The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Job

That's all interesting regarding the words, e.g., ransom, restoration, etc., yet one must first understand them in their immediate context. I see them as describing one's life here on earth, i.e., this is a rebuke to those unwise counselors who brought false charges against Job and his tender soul was brought even lower rather than lifting it up in contrast to one who would do rightly in such a situation.

Now, what about this idea about the "new covenant"? Was there not a mediator in those days to whom one could look for help and deliverance? Was there not a ransom paid for one's sins? Was not restoration given to those who looked to God in faith? I would say unreservedly, "Yes!", albeit these things were to be found in types and shadows. In these things there is no difference between the administration of the old and new covenants. The Redeemer saved all who believed God in the old administration no less and in the same way, i.e., by faith as those who came after Christ.

What I can see, however, are these wonderful truths of redemption as they are found in Christ in their fullness. But I would not want to go so far as to say that these passages are a "preview of the new covenant"? To do so he (Elihu) would then have to be deemed a precursor of Christ... I can't do that. My reluctance is in regard to the "spiritualizing" of texts without solid warrant to do so. That warrant must come the Scriptures themselves. For example, can we find Elihu mentioned in the NT or even eluded to? Is Christ from the line of Elihu? Ya know what I'm drivin' at here, Vern?

Lastly, I think it is prudent to not fall into what I like to call a "psycho-statistical-mean" hermeneutic. In short, this is the error of restricting the meaning of words to a single definition or a very narrow definition which disregards the broader meaning of words as they are used contextually. Let me give you just one example: IIPet 2:1 and the word "bought". Does the word "bought" in this verse mean "save" in the salvific sense? Some think so... but wrongly. Thus, when we read in this Job passage words such as "deliver", "ransom", etc. we must be careful not to impose a meaning upon them which is inappropriate.

In His grace,