(12) В¶ Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. (13) In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, (14) Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. (15) Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: (16) It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, (17) Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (18) Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: (19) How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? (20) They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without any regarding it. (21) Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
It is probable that, as in those early ages, we know the LORD did, by means of visions and dreams, convey divine truths to the minds of his people, that Eliphaz had been this made acquainted concerning the solemn distinction here set forth between the holiness and purity of GOD, and the holiness and purity of all created excellence. And, as far as these things might be made useful to impress on Job's mind a sense of his creatureship state and uncleanness, the vision of Eliphaz was striking and proper. But if he introduced it here by way of calling in the divine authority to enforce what he had said before, in proof of Job's hypocrisy, it was ill judged and deceitful, as the sequel of Job's history, in GOD'S justification of him, manifested. But for the moment, leaving both the history of Job, and the exercise of his mind by Eliphaz, I would beg the Reader's attention to a sweet thought arising out of what this Temanite hath said. He tells us, that in this vision he heard a voice proclaiming that GOD puts no trust in his servants, and his angels he charged with folly. Think, Reader! how pure and holy was JESUS in his great undertaking for poor sinners, when, though angels are charged with folly, a voice from heaven declared JESUS to be GOD'S only begotten Son, in whom he was, and is, well pleased. And, remember, in this proclamation from heaven, concerning the good pleasure of JEHOVAH, in the perfection and holiness of JESUS, it was that holiness which belonged to JESUS as Redeemer and Mediator; that perfection of the work which the FATHER gave him to do, and by which, both in doing, and in dying, he hath wrought out a complete salvation. Let me only add one thought more on this most precious of all subjects. As JESUS was thus beheld, and thus proclaimed as the glorious Head of his people, so are his people beheld in him: if JESUS was made sin for us, when he knew no sin, it was that his people, who knew no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of GOD in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21.