AN INTERPRETER
Job 33:23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
In Job 31:40 we read, The words of Job are ended. And then in Job 32:1-3 we read, So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
The two main phrases that we should especially notice are these: because he was righteous in his own eyes; and, they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. For these form the preface for the appearance of a most mysterious and profound character in this book. His name is Elihu.
Elihu means, “God of him.” Or, “My God is He.” He has not spoken before, nor even been spoken of heretofore. He is, most certainly, a messenger and an interpreter from God.
That word, “messenger” is first translated as “the angel of,” in Genesis 16:7, 9, 10, 11. And in these verses this one was seen to be the mysterious “angel of the LORD” who was with Israel from their beginning, on through the end of the Book of Zechariah. That phrase, “the angel of the LORD” is found 68 times in the Old Testament. And you come to see him as a pre-incarnate appearing of the Eternal Son of God. For everything in the scriptures testify of the Lord Christ! John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. His is the Light of life which casts a shadow back into the days of the law! Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Consider this verse from the Apostle Paul’s writings. Galatians 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Listen to these words of Elihu: Job 33:6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 36:2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. He states that he is there in God’s stead.
And so did the Lord Jesus. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
And in 1 Timothy 2:5 we read, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Therefore we know that the Lord Jesus is very man, and very God, in order to be the only mediation for both God and mankind. His is the humanity of God. And his is the Godhead among men. He, as Man-head, went back into the God Hood in order to intercede and mediate for man. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, (His Eternality – “with God”), and am come into the world: (His Incarnation – “became flesh”) again, I leave the world, (His Ascension – “this same Jesus”) – and go to the Father. (Man Head went back into the Godhood!).
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
The redeemed shall never be God, but we shall be “like” our Lord in his eternally glorified state. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Also notice that the last phrase in Job 33:6 states that Elihu was also formed out of the clay. And of our Lord Jesus we read: Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Also there is a lineage listed for both Elihu and the Lord Jesus. See Job 32:2 and Matthew 1 and Luke 3.
It is evident that before Elihu comes on the biblical stage to speak, he was already there. Job 32:11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. 12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
And so it was with our Lord Jesus Christ! John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He didn’t have to get here to be here. He was already here before he got here! For he is “I AM.”
Listen at Christ, our Wisdom, speak of his eternality. Proverbs 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Both Elihu and Christ were cautious to speak. Job 32:6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
And of Christ, we read in Matthew 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Both Elihu and the Lord Christ had an entirely different perspective concerning man’s standing before God than did the religious boys! Therefore they did not sound forth their same old dead theology. Job 32:14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
The religious gang could only see Job’s afflictions as punishment for sin! Job 22:5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
But Elihu saw it as God’s purging man’s heart to walk before him! Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. For whereas they spoke of Job’s works in regard to justification, Elihu spoke of Job’s afflictions as a means for sanctification!
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Job’s three friends spoke regarding the evidences of his justification. But Elihu communed concerning the believer’s sanctification by the purging of the afflictions of the cross!
But what of our words contained in our title? The Hebrew word here translated “Interpreter” comes from a word translated, “the business of the ambassadors,” in 2 Chronicles 32:31. Therefore Elihu was as an ambassador from the Kingdom of God to those on earth! And he is such a one as helps with the spiritual healing from sin! Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
It is also translated, “thy teachers” in Isaiah 43:27. And Mr. Nicodemus almost got it right when he said, “Thou art a teacher come from God.” But what the Lord Jesus actually was, was God come to teach! For if the Lord is anything at all, he is the Word of expression and revelation from God! For God creates all things by his Word; whether it be regenerated soul, or the entire physical universe. He is the Supreme Teacher! John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
And he has made certain that every one of his elect children have hearing ears and following feet! John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: There is not a disobedient child in his entire kingdom. They are all believers! Therefore he has made certain that their teacher shall not only be with them, but in them. John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
And no matter what the experience in life, he shall never be taken away from the elect church! Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Pastor Gene Breed
