Elihu. (Job 32-37.)
None perhaps, in Old Testament times, is a brighter witness of the light than Elihu. Nor could night be much darker than the scene in which he shined. Job had ended his words. They were the words of a man who in his doings was truly a righteous man, but so enamored with and proud of his righteousness that he could understand nothing of God's present dealings with him. So rooted was he in self-satisfaction, so blind as to any other righteousness than man's, that when trouble came he could accuse God of dealing arbitrarily and unjustly with him, and complain that it profited a man nothing to delight himself with God. If one of the two was wrong, he or God, it must be God. What deep darkness indeed! and yet in a man whose life had been most excellent.
His three friends knew no better. If one is afflicted, they said, it must be because he has done wicked things. So Job must have lived a wicked life, and all his pretended fear of God be but hypocrisy. Therefore when he justifies himself and accuses God, they have nothing to answer. They are as much in the dark as he.
Elihu stands in the midst of all this deep darkness a loyal witness of Him who is the Light of the world -the Light that "shineth in darkness." Being a young man, he had respected his elders in years, and had let them have all their say. There is a wisdom which years teach, and which youth does well to listen to and respect; but there is also that which years do not teach ; it is revealed wisdom ; it is Christ, and Him crucified. In Him, and by His sin-atoning death alone, does God delight in and exalt man. Apart from this, man in his best estate is but a sinful, guilty creature, going on to endless shame and judgment. In Christ alone is there for man blessing and peace and glory. In Him alone is God's good pleasure in man displayed.
Elihu, the man of faith, lets all this light shine on these benighted men, who know but their own righteousness and merit. He explains why such distress as Job's can come upon such a good man as Job:To break up his will and his pride; make him say in truth, " I abhor myself," and then find his rest and cause of glorying in the ransom which God has provided in Christ for him. Thus while God now justifies Job, Job ceases to justify himself, and justifies God in all His doings; and his friends are humbled too.
How unspeakably blessed to be thus, in any measure, as Elihu, God's witnesses for the Light in a scene of darkness! Nor is it in heathenism alone that light is needed. What is Christendom now, in its most respected form in the world, but a Job and his three friends! What multitudes in it, from end to end, know nothing, have nothing, but their own righteousness! They think themselves well clothed, and yet God sees them but in filthy rags. How unspeakably blessed, then, to be able to shed light on all this, to lead the troubled ones out of their troubles into the haven of rest, and to the place of blessing and fruitfulness! Let each man who has learned that it is " Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," so rejoice in that Light that he too may be an Elihu, wherever he may be.
The Man of God Bethel. (1 Kings 13.)
He is not named. It leaves us more tree to put ourselves in his place, and thus the better learn the lesson intended in the recital.
In the face of the enemy he is faithful in everything. He denounces the false altar, at his own peril; pronounces judgment against it; maintains a lovely spirit of grace in praying for the recovery of the hand which a moment before was ready to smite him; he refuses the wicked king's proffered reward, and, whatever his need, obeys his orders well and refuses all refreshment in that place.
But alas, this devoted man is off his guard before a brother; and it is a brother who deceives him. He should have known it was the voice of a false prophet since it agreed not with the voice of Him who had sent him. For some hidden cause he is led to disobey the word of God, and thus become a prey to the lion. What a lesson this is for us all in a day so full of similar circumstances! How liable we are, after suffering much, perhaps, for truth's sake, to go for refreshment where the word of God has forbidden-even among His own! Obedience to God is the highest calling and work of man.
"Follow holiness . ..without which no man hath shall see the Lord."
We all know that holiness does not produce salvation; but do we lay solemnly to heart that without it no man shall see the Lord ? If our lives then are not holy, let us not deceive ourselves. Let us awake out of our deadly sleep, and turn to Him who both saves and sanctifies. Nor let us think we are holy while yet, perhaps, we find some plausible excuse for the evil of our nature. No, no! Holiness excuses not sin in myself. It condemns and hates it, to its finest roots and fibers. It says not, "I was born with it, and therefore I cannot help it." It says, "Yes, I was born with it, but I abhor it, I mourn over it, I refuse it, I obey it not, I am on God's side against it." This is holiness, and the true character of those who are delivered from the wrath to come by the Lord Jesus Christ.