Job Expounded, Commentary on Job · Chapter 33
¶ THE SVMME AND ORDER of the 33. Chapter.
WEe hauehave saide that Elihu misconstrued many things, which Iob spake, and that hee did though not vndeseruedly, yet verie bitterlie reprooue the same, which I will make plaine after this sorte. First, to passe ouer his preface contained in the first seuen verses of this Chapter, wherein no bitternes is wanting, let vsus consider of those thinges which are by him reprooued in the ninth verse following, and in the former parte of the tenth verse. For wee shall not finde that Iob anie where spake in such manner. But Elihu doth thus gather because Iob had oftentimes made protestation of his own innocencie before the iudgement seat of God, euen in these words: If I prepare me to iudgement, I shal be iustified: and againe, Let me speake, and answere thou me: how many are mine iniquities and sinnes? shew me my rebellion. Chapter 13. verse 18.22. and 23. Which speeches of Iob, doubtlesse, are not so to be taken, as if in the sight and iudgement of God, he esteemed him selfe to be free from sinne, but wee must remember that they were by him vttered onelyonly in way of answere vntounto the false accusations of his friendes, vvho spared not, without all reason to reuile him as a most wicked and vngodlie liuer. For that his meaning was farre from that vvherevvith Elihu chargeth him, it is euident both in other places, and especiallie by the vvordes vvhichwhich hee vseth in the ninth Chapter and in the second verse. How shall a man iustifie himselfe with God? if he will stand in contention vvith him, hee can not ansvver him one for a thousand. and in the 14. Chapter, vers. 4. Who can dravve cleannesse out of vncleannes? and yet more plainlie in the 9. Chapter vers. 20.21. If I shall iustifie my selfe, my mouth shall condēne me. Am I perfit? I should not know my soule. Therfore it is not to be doubted, but that Elihu doeth misconstrue Iobs wordes, and otherwise take them, then could stand with his meaning. Now as touching the other parte of the tenth verse, together with the eleuenth, true it is that Job, through a certaine immoderate vehemencie, vseth the verie same wordes in the 13. Chapter, vers. 14.15. & 27. which thing, for asmuch as it proceeded not of pride, and much lesse of anie wicked and rebellious disposition, but of a moste grieuous sense and feeling of intollerable griefe, hee was rather to be comforted and exhorted vntounto patience, then thus sharplie to be checked, taunted, and rebuked in his so great extremitie. For it is one thing to exceede measure in so iust a cause of lamentation; an other, presumptuouslie to stand in contention with God, which was alwaies farre from Iobs purpose. Now that which he speaketh in the 12. verse, God is greater then man: & in the 13. God speaketh not all his vvordes; there is no reason at all; why hee shou'd applie it vntounto Iob, forasmuch as no man hath reasoned more wisely concerning the vnsearchable wisdome of God in manie of his workes, then Iob hath done almost in eueryevery place of this booke. Now as touching those things which follow to the end of the Chapter, concerning the two waies which God vseth to schoole his children, the one more milde, to keep them from falling into sinne, the other more rigorous, when they hauehave committed wickednes, to bring them to repentance and amendment of their life; although this be true which he speaketh, yet is it nothing to the purpose. For to say the truth, Iob, (howbeit it behooued him to make vse and profit of this his affliction,) was not for either of these causes giuen vp into the hands of Satan, but that in him beeing thus tried, God might triumph ouer his enimie and leaue a most singuler example vntounto all posteritie, both of his owne goodnes confirming his children, and also of the patience and constancie of those, vvho trulie and sincerelie worship God. Therefore to conclude, although Elihu did verie well in taking Jobs parte against those his three friendes, as also hee doeth not without good cause, require a greater moderation in Iobs speeches, notwithstanding he left yet vntounto Iob manie good and lawfull excuses, which hee peraduenture woulde not long hauehave concealed, vnlesse God, who doth also him selfe reprooue Job, but yet vvith great equitie and mildnesse, vnlesse God, J say, both in worde and deede, had ended this whole controuersie. But I will afterwarde when better occasion serueth, shewe the reason, both why Iob answered nothing to this so large and plentifull discourse, which Elihu maketh, and also, why God, sharpely rebuking the other three, blamed Elihu nothing at all.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Vers. 1. And also, Iob, I pray thee heare my talke, and harken vntounto all my wordes,
2 Behold now, J will open my mouth, my tongue shall speake in my mouth.
3 My wordes shall bee the rightnes of my heart, and my lips shall speake pure iudgement.
4 The spirit of God hath made mee, and the breath of the almightie hath put life into mee.
5 If thou canst giuegive me answer set downe in order (thy reasons) before me, stand vp.
6 Loe, (I am here) before thy face, in Gods steede: I am formed of the claie, euen J also.
7 Behold, my terror shall not astonish thee, and my hand shall not be heauie vponupon thee.
1. AND that which I hauehave to say, Iob, is not onelyonly to reprooue thy accusers, according as they hauehave deserued; but the cheefest drifte of my speech is against thee. I pray thee therefore quietlie to heare, and with all attentiuenesse to marke those things that I shall speake. 2 For they are no trifling matters, vvhichwhich I meane to vtter, but such as I hauehave long before thought on, and throughlie considered of, according vntounto wisedome and vnderstanding. 3 Finallie, I will without all preiudice and dissimulation, moste sincerely shewe foorth my whole meaning. 4 And I confesse, that I am no better then a man, whome God hath made, liuing and breathing after the same manner that other men doe. 5 Neither doe I entende, because I see thee cast downe and afflicted, therefore to triumph ouer thee in wordes, or to ouerpresse thee with authoritie: but if there bee anie thing, whereat thou wilt take exception, it shall bee free for thee, without all feare and regarde, to turne the same backe againe vponupon mee whatsoeuer it bee, or in what manner or order thou thinkest best. 6. and 7. For whereas, when thou diddest appeale vntounto the tribunall seate of God, I heard thee with great feruencie (as good reason thou shouldest) desire of him, that hee vvoulde not terrifie thee with the brightnes of his maiestie; beholde, hee hath graunted thy request. For I am come hither in steede and in the name of God him selfe; euen I, a man like vntounto thy selfe, fashioned and made of clay: so that now thou canst not complaine that thou art astonied at my terrible countenance, neither that thou art not able to abide anie assault of mine.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I hauehave heard the voice of thy wordes.
9 J am pure, and without sinne: J am cleane and there is no iniquitie in me.
10 Loe he hath found destructions against me, and he counteth me for an enimie.
11 Hee putteth my feete in the stockes, hee obserueth all my pathes.
12 Behold, in this thou art not found iust, I answer thee. For God is greater then man.
13 Why hast thou striued against him? for he doth not speake out all his wordes.
8 This therefore which thou spakest in my hearing, when I thoroughlie marked and vnderstoode eueryevery worde which fell out of thy mouth, thou shalt not denie. 9. I heard thee, I say, when thou saidst: I am pure and without fault, I am cleane and there is no wickednesse in mee. 10 And yet, behold, he seeketh occasions, whereby he may destroy me, and he pursueth me as if I were an enemie. 11 Yea, and he keepeth me fast bounde in fetters, which are most straight and sure, as though he were afraide, least I shoulde escape away from him: and he doeth so narrowly watch mee which way so euer I goe, that I can not so much as wagge out anie whither, but hee is presently at my heeles. 12 Truely, Iob, when thou spakest these woordes, I must needes say, that thou wert not founde to be vpright and iust. For doest thou not knowe what great difference there is betweene GOD and men? 13 What presumption then is this, I pray, that thou shouldest dare to contende and reason with God, before whome thou oughtest rather with all quietnesse and willingnesse to cast downe and humble thy selfe? For it is not his vse, neither is he bounde to giuegive an account of all his doings.
14 But God speaketh once, and the seconde time to him, that seeth him not.
15 In a dreame (and) in night visions, when sounde sleepe commeth vponupon men, as they slumber in their beds.
16 Then God openeth the eare of men, and sealeth their chastisement,
17 That he might turne man (from) his enterprise, and remooue the pride of man,
18 (Who) might keepe his soule from the graue, and his life that it fall not on the sword.
14 Neither yet can men complaine that he gaue them no warning, who contrariwise, not once or twise, but manie times and sundrie wayes is wont to call them backe, to the beholding againe of his maiestie, who had turned away them selues from him. 15. and 16 Sometime he calleth them (which thou Eliphaz madest mention of in the beginning of thy speech) by dreames and visions of the night, what time men are ouertaken with a moste deepe and sounde sleepe, pulling them as it were by the eares, and leaving euen in their mindes an impression of those great punishmentes which hang ouer their heades, to the ende he might warne and teach them, to lay aside those things which they were entended to doe, as also that he might forbid them to continue in their wicked enterprises: by which meanes, at length they should knowe howe to avoid present destruction, whether of the sworde, or any bodily disease whatsoeuer.
19 (Some man) also is corrected vponupon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with grievous paine.
20 And his life abhorreth bread, and his soule meates to be desired.
21 His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones are bruised (and) are not seene.
22 His soule draweth nigh vntounto the pit, and his life vntounto deadly evils.
19. and 20 But sometimes, when man will not take heede by these warnings: yet God goeth on the seconde time to speake vntounto him, as he lyeth on his bed, tormented with some grievous sickenesse, pearcing euen to the verie bones within (whereof thou thy selfe hast experience at this present) in so much that hauing no appetite at all vntounto his meate, he vtterly refuseth to take the same, be it neuer so daintie. 21. and 22 Moreouer, all his limmes beeing brought lowe, and made leane by reason of the disease, stand staring out in such sort, that, excepting his bones, there is no one thing to be seene in him, that representeth the shape of a man: so that nowe he is rather like to them, that lye in the graue, then to any of the liuing: neither doeth he stande in neede of any remedie or helpe of any thing more, then of those who should carrie his carcase vntounto the graue.
23 But if there be an angell with him, (that is, a messenger sent from heauen) an interpreter one of a thousand, who may declare vntounto him his righteousnesse, (that is, what he in duetie ought to doe.)
24 Then (God) will hauehave merciemercy vponupon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he goe not downe into the pit: I hauehave found a reconciliation.
25 His flesh shall waxe tender by reason of youth, he shall returne to the dayes of his youth.
26 (For) he shall pray vntounto God, who will be appeased with him, and he will graunt vntounto him to see his countenance with ioy, and will render vntounto man his righteousnesse.
27 But he shall looke vponupon men, and shall say: I hauehave sinned and perverted righteousnesse, neither did (that) profite me.
28 He hath redeemed my soule, that it should not descend into the pit, and my life hath seene light.
23 But if any man of God sent from heauen, shalbe present at hand with him, being in this so grievous a plight, to be as it were a peace maker betweene God and him (such as ye shall scarce finde one amongest a thousande) who may call him backe, and conduct him into the right wayes of God: (and it is thy parte, Iob, to consider with thy selfe, whether God doeth nowe at this present, vouchsafe thee the like benefite or no) 24 then howe desperate and vnlikely soeuer the salvation of that man seemed to be, God shewing merciemercy on him, will commaunde that peacemaker to declare his pardon vntounto him, whereby he is set free from going down into the graue: which freedome is purchased onelyonly by that price and raunsome, which God him selfe hath procured for him. 25 Immediately after God hath thus spoken, euen the verie rotten flesh of that miserable creature, shall appeare tender and smooth, like vntounto the flesh of a yong child, so that a man would thinke him to be restored againe, vntounto the fresh flower of his youth. 26 For according as hee hath prayed vntounto God, to whome he is nowe reconciled, so shall he obtaine this benefit and favour of him: to wit, that hauing receiued againe the righteousnesse, which he had before lost, he may with ioy & cheerefulnesse behold the countenance of God, whereat before he so much trembled. 27 Moreouer, turning him selfe to other men, and publickely yeelding thankes vntounto God, as it becommeth a man who is mindefull of a benefite, he shall say: Beholde, I had sinned, and left the right way, whereby it came to passe, that I fell into so great miserie. 28 But he hath deliuered me, euen he, I say, hath saued me from being thrust downe into the pit, through whose fauour and goodnesse I nowe beholde this light.
29 Loe, all these thinges doeth God twise and thrise with a man.
30 That he may turne away his soule from the pit, and that he may be illuminate in the light of the living.
31 Marke well, O Job, heare me: keepe silence and I will speake.
32 If there be wordes, (that is, if thou hast any thing to say) answere me, speake: for I desire to iustifie thee.
33 But if there be none, doe thou heare me: holde thy peace, and I will teach thee wisedome.
29. and 30. And thus truely is God wont, according to his singular bountie, to deale with men, and that not once, but often: as namely, to redeeme and keepe them from present destruction, as also to grant vntounto thē the fruition of this life, yea and to remaine a most long and prosperous time among the liuing. 31 But see, Iob, that thou with al patience heare, and with all diligence also consider and marke these things: keepe silence, I say, and giuegive me leaue to speake. 32 And when I hauehave left speaking, if there be any thing whereof thou wilt make exception, answere boldly, & speake without feare. For I desire nothing more, then that thou shouldest be found iust, so farre am I from flattering thy aduersaries. 33 But if thou hast nothing to except, then heare me quietly: neither shall it repent thee thus with silence to giuegive eare vntounto me, when as I shall make thee vnderstand, what is to be thought of this matter according vntounto wisedome.