The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 526

he.nd upon both (eh. ix. 33). In reply, EI!hu s!'ys, "Behold, I am accordin~ to thy mouth to [' of/ 'for,' or' by'] God," meaning either (1) I am according to thy wish unto, i.e. for or instend of God (Authorized Version); or (2) I am like thee (sc. created) by God (Gesenius), or what o.ppears preferable, I am as thou, art unto God, i.e. I stand to him in the same relation as thou dost-I, like thyself, a.m his creature (Carey); or I, like thee, belong to God (Delitzsch), i.e. I am a human being like thyself, fashioned by the hand of God, nipped off from the clay as when a potter nips oJf a piece of clay from the larger lump to construct of it a vessel or a human figure. Elihu's language in a striking manner recalls the Mosaic account of the creation of man (Gen. ii. 7). 2. There wa, nothing about Elihu to intimidate Job 01" prevent him from replying if he could. " Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee;" literally, "and my burden, presrnre, or load upon thee shall not be he>tvy." Job would have nothing to overpower or discoura::(e him in making the fullest state- ment of his case; he would feel himself to be dealing with an equal, with one who would scorn, even if he could, to take undue advantage of his opponent. In Elihu we seem to see a type, or at least a resemblance, of the Man Christ Jesus, who, endowed with the Holy Ghost.without measure, has become the Mediator and the Judge of men. III. ELIHU DE0LABES J oB's OFFENCE. 1. That Job justified himself. He had said, "I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me" (ver; 9). That Elihu does not greatly misrepresent the patriarch may be proved by comparison of the statements here made .with Job's utterances previously recorded (eh. ix. 21; x. 7 ; xii. 4 ; xvi. 7). But Elihu, it is said, does not sufficiently allow for certain other declarations in which Job admits a consciousness of natural sinfulness (eh. ix. 2; xiv. 4). The object of Elihu, however, was not to indicate the portions of Job's addresses and appeals that were doctrinally and practically correct, hut to point out where Job had overstepped the bounds of rectitude and truth; and this he does by citing what he regards as the substance of Job's own utterances, as language that even a justified sinner conscious of his own integrity and moral purity should be chary in adopting, and should never be over-vehement in maintaining. 2. That Job condemned God. Under this head Elihu refers to the ipsissima verba of the patriarch. Infinitely jealous of his own reputation, Job· had been fearfully reckless with regard to God's. Resenting with a fierce indignation the faintest whisper that might be breathed against himself, he did not, hesitate to impeach the Almighty of harshness, saying, "Behold, he :findeth occasions against me, he countcth me for his enemy. He pntteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths," language taken directly from the lips of Job (eh. x. 13-17; xiii. 24-27; xix. 11; xxx. 21). IV. ELIHU EXHIBITS JoB's ERROR. Probably the mere reproduction of Job's words was enough to convince him of their impropriety. In addition, he is reminded of the superhuman greatness of God, in whicb, as in a mirror, he may behold the fallacy of all that he has maintained. 1. The mistake of concluding that he himself was 1·ighteous. "Behold, in this thou art not just," i.e. thou art uot right in supposing thyself to be clean and free from transgression, because, even though thy heart con- demn thee not, God is greater t.han thy heart, and knoweth all things (1 John iii. 20). "Even when we have confidence before God respecting our own integrity, our confi- dence may be misplaced, and our own hearts may have deceived us" (Fry). Cf. the language of St. Paul (1 Cor. iv. 4). 2. The foolishness of thinking God regarded him a.a an enemy. The exalted character and infinite power, not to say immeasurable grace, of God should have delivered him from any such misconception. Hlld Job adequately reflected on the Divine greatness, he would never have suffered himself to think, far less to speak, of God as an unkind Adversary and ever-vigilant Assailant. 3. The absurdity of expecting God to respond to his interrogations. God is too exalted, too lofty and gl,,rious a being, to be questioned by man. Hence Elihu offers himself to answer Job in God's stea<l. Hence also preposterous is the delusion of thinking to contend with him in any court of justice, since "he giveth not account of any of his matters." Learn: 1. That if Elihu was deserving of Job's attention, much more is Christ deserving of aurs. 2. 'l'hat Christ's humanity affords to sinful men the greatest encouragement to approach his throno without fear. 3. That they who come to plea,-t witll Ch1ist must be prepared to acknowledge their offences. 4. That Christ. is well  MO THE BOOK OF JOB.