Job 23:1-9, 16-17 - EXEGESIS:
CONTEXT: The intervening chapters (2:11 - 22:30) are composed largely of conversations between Job and his friends (although in chapter 5 God speaks). The pattern throughout those chapters is that Job's friends, who are convinced that God prospers the innocent and punishes the guilty, try to convince Job that he must be guilty of some terrible sin and should repent. Job, however, refuses to acknowledge his sin, because he believes that he is innocent-a fact that we, as the readers of the first chapter, know to be true.
The immediate context for chapter 23 is the preceding chapter where Eliphaz tries to persuade Job that Job's wickedness is great (22:5). Eliphaz said, "Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace" (22:21)-by which he meant that Job should acknowledge his guilt. Eliphaz then promised, "If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up" (22:23a). That promise must have tempted Job mightily, because he once lived a wonderful life but has been reduced to a terrible life. But Job will not compromise his integrity by confessing to sins that he has not committed.
JOB 23:1-2. TODAY MY COMPLAINT IS REBELLIOUS
1 Then Job responded, 2 "Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.."
"Then Job answered" (v. 1). Job answered Eliphaz, who has been trying to persuade Job to confess his guilt and return to God.
"Even today my complaint is rebellious" (meri) (v. 2a). It is no wonder that Job feels bitter. He has been wronged, and terribly so. He has suffered not only the loss of his wealth and his family, but he has also been afflicted by some sort of terrible skin disease-possibly boils-that cover his body from head to toe. His physical misery must be almost beyond measure.
• Job has cause to be bitter toward his friends, who keep insisting that he must surely be guilty of some terrible sin. Job believes, rightly, that his friends are wrong, but they refuse to believe him. Any person suffering the severe emotional and physical distress that Job is experiencing should have our deepest sympathy-but "when Job needed friends, what he got was theologians" (Tucker, 435).
• Job also has cause to be bitter toward God, who permitted this grave injustice. An alternate translation for meri is "bitter." It is possible that this verse is speaking of Job's bitterness rather than his rebelliousness. However, rebellious is an appropriate translation, given the context. Job has defied his friends as they tried to persuade him to acknowledge his guilt. As we shall see, Job will also seek to confront God so that he might argue his case and receive vindication. That could also be considered a form of defiance.
"His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning" (v. 2b). God's hand is heavy upon Job-and God has not seen fit to lighten his grip on Job even though Job is groaning in pain.
• Balentine translates this "Job's hand" rather than "his hand" (Balentine, 361, 374), but the context favors "his hand," meaning "God's hand."
JOB 23:3-5. OH THAT I KNEW WHERE I MIGHT FIND HIM
3 Oh that I knew how to find Him, That I might come to His home! 4 I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would tell me.
"Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat" (v. 3). Surprisingly, Job has not lost confidence either in his own innocence or in God's justice. He is convinced that he could persuade God of Job's innocence if he could only speak to him face-to-face-man-to-God. Job proclaims boldly that he would even go to God's dwelling-visit God in his heavenly realm-stand before God's throne. He would go to any length to visit God, but he doesn't know where to start-doesn't know where to find God.
"I would set my cause (mis∙pat) in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments" (v. 4). The word mis∙pat is often translated "justice," but its meaning is dependent on the context. In this context, Job is talking about presenting his case to God-his legal case-the arguments in his behalf-the evidence in his favor.
• Most of us would prefer not to go to court because, even if we were certain of our innocence, we could not be certain that a judge or jury would make the right decision. However, Job wants his day in court, because: (1) He has nothing to lose. Things are as bad for him as they could be. (2) He believes both in the rightness of his cause and the fairness of his God.
"I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me" (v. 5). Job seeks not only to present his case, but also to listen to what the Lord has to say. He understands that he doesn't know everything-and has the faith to believe that the Lord does know everything. Job wants to speak-to present his case-but he also wants to enter into dialogue with the Lord-to hear what the Lord has to say-to receive the illumination that can come only from the Lord.
JOB 23:6-7. AN UPRIGHT PERSON MIGHT REASON WITH HIM
6 Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me. 7 There the upright would argue with Him; And I would be free of my Judge forever.
"Would he contend (riyb) with me in the greatness of his power?" (v. 6a). The Hebrew word riyb continues the emphasis on legal terminology. It means "to conduct a lawsuit or legal case and all that it involves" (Baker & Carpenter, 1051).
• This is the first hint of doubt in this text. Job is aware that he is asking to negotiate, not with a mere king, but with the Lord. He knows that the Lord can defeat him in a debate or squash him like a bug. For just a moment, Job asks whether he has gone too far-whether he would put himself in mortal jeopardy by initiating a dialogue with the Lord.
"No, but he would listen to me" (v. 6b). But Job concludes that the Lord will not take advantage of his great power. Job believes that the Lord will give him a chance to speak, and will listen carefully to what Job says. He believes that the Lord will not be bent on winning the argument, but will instead want to rectify any injustice that Job might have experienced.
"There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge" (v. 7). Job believes that any upright person can reason with the Lord and that the Lord will happily acquit any upright person. He further believes that he is an upright person, so he is confident that he can reason with the Lord and that the Lord will acquit him.
JOB 23:8-9. HE IS NOT THERE-I CAN'T SEE HIM
8 "Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him; He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
"If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can't find him" (v. 8). "The points forward, behind, left, and right are based on an eastward orientation" (Hartley, 340). Forward would be east, on the other side of the Jordan River. Backward would be west-the Mediterranean Sea. Job can't find the Lord in either of those directions.
"He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him" (v. 9). The left would be north, in the direction of Syria. The right would be south, in the direction of Egypt.
• Job says that he has looked in all four directions, but has been unable to find the Lord. His experience has been quite different from that of the Psalmist, who asked, "Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there" (Psalm 139:7-8).
• We might be more inclined to understand Job's complaint than the Psalmist's assurance, because most of us have wondered if the Lord hears our prayers. Most of us have felt very alone during troubled periods of our lives.
JOB 23:10-15. BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE
10 But He knows the way I take; When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold. 11 My foot has held on to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not failed the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. 13 But He is unique, and who can make Him turn? Whatever His soul desires, He does it. 14 For He carries out what is destined for me, And many such destinies are with Him. 15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
Note: The verses are not included in the lectionary, and were omitted to create a more compact reading. However, we need to be aware of them, and should include them in the reading if he/she is basing the lesson on this text. Murphy goes so far as to pronounce the omission of these verses as "fatal" (Murphy, 266).
"But he knows the way that I take" (v. 10a). The Lord knows the paths that Job takes, so the Lord also knows the paths that Job has taken in the past. The Lord knows Job's innocence or guilt.
"When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold" (v. 10b). Job is confident that he is not guilty-and that he will survive testing like gold (v. 10b). There are various tests for gold. One involves melting the gold so that the impurities in the gold (which would be lighter than gold) would separate from the gold. This kind of test requires a very hot fire, and Job surely feels that he has been experiencing a hot-fire test with the loss of his wealth, family, and health.
"My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside" (v. 11). The picture that comes to mind is that of a boy following his father-trying hard to put his feet in his father's footsteps. Job claims that he has been doing that with the Lord's footsteps. He has deliberately followed in the way that the Lord led him, and has not succumbed to the temptation to turn to one side or the other. We know that Job is telling the truth, because the Lord has already borne testimony to Job's faithfulness (1:8).
"I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (v. 12). Earlier, Eliphaz advised Job, "Please receive instruction from his (Lord's) mouth, and lay up his words in your heart" (22:22). Now Job says that he has done that. Not only has he observed the Lord's commandments, but he has embraced them-treasured them in his bosom-incorporated them into his innermost being.
"But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does" (v. 13). But now Job experiences another moment of doubt, because he knows that the Lord stands above all and does whatever he wants. So, while Job wants to go into God's presence to appeal his case, he is anxious. Who is Job to change the Lord's mind? Who is Job to persuade the Lord to rectify the injustice that he has experienced.
"For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him" (v. 14). Job knows that he is completely at the Lord's mercy. He also senses that the Lord must have given his consent for Job's suffering. Since his current suffering was unjust, Job understands that there might be more suffering in his future.
"Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him" (v. 15). Job's moment of doubt morphs into a moment of terror-the kind of terror that comes from dealing with a world that doesn't make sense-the kind of terror that comes from dealing with overwhelming power. While a moment ago Job expressed great confidence in the rightness of his cause and the Lord's sense of justice, now he is not so sure. He has experienced suffering that he didn't deserve, so it would seem quite possible that his future will be as unfair as his present. The Lord's awesome power has the potential to be deadly.
JOB 23:16-17. GOD HAS MADE MY HEART FAINT
16 It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has terrified me, 17 But I am not destroyed by darkness, Nor by deep gloom which covers me.
"For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me" (v. 16). Job lays the responsibility for his terror at the Lord's feet. In one sense, he is right. Although he doesn't know the full story behind his suffering, he knows that he is suffering unjustly. That is frightening, because it means that he is living in a world that he cannot understand-and worshiping a God whom he cannot fully comprehend.
• But in another sense, Job is responsible for his terror. Earlier he expressed faith in his innocence and the Lord's justice. When he was thinking that way, he was not frightened. It was when his faith wavered that he became afraid. If he can recover his faith, his terror will vanish.
"Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face" (v. 17). The Hebrew for verse 17a admits to more than one possible meaning. The NIV says, "Yet I am not silenced by the darkness." The NRSV suggests that Job has given up and wants the world to open up and swallow him-a feeling that most of us have experienced at some time or another. But the NIV leads us in the opposite direction, suggesting that Job still has a defiant spirit that refuses to be silenced, even though Job might be afraid.
• Scholars differ on this verse, because the original Hebrew would allow either of the above translations. The context doesn't settle the matter either. But the preponderance of scholarly opinion seems to favor the NIV translation, which has Job standing tall and defiant to the end (Newsome, 543; Balentine, 366; Alden, 243).
POSTSCRIPT:
Chapter 24 is not part of this reading, but the preacher needs to be aware of it. In that chapter, Job complains of wicked people who cheat and steal and take advantage of helpless people-but the Almighty seems not to hold them accountable. Where is the justice? Why does God allow such things? Good questions!
EW Commentary - Job 23 - Job's Desire to Appear Before God
A. Job longs to take his case to God.
1. (23:1-7) Job's bitter complaint and his inability to connect with God.
1 Then Job responded, 2 "Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.." 3 Oh that I knew how to find Him, That I might come to His home! 4 I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would tell me. 6 Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me. 7 There the upright would argue with Him; And I would be free of my Judge forever.
a. Even today my complaint is bitter: At the close of Eliphaz's speech, Job continued to feel desperate. The wisdom and counsel of Eliphaz and the others was of no relief to him, and just made his mental and spiritual agony worse.
b. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him: Job felt separated from God. Surely, this was not the first crisis in his life (though, of course, it was far beyond any previous suffering). He had found comfort and solace in God in prior times, but in this catastrophe he felt he could not find God.
i. In a way almost infinitely less, yet nevertheless real, Job experienced what Jesus experienced on the cross: A man who had previously been in the fellowship and favor of God, now felt utterly forsaken. This was the greatest source of torment in Job's life.
ii. This not only tells us of Job's sense of the loss of the presence of God, but of his longing to have it back. "Good men are washed towards God even by the rough waves of their grief; and when their sorrows are deepest, their highest desire is not to escape from them, but to get at their God." (Spurgeon)
iii. "In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's face. His first prayer is not, 'Oh that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!' nor even, 'Oh that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!' but the first and uppermost cry is, 'Oh that I knew where I might find HIM - who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!'" (Spurgeon)
c. I would present my case before Him: Job did not only want the sense of the presence of God for the sake of spiritual comfort; he also wanted it so he might be vindicated in the court of God, especially in the face of the accusations of his friends.
i. "So impatient is Job for the process to begin that he dares to arraign the Lord in court. In effect, he wants to sue God for defamation of character!" (Mason)
ii. "Here Job's courageous honesty is seen at its best. His consuming desire is to come face to face with God, not by a contrived penance, as Eliphaz recommends, but in fair trial." (Andersen)
d. I would know the words which He would answer me... I would be delivered forever from my Judge: Job's conscience assured him that he would find mercy and favor at the throne of God. His friends insisted that God was against Job in his sufferings, but Job stubbornly clung to his innocence.
i. "He has confidence in the Lord that, if he could have an audience with him, God would not use his power against him; but, on the contrary, would strengthen him in order that he might state his case." CHS
2. (23:8-9) Job confesses his lack of understanding and need of divine revelation.
8 "Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him; He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
a. I go forward... backward... left hand... right hand: Job insisted that he had sought God in the midst of his crisis. He looked in every direction he could.
i. "This is one of the marks of a true child of God, - that, even when God smites him, he still longs for his presence." (Spurgeon)
ii. "An old Puritan writer quaintly observed, in commenting on this, 'Job, you have gone forward and backward, and you have looked to the left and you have looked to the right. Why don't you try looking up?'" (Morgan)
iii. "These two verses paint in vivid colours the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favour of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent." (Clarke)
b. But He is not there... I cannot perceive Him: No matter how sincerely and how diligently Job looked, he could not find God. God remained hidden through a barrier that was impossible to pierce.
B. Job's confidence in the midst of despair.
1. (23:10-12) Job's confidence in God and in his own integrity.
10 But He knows the way I take; When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold. 11 My foot has held on to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not failed the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
a. He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold: Here is another bright flash of faith upon a generally black background. Job admitted that he could not get through to God, yet clung to the confidence that God was still over this crisis.
i. With wonderful faith, Job seemed at this fleeting instant to understand what he could and should in his present crisis. He understood that:
· God still observed Job carefully and had not forgotten him (He knows the way that I take).
· God had a purpose in the crisis, and the purpose was not to punish Job (has tested me).
· God would one day bring the trial to an end (I shall come forth).
· God would bring something good from it all (I shall come forth as gold).
· God still valued Job; only precious metal is put through the fire (as gold).
ii. "Suddenly, in the midst of this bitter complaining, there flamed out a most remarkable evidence of the tenacity of his faith. He declared with conviction that God knew the way he was taking. He even affirmed his confidence that it was God Who was trying him, and that presently he would come forth from the process as gold." (Morgan)
iii. "It looks very hard to believe that a child of God should be tried by the loss of his Father's presence, and yet should come forth uninjured by the trial. Yet no gold is ever injured in the fire. Stoke the furnace as much as you may, let the blast be as strong as you will, thrust the ingot into the very center of the white heat, let it lie in the very heart of the flame; pile on more fuel, let another blast torment the coals till they become most vehement with heat, yet the gold is losing nothing, it may even be gaining." (Spurgeon)
iv. "Now he accepts the testing, because he knows: I shall come forth as gold. This image, drawn from metallurgy, does not necessarily imply purification. It could mean simply that the test proves that Job had been pure gold all along." (Andersen)
v. "I shall ask four questions of every man within reach of my voice. God knoweth the way that you take. I will ask you first: Do you know your own way? Secondly: Is it a comfort to you that God knows your way? Thirdly: Are you tried in the way? And, if so, fourthly: Have you confidence in God as to the result of that trial? Can you say with Job, 'When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold?'" (Spurgeon)
b. My foot has held fast to His steps: This was a dramatic defense of his integrity before his accusing friends. Job declared that he still followed God (I have kept His way) and loved His word (I have treasured the words of His mouth).
i. "God spoke to Job. Did God ever speak to you? I do not suppose Job had a single page of inspired writing. Probably he had not - even seen the first books of Moses; he may have done so, but probably he had not. God spoke to him. Did he ever speak to you? No man will ever serve God aright unless God has spoken to him." (Spurgeon)
ii. "Then note, that what God had spoken to him he treasured up. He says in the Hebrew that he had hid God's word more than ever he had hidden his necessary food. They had to hide grain away in those days to guard it from wandering Arabs. Job had been more careful to store up God's word than to store up his wheat and his barley; more anxious to preserve the memory of what God had spoken than to garner his harvests. Do you treasure up what God has spoken?" (Spurgeon)
2. (23:13-17) Job wonders at God's power and sovereignty.
13 But He is unique, and who can make Him turn? Whatever His soul desires, He does it. 14 For He carries out what is destined for me, And many such destinies are with Him. 15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am frightened of Him. 16 It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has terrified me, 17 But I am not destroyed by darkness, Nor by deep gloom which covers me.
a. But He is unique, and who can make Him change: Job here argued back with himself against his previous great declaration of faith. He understood, though he did deeply and sincerely trust in God, at the same time he could not make God do anything.
i. "Verse 13 is a monotheistic affirmation. Job said, 'He (God) is the unique (one).' The Hebrew expression is rare in the OT but idiomatic." (Smick)
ii. The older King James Version translates who can make Him change as who can turn Him? "But oh! The text itself is music to my ears. It seems to sound like the martial trumpet of the battle, and my soul is ready for the fray. It seems now that if trials and troubles should come, if I could but hold my hand upon this precious text, I would laugh at them all. 'Who can turn him?' - I would shout - 'Who can turn him?' Come on, earth and hell, come on, for 'who can turn him?'" (Spurgeon)
b. He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him: Job had to admit that God would do as He pleased in Job's life and would not be held hostage to Job's demands. He understood that the reasons and wisdom of God's work are ultimately with Him and not known to Job or others (such as Job's friends).
i. Job here seemed to come closer and closer to the place God wanted him to be in his crisis. He comes closer and closer to realizing that God can be trusted, that God does in fact love and care for him; but at the same time He is sovereign, and at least some of His ways are beyond our knowing.
c. Therefore I was terrified at His presence... God has made my heart weak: Knowing what he could not know about God made Job appreciate the distance between himself and God. It made him feel a good and righteous awe of God, though it felt like deep darkness because it was little comfort to him in his crisis.
i. "Job's strongest assertions of faith seem always to be coupled with equally strong assertions of fear and pain. In this chapter his confidence in his own righteousness is more unassailable than ever, yet with fear.
Job Chapter 23 - Commentary
Verses 23:1 - 24:25: Job's reply to Eliphaz's third speech was not a rebuttal, but express Job's longing for fellowship with God, so he could experience God's love and goodness and hear from Him the meaning of all his suffering.
This section, featuring Job's response to Eliphaz, is expressive of Job's deeply discouraged state, God's sovereignty is not a comfort to him but a terror. Echoes of his initial sadness in his opening soliloquy (3:1-26), are found here.
(In verses 1-12), we find that in spite of Job's anger toward Eliphaz, his dispute was not with humans but with God, the only One who knew the truth of his integrity (Psalm 17:3).
Job 23:1 "Then Job answered and said,"
Job replies to the insinuations of Eliphaz with the earnest longing after God and the assertion of his own innocence. While in the twenty-fourth chapter he laments that his own case is but one of many, and that multitudes suffer from the oppression of man unavenged, as he suffers from the stroke of God.
Job 23:2 "Even today [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning."
I.e., I do bitterly complain, and have just cause to do so. But this clause is and may be otherwise rendered, even still (Hebrew: at this day), is my complaint called or accounted by you rebellion or bitterness, or the rage of an exasperated mind? Do you still pass such harsh censures upon me after all my declarations and solemn protestations of my innocence?
"My stroke": Hebrew: my hand. I.e., the hand or stroke of God upon me, as the same phrase is used (Psalm 77:2); and mine arrow (Job 34:6).
"Is heavier than my groaning": I.e., doth exceed all my complaints and expressions. So far are you mistaken, that think I complain more than I have cause. Some render the words thus, my hands are heavy (i.e. feeble and hanging down), as the phrase is (Heb. 12:12). My strength and spirit fails), because of my groaning.
Job had listened to his opponents' complaints about him. He knew in his heart he was not guilty of the things he had been accused of. His complaint was bitter, because he wanted to know what he had done wrong that he might change it. His suffering had been so great, that he felt he had a right to know why he was suffering so greatly.
Job 23:3 "Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!"
"His seat": A place of judgment.
It appears that Job had sought the LORD, and He had been nowhere to be found. Had he been able to find the LORD, this trial would have not been complete. I am sure God's heart was breaking also, to see such great pain suffered by so faithful a servant as Job. All believers are looking forward to that time when we can be with Him.
Job 23:4 "I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments."
"My cause": Job's claim to innocence.
Job was sure if he could get an audience with God that he could plead his own case successfully. "Arguments", in this particular reading, mean reasons why he had not sinned against God.
Job 23:5 "I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me."
Being a God, hearing and answering prayer, who always hears; and sooner or later answers the petitions of his people in his own way. And which when he does, they know, take notice, and observe it. Or then he should know the reason why the Lord contended with him, and what were his sins and transgressions, which were the cause of his afflictions. Things he had desired to know, but as yet had no answer (see Job 10:2).
"And understand what he would say unto me": What judgment he would pass upon him, what sentence he would pronounce on him, whether guilty or not, and by which judgment he was content to stand or fall. As for men's judgment, the judgment of his friends, or to be judged by them, he required it not, as he did not understand upon what ground they went, or that it was a good one. But the judgment of God he should pay a deference to, as being always according to truth, and the reason of which, when he should have a hearing before him, and a decisive sentence by him, he should clearly perceive (see 1 Cor. 4:3).
Job knew that God would make it clear to Job in what he had failed God with, if he could only talk to Him. God does not speak in words that are not understood. Job knew it would be very clear.
Verses 6-7: "Plead". Engage in court debate over evidence, witnesses, etc. Job knew God was not going to enter a contest with him to determine, as in a court case, who was right. But he wanted God to at least listen to him, so confident was he that he could make his case, and be delivered by his just Judge (compare 1:8; 2:3).
Job 23:6 "Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me."
Eliphaz had bid Job to acquaint himself with God, and return unto Him (Job 22:23). Job says there is nothing he longs for more than to come into His presence.
God would not attack Job with His great power. His power would fill Job with strength to go on. Job had every confidence in God. He knew that God was full of forgiveness and love. He knew that God would understand his great love for Him.
Job 23:7 "There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge."
There, before his high tribunal (verse 3), the upright man might argue or reason with him, appealing from his justice to his mercy. From God the Judge to God the Savior, vindicating his integrity, acknowledging his transgressions, and pleading that they were sins of infirmity. And at last obtaining from God the acquittal anticipated in the second clause of the verse. In the absence of any revelation of an Advocate who will plead our cause before God for us, Job would seem to have been justified in expecting such a liberty of pleading his own cause as he here sets forth.
"So should I be delivered for ever from my Judge": The "Judge of all the earth" will certainly and necessarily "do right." Job's conscience testifies to his substantial integrity and uprightness (compare 1 John 3:21). He is therefore, confident that if he can once bring his cause to God's awareness, he will obtain acquittal and deliverance.
Oh, that we could all feel this confidence in standing before the Judge of all the world. We each will stand before Him on Judgement Day, and give an account of our lives on earth. Job wanted his judgement to come now, so that he might give an account of himself to God. Job knew that he could trust the Judge of all the world to do exactly what was right.
Verses 8-12: Even though Job couldn't sense God's presence, he believed He was present and affirmed his commitment to God's purpose in this test (verse 10), and his continued obedience to God's Word, which were the most important issues in his life (verses 11-12).
Job 23:8 "Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:"
I.e. towards the east, which in Scripture is accounted the forepart of the world, as the Hebrew name of it signifies. Because of the light of the sun, which arises there, and draws the eye of men towards it.
"He is not there": To wit, so as I would have him, as a judge to hear and determine my cause, of which he is here speaking. For otherwise he knew and believed that God was essentially present in all places.
"Backward": I.e. towards the west; so also the north is called the left hand, and the south the right hand (Job 23:9). Because so they all are to a man who looks towards the east. He names all the several parts of the world, to show his eager desire and restless endeavors to find out God, and to present himself before him.
Job went back to his original complaint here. He said, "I seek God, but He is nowhere to be found". He had never left Job as He never leaves us, but it was difficult for job to comprehend why God was allowing this trouble to overtake him. Job had chosen to walk in the Light of God. Satan had brought this darkness, to see if Job would remain faithful to God in the very worst of circumstances.
Job 23:9 "On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:"
To wit, in a special and peculiar manner, more than in other parts of the world. For so indeed God did work in those parts which were northward from Job, because there mankind (among whom God delights to be and to work) were most numerous, and most ingenious to discern God's works. There also was the seat of the Assyrian empire, which was eminent in Job's time, and afterwards of the other successive empires. In and by all which God did many great and glorious works. But this Hebrew word is by others, and that very properly and fitly, rendered when, or whilst, he worked, to wit, in an eminent manner. So, this is added to aggravate Job's unhappiness.
"He hideth himself": To wit, from me. He withdraws his favor, and will not afford me his presence and audience.
"I cannot see him": either I cannot discern his counsels and ways, and the reasons of his severe dealings with me. Or rather, he does not appear to me as a judge, to examine my cause and arguments, but condemns me without hearing me.
Job had never experienced a time when he could not reach out and touch God. It was almost as if God was hiding from him. We must continue to remember that Job was not aware that these trials had been brought by Satan by permission of God. If Job did not falter, this would be a witness to all of the angels in heaven, to Job's friends and relatives, and to every believer since that time.
Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
Job's language for testing is that of a furnace, which refines "gold" and makes it purer and brighter. This is a common image for God's purifying ministry in the lives of His people (Deut. 4:20; Psalm 66:10; Isa. 48:1; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
"I shall come forth as gold": His friends maintained that Job was full of dross, but Job is confident that no dross, or sin, would be revealed in the fires of refinement.
Job was aware this was some sort of test or trial in his life. The statement "when he hath tried me" leaves no doubt that Job had become aware this was a trial. Though Job was put in the fire of problems, these problems will only make him come to the top as pure gold. Job said, God knows me and knows I will come through this without sinning.
Job 23:11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined."
Or, held fast to His steps, i.e., followed closely His footsteps (compare Isa. 2:3).
"His way have I kept": The way he prescribed him, and directed him to walk in, the way of his commandments, which he observed constantly and kept. Though not perfectly, yet with great delight and pleasure, and so as not to be chargeable with any gross neglect of them, but in some sense to walk in all of them blameless as not to be culpable before men.
"And not declined": From the way of God, did not turn aside from it to the right or left. Or go into crooked paths with wicked men, or wickedly depart from his God, his ways and worship, as David says (Psalm 18:21).
Job was expressing the fact that he had walked on the straight and narrow path. He had not wandered into the wide path that leads to destruction. Christians, we must look for the footprints that Jesus made on this earth, and we must step into those tracks, and make them deeper with every step we take. Jesus is our example. We must follow him. A Christian is a believer in and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Job 23:12 "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]."
Not turned aside to any crooked or sinful path or course of life, human infirmity excepted.
"I have esteemed": Hebrew: I have hid, or laid it up, as men do their best treasures, or what they most love and value. The phrase notes a high estimation of it, a hearty affection to it, and a diligent care to preserve it.
"My necessary food": Or my appointed food, or my daily portion. I.e. that food or provision which is necessary for the support of my life, as this word is used (Gen. 47:22; Prov. 30:8; 31:15), which is more prized and desired than all the riches in the world.
Job had fed upon every Word of God. He had based everything he believed on the Word of God. He did not regard physical food as much as He did the Word of God. That was obvious, because he began to fast when the problem he now had, had started.
Verses 13-17: Understandably, Job considered a sovereign God unpredictable, which can be a fearful thing. In reality, God's seeming unpredictability is balanced by His unchanging faithfulness to His children.
Job 23:13 "But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? And [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth."
The word mind is not in the Hebrew, which is beehad, he is in one, namely, in one way or purpose or counsel. Notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piety, and all my prayers to him, he still continues in the same course of afflicting me.
"And who can turn him?" No man can change his counsels or course of acting. He is most absolute and free to do what he pleases, and he deals with me accordingly, and not by those milder methods which he uses toward other men.
"What his soul desireth, even that he doth": He will not do what I please or desire, but only what he pleases.
Job knew that the moment God spoke, it was absolute truth and could not be changed. Job knew that there was no changing in the LORD. This sounded like a complaint to God, that he would not consider what Job had to say.
Job 23:14 "For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him."
"He performeth the thing that is appointed for me": Job's resignation to God's sovereignty faltered at times in practice but he returned to it repeatedly. It is the great lesson of the book: Trust our sovereign God when you can't understand why things go badly in life.
This was as if Job was saying that his fate was predestined of God, and there was no use trying to change it. He had come to the sad conclusion that what was happening to him, was his fate in life.
Job 23:15 "Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him."
The thought of these further afflictions troubles me, and makes me shrink from his unseen presence. I know not how soon he may lay a fresh burden upon me.
"When I consider, I am afraid of him": When I reflect on the many forms of suffering which I may still have to undergo, my fears increase, I tremble at the future.
Fear of the Lord that brings reverence is a good thing. Terror of the Lord, which means we do not trust His actions toward us, is not a good thing. Faith and fear are opposites. Job was saying that he does not understand God's actions, and therefore, was afraid of Him.
Job 23:16 "For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:"
Of faint (as in Lev. 26:36; Deut. 20:3). He takes away my courage, and leaves me a prey to terror.
"And the Almighty troubleth me": The verb used is a very strong one, and means "hath filled me with horror and consternation?
This was just saying that Job had lost his assurance that all was well with him and God. Job was no longer feeling that he could come boldly before the LORD. He had lost his boldness. Job's heart was weak, and he was frightened of the Almighty, not knowing what He might do.
Job 23:17 "Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face."
Job complains of two things:
(1) That he was not cut off (i.e. removed from earth), before the great darkness fell upon his life (compare Job 3:11-13); and
(2) That he was not "covered, i.e., sheltered and protected, by the love and care of God when the dark days came.
Job was complaining that God had not removed him from the earth, before the darkness fell. We hear this many times from a parent, when their child dies before them. They say, why did I not die instead? His other complaint was that the Light of God had not protected him from this horrible darkness that Satan had brought to him.
