Job 33

Job 33:3

I shall not speak from passion or prejudice, as others have done before me, but from a sincere desire of doing thee good, and in such a clear manner that thou mayest be fully convinced of the truth of what I say

Job 33:4-6

I am a man like thyself, fit to reason with thee on equal terms, and inclined to plead the cause of God against thee

Job 33:8-11

Nor do I intend to charge thee with hypocrisy, but with uttering of self-justifying language, dishonourable to God, as if he had dealt more severely than was just with thee. 12, 13. Let thy former life be as holy and unblameable as it will, yet thou art certainly culpable in quarrelling with the dispensations of God, who is infinitely superior to thee in every respect, and accountable to none for his conduct

Job 33:14-18

Nay, so dull are men, that, when God takes repeated pains in dreams, visions, or the like, to instruct them effectually for their humiliation and eternal salvation, they do not take notice of, or do not understand, his meaning. 16—22. Hence for their awakening to a proper attention he severely afflicts them, till they are brought to the very point of death. 23, 24. If then by the instruction of some faithful minister, and especially by the instruction of Jesus Christ, the unparalleled Angel and Interpreter of the new covenant, the afflicted man be brought, not only to discern the equity of God in afflicting him, but to discern, and by faith apply, Jesus’ imputed righteousness to himself, God intimates to his soul a full and free redemption through that all-covering atonement. 25, 26. In consequence hereof, not only the man’s body and mind recover their wonted health and alacrity, but he is enabled with boldness and success to pour forth his requests before God, who allows him the comfortable sense and gracious reward of that righteousness imputed to, or implanted in, him. 27, 28. While God exactly observes, the man, all influenced by cordial gratitude, shall publicly confess his sinfulness of heart and life, and that the due reward of his deeds has never been rendered unto him; and shall profess his full assurance of faith, that God has redeemed him by the mighty price of his Son’s blood, and will bestow his fulness of grace and glory upon him. B

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXIII.—We ought seriously to hear out a discourse before we form a judgment on it. And they who speak for God ought to speak with great deliberation and plainness. Those who are in great trouble ought to be tenderly as well as convincingly, dealt with. And yet a faithful testimony must be borne against the dishonours which we see or hear done to God by even the greatest of saints. In the rage of temptation or dispute, or in the depth of trouble, they often speak things very unadvisedly; and yet their words are apt to be taken in a worse sense than they meant them. To make us conceive aright of God’s providence, we must carefully keep in view his infinite greatness, sovereignty, grace, and wisdom. And there is great need to keep our heart with all diligence, that even in our dreams we may enjoy profitable fellowship with, and instruction from, God; which may humble our pride, and secure the salvation of our soul. For God at his pleasure makes the most fearful changes upon the bodies or minds of men. But honourable to God, and profitable to men, are sanctified troubles. They lead to Jesus and his word, as our instructors; to Jesus and his blood, as our atonement and ransom; to Jesus and his law, as our way in which we must walk; in our grateful returns for his mercies. They render our sins bitter and heavy, and our deliverances admired, and instigate us to invite others to share of his goodness. And often God brings men through great tribulation to their comforts on earth, as well as to their glories in heaven.—Departures from God issue in rum, unless he recover us by grace. And so manifold are his admonitions, that, if we perish, our rum lies at our own door.—The wiser men are, they are the more humble and willing to learn; and the more desirous to be undeceived if they have been mistaken