Job 33:26

Job 33:26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

Ver. 26. He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him] All former unkindnesses notwithstanding. God will cast his sins into the bottom of the sea, and be as propitious to the poor sinner now reconciled, recovered, and making request, as if he had never been offended by him. Amongst men, Reconciliationes sunt vulpinae amicitiae, Reconciliations are for the most part fox like friendships; and there is little trust to them. Not so between God and men; witness Peter, of whom Christ thought no whit the worse for his threefold denial of him, when once he wept bitterly, and prayed for pardon. Go, tell the disciples and Peter, that I am risen, Mar 16:7. If any man want wisdom, or any other good thing else, let him ask it of God, who giveth unto all men liberally, and hitteth no man in the teeth, either with his present weaknesses or by past wickednesses, Jas 2:5. Imo plus est propemodum a vitiis se revocasse, quam vitia ipsa nescivisse, saith a Father. Penitence is in a manner as good as innocence (Ambros. in Psa.).

He shall see his face with joy] Or, God shall make him to see his face with joy, Ostendet ei faciem suam in iubilo, even with joyful acclamation, when he shall find himself possessed of God’s kingdom, which consisteth in righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; which Chrysostom rightly calleth ουρανον προ ουρανου, heaven beforehand.

For he will render unto man his righteousness] Which he had lost by falling into sin, as Eze 18:24. Understand it of degrees and measures for true grace cannot wholly be lost. Or, he will render unto him now in Christ that righteousness he lost in Adam, he will fully and freely justify him, and sweetly seal him up to the day of redemption, Rursus eum in album iustorum et plorum referet (Lav.); the former falling out shall be but a renewing of love; as it was between Christ and his spouse, Son 5:1-16; Son 6:1-13

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

33:26 God will receive him with joy: Cp. Num 6:24-26; Ps 67:1; Acts 2:28; Jude 1:24.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

God will forgive his sins, and accept him as just.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Job shall no longer pray to God, as he complains, in vain (Job 23:3, Job 23:8-9). True especially to the redeemed in Jesus Christ (Joh 16:23-27).

he--Job.

shall see his face--or, God shall make Job to see His face [MAURER]. God shall no longer "hide His face" (Job 13:24). True to the believer now (Joh 14:21-22); eternally (Psa 17:15; Joh 17:24).

his--God's

righteousness--God will again make the restored Job no longer ("I perverted . . . right," Job 33:27) doubt God's justice, but to justify Him in His dealings. The penitent justifies God (Psa 51:4). So the believer is made to see God's righteousness in Jesus Christ (Isa 45:24; Isa 46:13).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. He shall pray unto God] Being now adopted into the heavenly family, and become a new creature, he shall have the spirit of prayer, which is indeed the very breath and language of the new or spiritual life.

He will be favourable unto him] He shall manifest his good will to him; he shall live under the influences of Divine grace.

He shall see his face with joy] He shall know that God is reconciled to him; and this shall fill him with joy, בתרועה bithruah, with exultation: for, "being justified by faith, he has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he has received the atonement; and REJOICES in the hope of the glory of God."

He will render unto man his righteousness.] So good and gracious is the Lord, that by his grace he will enable this convert to live to his glory, to bring forth all the fruits of the Spirit, and then reward him for the work, as if it were done by his own might.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(26) He will be favourable unto him.—Very beautiful is this description of the restoration of the penitent sinner and his recovery from sickness. He shall thankfully resort unto the house of God with joy, for that He has rewarded him according to his righteousness, which was the fruit of faith (Gen_15:6; Psa_32:1-2).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. His restoration to the fellowship of God with its joy.

for he will render] Rather, and he restoreth unto man his righteousness. God restores to him his righteous standing before Him with its joys, regards him again as righteous, and admits him to all the blessings of righteousness. The clause generalizes the ideas of the rest of the verse.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He shall pray unto God,.... As the former verse expresses the condition of the body of the man recovered from sickness, this the frame of his soul, and the spiritual blessings enjoyed by him: some understand this of his praying in the time of his affliction, and consider it as one means of his recovery; and indeed a time of affliction is a time for prayer; and which brings a good man to it, who in health and prosperity has been negligent of it; such an one will make his application to God for deliverance, and not to the creature; and it is his mercy and privilege he has a God to pray unto, who can and will help him. But according to the course and connection of the words, it seems rather to respect what the good man would do, and the frame he would be in upon his recovery; who would entreat the Lord to make him thankful the mercy received, and accept of his thanksgiving for the same; that his affliction might appear to be sanctified unto him, and that he is much the better for it, more holy and more humble; and that he would manifest his pardoning grace to him for all the sins and transgressions he had been guilty of, his murmurings and repinings, and everything else during his affliction; and that he may make use of his health and strength given him in the service of God, and for the glory of his name;

and he will be favourable to him; which, if understood of the time of affliction, it may be interpreted of his laying no more on him than he will enable him to bear, and supporting him under it; of granting his gracious presence in it, and of his taking notice of him, visiting him, knowing, owning, and choosing him in the furnace of affliction, and manifesting his care unto him; and of the deliverance of him out of it. But if it respects the man as recovered out of affliction, it denotes further discoveries of the special care and favour of God to him, which are very enlivening and refreshing, strengthening and supporting; and of his gracious acceptance of his person, and of his sacrifices of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, through Christ the Mediator and messenger of the covenant;

and he shall see his face with joy: that is, either God who is favourable to him, he looks with a smiling countenance upon the man now recovered, who before seemed to look upon him with frowns in his countenance, there being a change in the outward dispensations of his providence towards him, though none in his heart: his countenance beholds the upright with pleasure, whether they see it or not; he looks upon his people in Christ with the utmost complacency and delight, and particularly when they come to him in the exercise of grace, with their prayers, praises, and thanksgivings. Or the man recovered from illness, God being favourable to him, he beholds the face of God with joy, who perhaps had hid it from him in his affliction, which caused trouble; but now showing his face and favour, it causes joy and exultation, even a jubilee in his soul. He beholds him in Christ as the God of grace and peace; and through him can come to him, and look him in the face with comfort and pleasure, as nothing is more delightful to him than the light of his countenance;

for he will render unto man his righteousness: not the sick man recovered render to another man what is his right and due, or what he may have wronged him of; for which being reproved by the affliction, and convicted of, is desirous of making restitution: but God, who will render, return, or restore to the man recovered his righteousness, which is the foundation of his joy; not render to him according to his own righteousness, as the Targum, which would be but a poor recompense if strictly given; nor restore to him the righteousness he lost in Adam, which is but a creature righteousness; but the righteousness of Christ, as Mr. Broughton, which is the good man's or the believer's in Christ, because wrought out for him, imputed to him, and bestowed as a free gift on him. Now though this righteousness can never be lost, being an everlasting one, yet a sense of interest in it may, which is returned, restored, and rendered to a man, when that righteousness is afresh revealed to him from faith to faith; the consequence of which is peace and comfort, joy and triumph.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

He shall pray unto God ... - That is, when he fully understands the design of affliction; and when his mind is brought to a proper state of penitence for his past conduct, then he will find God merciful and ready to show him kindness.

And he shall see his face with joy - The face of God. That is, he shall be able to look up to him with peace and comfort. This language is similar to that which is so frequently employed in the Scriptures, in which God is said to lift upon us the light of his countenance. The meaning here is, that the afflicted man would be again permitted to look by faith on God, being reconciled to him, and would see in his face no indication of displeasure.

For he will render unto man his righteousness - He will deal with him in justice and equity. When he sees evidence of penitence, he will treat him accordingly; and if in the afflicted man he discerns true piety, he will regard and treat him as his friend. The meaning is, that if there is in the sufferer any sincere love to God, he will not be indifferent to it, but will treat him as possessing it. This is still true, and universally true. If there is in the heart of one who is afflicted any real piety, God will not treat him as an impenitent sinner, but will manifest his mercy to him, and show to him the favors which he confers only on his friends.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And he. It is ambiguous whether this refer to God or to man. (Calmet) --- But both shall see each other with joy. The penitent will be restored to as much favour as if he had never sinned. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

He; either,

1. The messenger; or rather,

2. The sick man.

Shall pray unto God; being engaged and encouraged to do so, either by the aforesaid gracious message, or by his miraculous recovery through God’s goodness.

He will be favourable unto him, in hearing and answering his prayers, which before he seemed to neglect.

He shall see his face with joy; either,

1. God will look upon the man with a smiling or well-pleased countenance; whereas before he either hid his face from him, or frowned upon him. Or,

2. The man shall then be imboldened and encouraged to look God in the face with comfort and joy; which before he was, not without cause, afraid to do; but now he shall find that God is reconciled to him by the blessed effects of it, both in his body and in his conscience.

His righteousness, i.e. according to his righteousness, or the fruit of his righteousness; as on the contrary, iniquity is oft put for the punishment of iniquity. The sense is, he will deal with him as with one reconciled to him through the Mediator, and sincerely repenting of and turning from his former sins unto the serious practice of righteousness and true holiness, and therefore must needs be favourable to him, as he hath declared and engaged himself to be in such cases.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. Pray unto God — Referring to habitual prayer after pardon. “In this description of the renovation which the man experiences, it is everywhere assumed that he has taken the right way announced to him by the mediating angel.” — Delitzsch.

Joy — Shouts of joy. (Furst.) The experience of the redeemed man is of the most joyous description. He beholds God’s face reconciled.

His righteousness — St. Gregory’s comment is exceedingly happy: “It is called our righteousness, not because it is ours from ourselves, but because it is made ours from the divine bounty, as we say in the Lord’s prayer, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ See; we both call it ours and yet pray for it to be given us. For it becomes ours when we receive it; but yet it is God’s, who gives it.”

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He shall pray unto God, and he (i.e. God) will be favourable unto him, Being restored to God"s favour, he will once more be able to address him in "effectual fervent prayer," and obtain whatever he desires of him. And he shall see his face with joy. God"s face shall no longer be a terror to him, but he shall look upon it with joy and gladness. For he (i.e. God), will render unto man his righteousness. That is, will both account and make him righteous both justify and sanctify him.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Render - He will deal with him as with one reconciled to him through the mediator, and turning from sin to righteousness.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.