Job 33:6

We have now reached a most important and interesting part of the entire book — Elihu's address as mediator... He reminds Job of his own desire for such a person: "There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both" (Job 9:33). To this desire Elihu now replies: "Behold, I am according to your wish, in God's stead; I also am formed out of the clay. Behold my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you" (Job 33:6-7).

The friends had fallen silent, but they seemed unconvinced. Job is left master of the situation, as far as defending himself could give him such a place. And yet the dark riddle was still unsolved, and God's character had been clouded... On the other hand, suppose God had spoken directly, revealing Himself in majesty and power, as He does in the part that follows. The change would have been too sudden, and Job's fear of being terrified by His glory might have been justified.

He is angry with the three friends because they had condemned Job without being able to enlighten him. And he is angry with Job because instead of justifying God he had justified himself... He rises up to speak on behalf of God, who had been dishonoured by their speeches. He waited until all the others had said all they had to say, and then he lifts up his voice on behalf of God. He would have Job justified, but he must first of all justify God.

In verse 6 he speaks of himself as Job's spokesman, or daysman — one taking up Job's case before God. He is not defending Job's claims. He is concerned for the greatest good of Job's welfare before God. So he wants no place of superiority. He speaks of himself as being also "formed out of clay." Job's friends did not think of this when they accused him. They considered their wisdom greater than his.

Here it is that Elihu stands out in vivid contrast. He tells Job the truth; but he lays no heavy hand upon him. Elihu has learned the great and mysterious power of "the still small voice" — the quiet strength of grace that subdues the soul and melts the heart.

Now Elihu is a name with a meaning, and we are given it as "God Himself." Keep that in mind, then read verse 6 of Job 33. We shall see that he stepped in to play the part of a mediator. So he becomes a picture — though a faint one — of the true Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God Himself. Elihu was truly a man, formed out of the clay and he stood before Job on God's behalf.

One side of this was true of Job's daysman, Elihu. But he could not say, "Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me" (John 12:44-45). He was but a faint foreshadowing of the true Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus.