258. JOB 33:24. THE RANSOM FOUND

Job_33:24. The Ransom Found

"Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom."’97Job_33:24.

The subject of redemption is of all others the most important to man. In comparison with this all others are trivial or worthless. This is what his state requires. This is necessary to his present peace, and to his hope of future blessedness. In our text we have an epitome of it’97the Gospel in miniature.

Let us contemplate,

I. Man’s perilous State.

II. God’s gracious Regards.

And,

III. The Means of Deliverance provided.

I. Man’s perilous State.

He was "going down to the pit."

This strikingly represents,

1. Man in his fallen and debased condition.

Crown fallen from his head; fallen from holiness, dignity, dominion, happiness, &c., into guilt, depravity, and misery. "Horrible pit, miry clay," &c. Psa_40:1, Psa_40:2.

2. It denotes man’s passage to the grave.

Sin introduced disease and death. Hence the earth opened its mouth to receive our corrupted dying bodies.

3. It represents our exposedness to the pit of destruction.

Described as a bottomless pit, Rev_9:2; and Rev_20:3. Now the tendency of the sinner was towards perdition. His sin had doomed him to it. And sin also was ripening him for it. His steps were downwards towards the gates of perdition, the regions of endless wo. What a dreadful state! What a fearful condition! Tophet opening her doors to receive him. But mark, then it was that God compassioned him, and

II. Displayed his gracious Regards towards him.

Now God’s interposition on his behalf must have been altogether gracious.

For,

1. Deity was entirely independent of man He could easily have blotted out the human race, and have formed creatures every way more worthy of his regards. His glory and happiness could not require him to provide for his recovery.

2. Man had nothing to interest Jehovah in his welfare.

No moral excellency; no reasonable apologies for his crime; no possibility of giving a return.

3. Jehovah had every reason to punish.

Justice was injured, holiness insulted goodness abused, &c., yet mercy prevailed, "God so loved," &c. His grace was so abundant, his compassions so overflowing, that he said, "Deliver him from going down to the pit," &c.

This leads us,

III. To the Means of Deliverance provided.

"I have found a ransom."

Here observe,

1. The source of our deliverance.

"I" have found, &c. Man did not find nor yet angels, but God found a ransom. O yes! God alone possessed stores of wisdom sufficient for the great and mighty undertaking.

Notice,

2. The instrument of our deliverance,

Was a ransom. That ransom was his own Son’97"He gave his Son," "Spared not his own Son," &c. The price of our ransom was "the precious blood of Christ."

Notice,

3. The mode of our ransom.

This was done by assuming our nature, obeying the law; dying for sin, overcoming the powers of hell rising from the grave, &c. See Isa_53:4-11; Rom_4:15; Col_1:20.

Application

Learn,

1. What ruin and misery sin has produced.

2 What divine mercy has provided. And,

3. What the Saviour’s merits have procured.

4. The necessity of feeling ourselves personally interested in the blessings of redeeming grace. To this a believing, cordial reception of the ransom is necessary’97"He that hath the Son, hath life."

5. The grateful return we should render for the lovingkindness and redeeming mercy of God.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS