I ran across a neat passage of scripture from Job 33 today in my morning devotional (the updated edition of Spurgeon's "Morning By Morning" by Jim Reimann - LOVE IT). The devotions have been Easter-oriented since last week. To put it in context, we must go back to Job 32:
1-5 Job's three friends now fell silent. They were talked out, stymied because Job wouldn't budge an inch—wouldn't admit to an ounce of guilt. Then Elihu lost his temper. He blazed out in anger against Job for pitting his righteousness against God's. He was also angry with the three friends because they had neither come up with an answer nor proved Job wrong. Elihu had waited with Job while they spoke because they were all older than he. But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger. (The Message)
(aside: I didn't previously realize there was a guy named Elihu in the story of Job. I think it's cool that even though he was really ticked off at all these guys, he didn't fly off the handle immediately. He respected his elders and their supposed wisdom, and THEN flew off the handle.)
He then proceeds to rant and rave for many verses but by the end of chapter 33 his tone changes:
23 "Yet if there is an angel on his side
as a mediator, one out of a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,
as a mediator, one out of a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,
24 to be gracious to him and say,
'Spare him from going down to the pit [f] ;
I have found a ransom for him'-
'Spare him from going down to the pit [f] ;
I have found a ransom for him'-
25 then his flesh is renewed like a child's;
it is restored as in the days of his youth.
it is restored as in the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God and finds favor with him,
he sees God's face and shouts for joy;
he is restored by God to his righteous state.
he sees God's face and shouts for joy;
he is restored by God to his righteous state.
27 Then he comes to men and says,
'I sinned, and perverted what was right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
'I sinned, and perverted what was right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, [g]
and I will live to enjoy the light.'
and I will live to enjoy the light.'
29 "God does all these things to a man—
twice, even three times-
twice, even three times-
30 to turn back his soul from the pit, [h]
that the light of life may shine on him. (NIV)
that the light of life may shine on him. (NIV)
Eugene Peterson paraphrases it nicely:
23-25 "But even then an angel could come,
23-25 "But even then an angel could come,
a champion—there are thousands of them!—
to take up your cause,
A messenger who would mercifully intervene,
canceling the death sentence with the words:
'I've come up with the ransom!'
Before you know it, you're healed,
the very picture of health!
26-28 "Or, you may fall on your knees and pray—to God's delight!
You'll see God's smile and celebrate,
finding yourself set right with God.
You'll sing God's praises to everyone you meet,
testifying, 'I messed up my life—
and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.
But God stepped in and saved me from certain death.
I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'
29-30 "This is the way God works.
Over and over again
He pulls our souls back from certain destruction
so we'll see the light—and live in the light! (The Message)
Isn't that neat? A mediator who provides our ransom. So we can 'live to enjoy the light.' We all know how great it is to wake up to a sunny morning after days of cloudy skies, right? On our own, our lives are destined for 'the pit' - Satan is cool with that and gladly helps us along. But merciful God has provided a ransom that gets us out of that awful existence. A decidedly high-cost ransom. We don't deserve it, but he did it anyway, because he wants us to live in and enjoy HIS light, 'yesterday, today, and forever' (Hebrews 13:8).
