December 4, 2011
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH A MESSENGER
Job 33:23-33
Job complained that God was unfair because He wouldn’t answer him. Job contended that God does not speak. Elihu answered by saying, “God speaks in one way and then in another, but man doesn’t perceive it.” God speaks, but are we listening? Elihu has further informed us that God speaks through dreams and visions and He speaks through pain. In more general terms, God speaks through words and God speaks through circumstances.
Let’s pause a moment to go back to the long dialogue between Job and his three friends -- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. These friends claimed that God was punishing Job by sending him such severe pain. Job, on the other hand, claimed that he had not committed the great sins of which his friends accused him. This caused great turmoil in Job. “Since I know that God punishes the wicked, and since I know that I have not done such wickedness, how can I account for such painful suffering?” It was this great dilemma that led Job to question God and conclude that God would not answer.
When Elihu began to speak to Job and his friends, he immediately asserted that both Job and his friends were wrong. His friends were wrong in that they accused Job of wickedness he had not done and because they could not answer Job’s great question. Elihu rebuked Job because he was righteous in his own eyes, justifying himself rather than God. He knew Job had not committed the ugly crimes of which his friends accused him, but he wanted to help Job see a more subtle form of sin in his life. Both of the phrases he uses -- “righteous in his own eyes” and “justified himself rather than God” -- speak of pride. Job’s great pain and suffering were revealing the pride in his life.
We need to understand that though Elihu was indeed angry with Job (32:2), his purpose was not to condemn him or crush him. This young man takes great pains to speak to Job and reason with him. As we will see more clearly, God’s purpose in Job’s pain was not to crush him, but to help him. Painful suffering in the life of the believer is not punishment for sin, but refinement of righteousness. As we emphasized last week, pain has a way of getting our attention. When I was in seminary I had a professor who lost his wife during the semester I was in his class. After an absence of a week or two, he returned to class. I can’t remember his exact words, but this is the gist of what he told us: “My life was wrapped up in making sure I kept all my appointments. I had my schedule and routine. But now I see how shallow that life was. Since the Lord took my wife, I have been able to see things more clearly from an eternal perspective.”
This morning we come to a third way that God speaks. As we will see when we read our text, Elihu speaks of a messenger. While this messenger is tied closely to the pain through which God has been speaking, I believe it is appropriate for us to see this as a third way in which God speaks to us. Before we read, let me give one word of explanation. In verse 23, you will see either the term “messenger” or “angel,” depending upon the translation you read (“angel” in ESV, NASV, NIV, Holman; Amplified has both). The reason for the difference is the simple fact that the Hebrew term can refer to either a heavenly messenger (an angel) or an earthly messenger.
Let’s read our text, beginning back in verse 14 to pick up the context. Job 33:14-33…
For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. 19 "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 23 "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom'; 25 His flesh shall be young like a child's, He shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. 27 Then he looks at men and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.' 28 He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. 29 "Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, 30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 31 "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
I. Praise for the Messenger
I must say at the outset that this sudden appearance of the messenger is in the context of Job’s pain and suffering. We see this in Job’s own experience. As he listens to Elihu, Job is continuing to experience the pain that he has endured for months (7:3). It is also true in the context of this passage. In verses 19-22, Elihu has said that God speaks through pain. The pain is so severe that “his soul draws near the Pit, and his life to the executioners” (vs. 22). He is drawing near to death. It is in that gloomy prospect that Elihu suddenly refers to the possibility that a messenger might come forth on his behalf. Verse 23, “If there is a messenger for him, a mediatior, one among a thousand, to show man His uprightenss.”
Have you ever longed for a messenger? Perhaps you got bad news from your doctor. You longed for a messenger who will come and tell you that there’s been a mistake. Or that one whom you love so dearly is lying on his death bed. How you long for a heavenly messenger to come and tell you that it’s going to be okay; he’s going to make it after all. Or maybe you have been facing a gut-wrenching decision. How you wish a wise messenger would lay his hand on your shoulder and then tell you what to do.
Let’s read again verse 23, “If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man His uprightness.” Job desperately needed a messenger. He was suffering deeply and he felt that God didn’t hear. Some-times he even regarded God as his enemy. In his own eyes, he was approaching the Pit. Could there be a messenger for Job, a mediator who would plead his case before the Almighty?
Now before we begin to unravel this passage, I must tell you that there are some difficulties. The biggest problem is knowing who “he” and “his” refers to throughout these verses. To see this, simply compare translations of verse 23. The NKJV uses capital letters for pronouns that refer to God. So when we read at the end of verse 23, “to show man His uprightness,” we understand that this messenger will reveal to the sufferer God’s righteousness. However, that is not what we understand from the ESV, which reads, “If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him.” We find the same ambiguity in verse 26, “He shall pray to God…” Who shall pray to God -- the messenger, or the man who is in pain?
So who is this messenger, of whom our author speaks? He is one of a thousand. There is a sense in which “thousand” was a much larger number in Job’s day than it is today. Today we speak of millions, billions, and trillions all the time. Not so in Job’s day. That is understandable. Consider the stars in the heavens. The naked eye can only distinguish a few thousand. When Job and his friends looked into the sky, they could use “thousands” to speak of all the stars. Today we get so tired of writing zeros that we have to use exponents to describe that number. To use another example, I doubt seriously that any of the biblical characters were concerned about a national debt that ran into the trillions of dollars. Simply put, “thousand” was the largest number they dealt with. It is true that the number 100 million occurs in the scripture. Do you know where it is? Most of you have read it many times. It is in Rev. 5:11, but the word million is not used. John simply speaks of ten thousand times ten thousand. So when we read here of one of a thousand, we understand that our author is speaking of a rare possibility. The chances are one in a million.
To simplify our interpretation of these verses, I want to tell you up front how I see it. Everyone does not agree, but I believe the messenger Elihu is talking about is himself. Elihu is the messenger, the mediator, who will come and show Job what is right for him. Though he has been angry with Job, he will graciously pray for him, asking God to deliver him from doing down into the Pit, death itself. While Job’s friends had written him off without hope, because he would not confess to something he hadn’t done, Elihu is willing to intercede for Job. He will say to God, “I have found a ransom.” I don’t know exactly what that means. It may mean that somehow Elihu wants to stand in Job’s place, even as Moses offered to stand in place of the sinful Israelites. Or he may be simply saying that he will urge Job to repent of his pride, and that will be the key to his deliverance.
We might also note the word “mediator,” as in most translations. The most literal translation of that word is “interpreter,” as the KJV has it. Part of Elihu’s task was to interpret God’s purposes for Job, who was finding it impossible to discern God’s ways. Listen again to all of verse 23, “If there is a messenger for him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show man His (God’s) uprightness.” If we take this as God’s righteousness, then we can see that Elihu was a faithful messenger in helping Job to understand that God was perfectly righteousness in allowing such painful suffering.
Verse 25, “His flesh shall be young like a child’s; he shall return to the days of his youth.” Elihu states that after he has prayed for Job and God has answered, Job’s health will return to him. The ESV is a bit different. Rather than this restoration being a statement of a future occurrence, it makes it a part of Elihu’s prayer: “Let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.” Either way, Elihu has confidence that the Lord will answer his prayer.
As I mentioned earlier, the “He” of verse 26 is rather ambiguous. Elihu may be referring to himself as the one who prays to God. Or, he may be saying that now Job will also pray to God. Whichever way you take it, the end result is that the Lord will restore to man (Job, in this case) His righteousness. That is, either the righteousness he had before, or the righteousness of God Himself. Ultimately, it comes out at the same place, because we have no righteousness except that which comes from God.
As a result of this intercession and God’s answer, Job will then give testimony. Verse 27, “Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me.’” The NIV may capture the idea of the last part of 27, when it has Job saying, “I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.” While the KJV and NKJV render verse 28 as a statement from our author, the ESV includes it as a part of Job’s testimony. The Hebrew could be translated either way, but I think the ESV captures the idea: “He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.” Job had been in the darkness for a long time, but now he testifies that God has brought him out into the light.
Praise God for the messenger. How Job needed a faithful man who would speak the truth without destroying him in the process. Now let’s move from praise for the messenger, to…
II. Purpose in the Revelation
So we find Elihu telling us that God speaks in various ways, including these three -- through words, through circumstances (even painful ones), and through a messenger. Of course, the first and the last overlap in that a messenger brings words. In addition, the messenger in this case uses his words to help the afflicted man make sense out of his suffering.
Now I want us to go back through this passage and notice the purposes for which God speaks to us, whether it be through words, circumstances, or a messenger. Let’s go back and read verses 14-18…
For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
The Lord speaks to man in order that he may be turned from his deed that pride may be concealed from him. Wow! That covers a lot of territory, doesn’t it? People need to be turned from their deeds. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us that all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Is. 64:6). Man left to himself will not do the things that please God, nor the things that will ultimately be in his best interest. But in His grace and mercy, God is willing to speak to us and turn us from our selfish deeds. ________, you cannot lie to your mother and feel okay about it. Why not? Because God has told you through His Word that you are not only not to lie, but that you must honor your mother. Lying to her is not honoring her. So God has spoken to you to turn you away from your deeds.
Even greater in scope is God’s effort to turn people away from pride. Let’s be crystal clear on what the Word of God says about pride. In a number of ways, the Bible makes it clear that God hates pride. Some of you know the Proverb, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Notice here in Job 33:18 that God warns a man in order to turn him back from destruction. Both James (4:7) and Peter (I Pet. 5:5), quoting from the Proverbs, tell us that God resists the proud. If a person is proud, then God stands against him, but He gives grace to the humble. Who were the people that were most opposed by Jesus? The Pharisees. And why was that? While there were a number of reasons, none is bigger than the fact that they were proud. Praise God that He is willing to come right out and tell us how wicked pride is and that we need Him to give us humility. Aren’t you glad that God’s Word leads us away from the pride’s path of destruction?
Please hear me. Ultimately, there is no greater purpose for the revelation of God. Pride has been called “the breeder sin” because it gives birth to thousands of other sins. If a person’s pride is not dealt with, he will follow the way of destruction to its end -- the lake of fire, which he will endure indescribable suffering forever and ever. Too often people treat pride as if it is a small thing, or as if it is inevitable that people will be proud. Those are lies. Pride is not a small thing, and no person has to remain in the clutches of pride. There is freedom in the Lord Jesus, who modeled perfect humility and never ever acted out of pride. Can a Christian struggle with pride? Yes, but he is not mastered by it. He was a slave to pride, but “if a man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (II Cor. 5:17).
Now come down to verses 29-30, “Behold, God works all these things twice, in fact, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.” It is basically the same message. I take “all these things” to refer to all the ways that God speaks to us. He speaks to us in all these ways in order to bring back our souls from the Pit, to deliver us from darkness and into His light. While the reference here may well be to Job’s deliverance from physical death, we know well that there is a greater pit to be avoided. It is that pit to which I just referred, to Hell itself. Once a person is there, he will have no opportunity for deliverance. Listen to what John said about Jesus in John 1:4, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” And don’t forget those beautiful words from 1 Pet. 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" Or Col. 1:13, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
Did you notice those words “twice, in fact, three times.” Praise God that He is patient with us. God didn’t just speak to Job once, or even twice. So it is with us. Most of us could testify that God spoke to us repeatedly before we repented and put our faith in His Son. And even as His children, He repeatedly speaks to us. Yes, He warns us again and again. He even gives us stern warnings. Matt. 5:29-30, "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." No, Jesus did not mean for us to take those words literally, but He did mean for us to take them seriously. If there is sin in my life, I am deal with it drastically. No matter what the sacrifice, by the grace of God, I am to root it out. But sometimes I don’t seem to hear the Lord the first time He speaks to about my sin, whether it be through His Word, through circumstances, or through a messenger. Praise His name that He graciously deals with me twice, three times, and even more.
We moved from Praise for the Messenger to Purpose in the Revelation, and now we come to…
III. Proclamation of the Gospel
Consider again the messenger of which Elihu speaks. As I shared, I believe Elihu is referring to himself as the messenger who graciously is coming alongside Job and interceding for him. However, let’s think beyond the time of Elihu. I don’t think it takes much imagination to find in these words a far greater messenger and more perfect mediator than Elihu. As I said before, I’m not sure exactly what Elihu meant when he said “I have found a ransom,” but that term “ransom” sends my mind racing forward. When the one who is rescued from the pit says in verse 28, “He has redeemed my soul…” (ESV), I find it impossible not to think of a greater Redeemer.
Please understand me. I am not saying that Elihu was consciously talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, but who can deny that these words give a beautiful description of what Jesus would do? He was both the messenger and the message. How was Jesus the message? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory…” (John 1:1,14). ”God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus didn’t just find a ransom, He was the ransom. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And look at verse 26, “He shall pray to God and He will delight in him…” After a person has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, he will pray to God and God Himself will delight in that man. How can it be? Because he is a new creature in Christ, ever precious in the sight of his heavenly Father.
Ray Stedman comments on this passage with these words…
So Elihu’s message could be paraphrased this way: “Let’s say a man is suffering and sorrowing. Suppose a special, unique, one-of-a-kind messenger comes alongside him. Suppose this messenger tells this suffering man how to live an upright life. What’s more, suppose this messenger acts as a mediator between the suffering man and God. And suppose this messenger brings good news to this suffering man and says to Go, ‘Spare this man from eternal punishment; I have found a ransom for his soul.’ What would be the result in that man’s life? He would feel young, strengthened, and renewed like a child, like a youth. I would be as if he had been born again!”
Isn’t that amazing? Elihu is describing exactly what happened when Jesus came into the world. Jesus is the unique messenger of the good news of the kingdom of heaven. He came to us and told us what is right for us and how to live an upright life. He acted as a mediator between a lost humanity and a righteous God. He stepped into our place and said, “Spare them from eternal punishment; I have a found a ransom for them, and the ransom is my own blood.” And the result? We are born again.
Praise God for the gospel, for the good news of Jesus Christ. Though the message may be a bit veiled here in Job 33, Christ cannot be totally concealed even here. But for you and me, the message has been shouted from the rooftops. We look back and read the message clearly. “Christ has also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (I Pet. 3:18). “God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5:21). Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all (I Tim. 2:6). “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6,8).
Conclusion
God speaks in many ways, but the clearest message He has ever given is the good news of Jesus Christ. When God sent His own Son into this world, it was good news for everyone. It’s good news for you. Have you ever felt like David, when he cried out, “No one cared for my soul” (Ps. 142:4)? Do you feel like no one else in this world understands you? Hear me. God knows you perfectly, better than you know yourself, for He created you. He understands you completely. That is the God who loved you and sent His Son to die in your place. You didn’t deserve it any way. You have defied God and rebelled against Him. Instead of requiring you to pay the penalty, He sent His Son to bear your sins on the cross. Will you not fall down before Him, repent, and trust yourself to Him completely?
Job 33 ends with these words in verses 31-33…"Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu gives Job a chance to respond, but Job has nothing to say. Apparently, Job had respect to Elihu’s wisdom and was willing to continue to listen.
What do you have to say to the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ? How can we say anything except, “Yes, Lord”? Surely no one would say, “But Lord, you don’t understand my situation?” Would you say, “But Lord, my sins are not really that bad. I think I can handle what’s coming”? Would you be so foolish to tell God that you don’t need a Savior?
Pray
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