Job 33:12

Behold, [in] this thou art not just,.... Here begins Elihu's answer, who does not deny that Job was a just man, both before God in an evangelic sense, and before men in a moral sense; he did not go

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. In this - view of God and His government.

I do not accuse thee of hypocrisy, nor rip up the former errors of thy life; but in this thou art unjust and much to blame, that thou boastest so much of thine own integrity, and chargest God with rigorous dealing, and callest him to an account before thy tribunal, and offerest to dispute the matter with him. That God is greater than man; not only in power and majesty, which thou acknowledgest, but also in justice, and wisdom, and goodness; and therefore thou dost very foolishly, and presumptuously, and wickedly in contending with him, and censuring his judgments: thou forgettest thy distance from him, and castest off that awe and reverence which thou shouldst constantly maintain towards thy sovereign Lord.

Job 33:12 Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.Ver. 12. Behold, in this thou art not just] In this thy expostulation with God, as if he had dealt unjustly with thee (think the same of thy postulation, or unreasonable request, that God should give thee a reason why he so grievously afflicteth thee, Job 33:13), thou art nothing less than what thou holdest thyself to be, viz. just, pure, innocent. Sorex suo perit indicio, the mole betrays himself by casting up the mould; and so dost thou, good Job, by throwing forth words without wisdom, as God himself will once tell thee, Job 38:2. Canst thou be just, whose words are thus unjust? Never think of it. Thus Elihu is as nimble with Job (but far more ingenuous) as that Jesuit was with Drusius; whom when he had called heretic, and Drusius in his own defence alleged that heresy must be in fundamentis fidei; the fundamentals of the faith, the Jesuit replied, that even that assertion of his was heresy. I will answer thee, that God is greater than man] Longe superat frivolum hominem, say the Tigurines, is far above sorry man; the distance and disproportion is infinite. But how is this an answer to Job’ s justifying himself, and complaining of God as overly rigid? God’ s greatness here is not to be understood to be his power only (which yet should overawe us when ready to rise up against him), but also of his truth, wisdom, justice, goodness, &c., all of which Job, by his complaints, seemed to question and quarrel with; and is therefore fitly minded of this attribute of Almighty God, who is "glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders," Exodus 15:11. Great he is, without quantity; good, without quality; everlasting, without time; omnipresent, without place; containing all things, without extent. He is not only great, Psalms 77:13, but greater, as here; greatest, Psalms 95:3; greatness itself, Psalms 145:3. So he is not only good, Psalms 106:1, but better, Psalms 108:9; best of all, Philippians 1:23; goodness itself, Matthew 19:17. The least glimpse of this knowledge is worth all the gleams of human wisdom. And albeit this is a truth commonly known and acknowledged, yet very few are affected with it aright, as appears by their cross carriages toward this great God, and persumptuous misdemeanors, as if he were such another as themselves, Psalms 50:21. Certainly, if we were thoroughly persuaded of God’ s infinite greatness, so as it is set forth, Deuteronomy 10:17 and elsewhere, we would much more fear to offend him and care to please him than we do. The truth is, all the exorbitances in men’ s lives proceed from the weakness of this spring; and were they but well assured that God is Almighty they would walk before him, and be upright, Genesis 17:1. But to this none can attain but by the help of supernatural grace.

(12) Behold, in this thou art not just.—But had not Job said the same thing? (Job 9:2, &c., Job 9:14, &c.); and is it possible to conceive that any one could think otherwise, more especially as Elihu used the word which specially means man in his frailty?

Verse 12. In this thou art not just] Thou hast laid charges against God's dealings, but thou hast not been able to justify those charges; and were there nothing else against thee, these irreverent speeches are so many proofs that thou art not clear in the sight of God.

12. The verse probably reads, Behold in this thou art not in the right, I will answer thee, For God is greater than man. The words I will answer thee are equivalent to, “Behold, my answer is, in this thou art not right,” &c. The answer to Job’s charges which Elihu contents himself with giving meantime is simply: “in this thou art not in the right, for God is greater than man.” Elihu, as he does often, e.g. ch. Job 24:10, Job 36:3-5; Job 36:24-25, falls back on man’s necessary thoughts of God. Job’s charges are incompatible with just conceptions of God. The three friends had argued in the same way, though they hardly gave the idea the same important place that Elihu does; comp. ch. Job 8:3.

Behold, in this thou art not just - In this view of God, and in these reflections on his character and government. Such language in regard to the Deity cannot be vindicated; such views cannot be right.

Second division — GOD’S THREE MODES OF OF MEN FURNISH A TO JOB’S FIRST CHARGE OF DIVINE , Job 33:12-28.a. FIRST MODE OF IS BY THE VOICE OF IN DREAMS, Job 33:12-18.