Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Job 33:6-7

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Job 33:6-7


6 Behold, I am according to thy wish [peh] in God's ['el] stead: I also am formed [qarats] out of the clay [chomer].
7 Behold, my terror ['eymah] shall not make thee afraid [ba`ath], neither shall my hand ['ekeph] be heavy [kabad] upon thee. KJV-Interlinear


6 'Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay. 7 'Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you. NASB


Earlier, Job had expressed his fear that if he had to appear before God, Gods overpowering presence would be so intimidating that he would lose all concentration. He would simply be overwhelmed by Gods essence. Life itself would overwhelm him.

But here Elihu, in his youth, modesty and humility, states that he will speak the words of God, though he is not God, but will not be so intimidating as God, because he is man, mere man, a mere pinch of clay as Job is.

Elihu takes the position of mediator stating that he will speak the truth, though he is mere man. The truth makes him equal with God in words, and the clay makes him equal with man in essence.

Where the age and experience and wisdom of man have failed in the three friends, now Elihu hopes to take up the slack with his youth and humility and truth of his own understanding.

Interesting enough, and though this representation is not actually stated in the context of the book, Elihu has placed himself in the position of the savior by implication. Being simultaneously both equal with God and man, as well as placing himself in front of man (Job in this case) such that man can have his say without fear, without being intimidated, feeling as though he is on the same level as those who are hearing him.

Being formed out of clay, Elihu makes it very clear that man should never fear man. This clay is actually a pinch out of the same batch. All of humanity came from the same origin. We did not evolve from separate historical batches or origins. We did not evolve out of unrelated origins.

All of humanity came from the same source. We are all clay vessels and we are all bound by the same constraints inherent with our physical limitations. One human being is not better nor worse than another, as far as their human characteristics are concerned. There are no super humans, no superior humans and so forth.

We are all conceived in the same manner, born in the same manner, assembled in accordance with the same template for life, grow up in the same manner, and of course we will all leave this world in death.

Only man invents or imagines himself as better than others.

Likewise, man should not fear God, as God gives everyone a fair and honest hearing.

Fear comes from the lack of confidence. Confidence comes from practice, preparation, experience, even education. When you lack these, then fear arises out of the uncertainties of the unknown or anticipated results of something.

Don't study, don't practice, don't prepare for something and the results you anticipate or hope for, tend to make you uneasy, fearful, filled with anxiety and so forth.

However, repeated studies, repeated training, repeated practice brings results that are consistent with your preparation and that produces confidence. You know it, you have done it, and therefore you become confident because you have already experienced it.

This principle applies to life and this principle also applies to your relationship with God.

Elihu tells Job, that he should not fear this confrontation, because he is an equal and truth cannot intimidate he who is on solid ground.

And so too, life should be viewed in the same way. Job is under tremendous suffering, but truth is on his side. His suffering is merely an experience, an adventure through which he is presently traveling. Man is on the one side and fear of man should be non-existent. On the other side is God and confidence in God is a result of spiritual preparation.

The Savior, Jesus Christ is equal with both God and man. Jesus Christ controls history.

Therefore, under these conditions, aligning ones self with Christ through a consistent daily Bible study, then there is nothing in existence that one should be afraid of, because training produces preparation, produces confidence.

With advancement to spiritual maturity then, the experiences of life eventually present themselves as proof of this truth.