto man, and he is brought to that low condition, v. 19, — 22. that he may hearken to it when it is declared. And as men have themſelves to blame that they are put to ſuch difficulties, to ſtirr them up to learn this leſſon; ſo they who profit at that School, are great gainers, even by ſaddeſt afflictions.