He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’
Elihu has been describing how God turns a man back from destruction. Here the rescued man speaks for himself. He names three things: his soul redeemed, the pit escaped, and a life that now looks on light. What is that pit, and on what ground does God lift a man out of it?
The pit
The word translated "pit" comes from the world of hunting:
Morrish Bible Dictionaryshachath, "a pit, a pitfall to entrap animals," place of doom and corruption. Job 33:18, 24, 28, 30
One writer finds two pits here: one a man falls into now, one waiting beyond death:
F. B. HoleIn these remarkable words Elihu was certainly acting as the interpreter with Job. He showed the good purpose of God in His dealings, which seem so much against men. God aims to deliver them from the "pit" of self-esteem and self-satisfaction in this life, and from the "pit" of judgment and condemnation in the life to come.
The confession that opens the door
The rescue follows a confession. One writer explains why God counts that confession as the sinner's uprightness:
The Bible Treasury"I have sinned:" this is uprightness. A sinner's uprightness consists in owning his condition. God says he is a sinner, and his uprightness is to own it. This is the way God is going to save souls at this time. The truth must be out, and owned, as to what you are. God will not, so to speak, electroplate you over and make you look like silver, when you are nothing but dross.
The ransom that makes it possible
God answers that confession at once. His answer rests on something He has already found:
Leslie M. GrantA real work in the heart of men must begin with God. The individual is moved when he realises that God is watching him. He confesses his own sin and perversion, and admits that he has gained nothing by it. So there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. There is an immediate answer from God, "He will deliver his soul from going into the Pit, and his life shall see the light" (v.28). This is certainly because of the ransom that God has found. In fact it is the ransom that God has provided — the sacrifice of His own beloved Son.
Another writer links the ransom Elihu speaks of with a phrase from Hebrews:
Samuel RidoutIn Elihu's words we find a beautiful expression of the gospel of God: "Then He is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." The New Testament says the same thing in its own language — "having obtained (Greek, found) eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12).
Seeing the light
What is the light the verse promises? One writer ties it to what a person can know today:
W. T. P. WolstonThen comes the precious word: "He will deliver his soul from going down into the pit; and his life shall see the light." That means the knowledge of a present and full salvation. If you are looking only to Christ, and resting only on Christ, this is what His death has secured for you: you should know the forgiveness of your sins.
The song of the rescued man
Older versions read "his soul" here, but in this wording the man speaks for himself — "my soul," "my life." One writer says he now sings his own story to others:
Samuel RidoutNow he can speak to God in prayer and look on His face with joy. In the same way, the ransomed soul can speak to other people. "He looks upon men" should rather read, "He sings to men." It is part of the new song he has learned, and many will hear it and be turned to the Lord… But this sin has not been repaid to the once guilty man.
One writer carries that song into heaven:
G C WillisNot one person in heaven will sing, "I have never sinned, so I got here by myself." The song up there tells of our hopeless ruin — and of the grace of God.
Summary
- Pit — the word means a trap dug to catch animals, and a place of doom. Writers apply it to self-satisfaction now and to judgment later.
- Confession — "I have sinned" is the sinner's only uprightness. God will not plate over dross to make it look like silver.
- Ransom — God's answer is immediate. Its ground lies outside the man: a ransom God found, which Hebrews 9:12 calls "eternal redemption."
- Light — the rescue is more than escape from the pit. It is a salvation known now, with sins forgiven.
- Song — the rescued man then sings to others about his ruin and God's grace. No one in heaven sings of arriving sinless.