Job 33: Speaking THROUGH Suffering?

​“But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
2     Behold, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3     My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4     The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5     Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6     Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
7     Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
8     “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
9     You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10    Behold, he finds occasions against me,
he counts me as his enemy,
11    he puts my feet in the stocks
and watches all my paths.’
12    “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
13    Why do you contend against him,
saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?
14    For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15    In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
16    then he opens the ears of men
and terrifies them with warnings,
17    that he may turn man aside from his deed
and conceal pride from a man;
18    he keeps back his soul from the pit,
his life from perishing by the sword.
19    “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
and with continual strife in his bones,
20    so that his life loathes bread,
and his appetite the choicest food.
21    His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22    His soul draws near the pit,
and his life to those who bring death.
23    If there be for him an angel,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him,
24    and he is merciful to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found a ransom;
25    let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26    then man prays to God, and he accepts him;
he sees his face with a shout of joy,
       and he restores to man his righteousness.
27        He sings before men and says:
       ‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
28    He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
and my life shall look upon the light.’
29    “Behold, God does all these things,
twice, three times, with a man,
30    to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be lighted with the light of life.
31    Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32    If you have any words, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
33    If not, listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
 
Meditation
God is not silent in our suffering. God speaks through our suffering. C. S. Lewis famously wrote in his book, the Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
 
Elihu continues speaking to Job in his suffering, directly addressing his questions to God. Elihu does not conclude Job’s suffering is because of a secret sin, but he does rebuke Job for accusing God of not speaking. Elihu comes alongside Job and loves him by telling him the truth in his trouble- God speaks through suffering.
 
Speaking by the Spirit of God (1-7), Elihu addresses Job’s accusations of God (8-13). Job has repeatedly claimed he is not guilty before God (9) and that God is targeting him unfairly, treating him as an enemy. The summary response is a prequal to what we will see in later chapters: God is greater than humanity! And yet God accommodates to speak to His creatures.
 
“God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive…” (14) God speaks to a person, even as they sleep (15-18), and through suffering (19-28). Most significantly, through suffering God speaks of a mediator who will advocate for our deliverance (23-24). God is not silent. God is shouting, and God will save.
 
Jesus demonstrates God shouting through suffering, enduring the cross to be our mediator. Through Jesus God shouts victory over suffering, sovereignty to use suffering, and strength offered by His presence in suffering.
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from Elihu’s truth shared in love? Is it hard to believe God speaks in suffering?
 
-Where do you join Job in accusing God of not speaking and treating you as an enemy?
 
-How does it strengthen you in suffering to know God sent a Savior who endured suffering so we can hear the words of victory, sovereignty, and strength in our suffering?
 
Key verse
14    For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.