Job 33:18

In this very chapter Elihu points out to Job a fairly common way of God's dealings, though by no means a fixed rule. God is not at all limited in His methods of reaching men, but can act on the soul in many ways. He begins with the first work of God in a man who does not know Him. It is grace working to awaken a soul that has not yet turned to God... "He keeps back his soul from the pit" — such is the merciful purpose of God's intervention — "and his life from perishing by the sword."

In these remarkable words Elihu was acting the part of the interpreter with Job. He showed the good purpose of God in His dealings with men, however hostile those dealings appear. He aims at delivering them from the "pit" of self-esteem and self-satisfaction in this life, and the "pit" of judgment and condemnation in the life to come.

Chastenings are not always for actual faults. In Job it is said (chapter 33:18-19), "He keeps back his soul from the pit... He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with strong pain in many of his bones"; and we find from verse 17 that this is for the purpose of hiding pride from man. Then in chapter 36 the chastening is for actual faults.

His aim is to correct wrong thoughts and actions, to withdraw man from "mischief," or his own purpose, and to hide pride from man — the word means the hero, the mighty man. This goes deeper than action, for pride hides in the heart, and God would hide it from man — stop it controlling him. "Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins" (Psalm 19:13). So man is kept back from destruction. He bows to the correction of God's truth, and is spared the striking of the rod, or of the sword.

"Then he opens the ears of men" (v. 16). That is what is shown in this chapter. It is not "believing" men; it is any man, so that he might believe... "That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." You see, it is one who had never yet been broken. "He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword." He was on the straight road to it.

There is another way God has of pursuing a soul: He preserves from sudden danger. I well remember when I was a boy of sixteen, a brother of mine shot a partridge. The bird fell into the water. "Fetch it," he said, and I plunged into the sea. The bird was not worth sixpence, but I risked my life, risked my soul, to get it. Only the mercy of God brought me to shore... But He spared me, that He might save me.

"Then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." This is a vivid way of presenting what God was about to do in due time. It is not given here only as a picture and a promise. The language is plain — perhaps as clear as any words in the Old Testament, looking forward to that infinite work which we now know was finished at the cross of Christ.