THERE were two great faults in what Job had said. He had thought too well of himself, and he had found fault with God. Elihu points this out to Job when he recalls how he had said: “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy; He putteth my feet in the stocks,” “Behold,” says Elihu, “in this thou art not just,” for “God is greater than [mortal] man.” Why did Job strive against Him? God does not give to man an accounting of any of His matters or His ways. But He was speaking to Job in all these things that had come upon him.
Then in the following words of Elihu we have a beautiful unfolding of the ways of God in grace with man, showing that even in those days before the gospel as we now know it, was preached, in the midst of all the ruin of this world, where the power of Satan triumphed, God was seeking in mercy to turn lost man from going down to destruction. God, says Elihu, speaks often in visions and dreams to open men’s ears, to turn man from his purpose and to hide pride from man. In so doing, God held back man’s soul from the pit. It is sad that even today, God speaks once, yea twice, to man, but he does not hear His voice speaking to him in love, and so often goes on in his own way. For this he will have to give an account to God in that day to come. In this present time God would turn the hearts of men to Christ who has said: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:28, 2928Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28‑29).
Elihu shows that the purpose of God was to warn man of his danger and turn him from his path away from God. He desires to be gracious unto him, and would say, “Deliver him from, going down to the pit. I have found a ransom.” We know that He has found that ransom in the work of the Lord Jesus who gave Himself in love for us upon the cross. We also know from Romans 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26) that God was looking on to that work of the cross, when He would be able to show that He could be just in passing over the sins of those who in Old Testament times had faith in Him. In Hebrews 11 we have a long list of some of these saints of old, and we are told that they are waiting for that time when they shall be made perfect along with us who are saved in this dispensation; that is, they are waiting for the resurrection. Now this is the special hope of those who have put their trust in Christ.
It isn’t that the sinner has found a ransom, but it is God. Himself who has found a ransom. Thus the believer is no longer a trembling sinner before! God as a Judge, but before Him as his Justifier. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Rom. 8:33, 3433Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33‑34).
Thus in his ministry Elihu speaks of the mercy and goodness of God to man, while not sparing his pride and sin. And so he says, “Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.”
ML-07/17/1960