Job 23 -
Job Can Not Find God (verses 1-9)
Job Asserts His Integrity (verses 10-12)
Job Stands in Awe of God (verses 13-17)
1 Then Job answered and said: 2 "Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. 3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! 4 I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me. 6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me. 7 There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge. 8 "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. Job 23:1-9 (NKJV)
JOB CAN NOT FIND GOD
Job speaks again.
Job has a complaint. His spirit is bitter. His hand has no strength. His desire is to find God and present himself before Him. If he could find God he would present an argument to Him. He would present his case. But up to this point God has not spoken to Job. God has not opened His mouth when Job asks the question, “What is going on?” We need to remember that God does not have to give us an answer – He does not have to answer our questions. He does not report to us. God speaks when He – in His infinite wisdom – finds it appropriate it speak.
In verse five Job believes that if God would open His mouth he would come to an understanding as to what is going on. God would speak nothing but what was true, He would decree nothing that was not righteous, nor utter any thing that could not be comprehended. It matters little what man may say of me – for it is God alone who judges me. What God would say to me would be of immense importance. Barnes says this:
“Why should “we” not desire to know exactly what God thinks of us, and what estimate he has formed of our character? There is no information so valuable to us as that would be; for on “his” estimate hangs our eternal doom, and yet there is nothing which people more instinctively dread than to know what God thinks of their character. It would be well for each one to ask himself, “Why is it so?” (Barnes)
In verse six Job understands that he can not contend with God. Who can fight against God and win? There is no one. Anyone who fights with God will loose. But Job believes that if he were allowed to contend with God – at least God would notice him.
God does not contend against his people – but for them. He does not use His power to run them down, crush, and oppress them. He is a great God with great power. He is mighty in strength, and there is no contending with Him.
In verse seven Job believes that if he could make his case known before God that he would be acquitted before the judge. Job has a clear conscience and even calls himself “upright”.
In verses eight and nine Job explains his frustration of not being able to find God. He has looked in front of him, but He is not there. He has looked behind him, but He is not there. When he turns to the right and to the left Job can not find Him. God will make Himself know in His own time.
Barnes makes this interesting note of verse eight:
“The Oriental geographers considered themselves as facing the East, instead of the North, as we do. Of course, the West was behind them, the South on the right hand, and on the left the North. This was a more natural position than ours, as day begins in the East, and it is natural to turn the face in that direction. There is no reason why our maps should be made so as to require us to face the “North,” except that such is the custom.” (Barnes)
Verses eight and nine paint in vivid colors the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favor of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored in order to find the object of his search.
10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food. Job 23:10-12 (NKJV)
JOB ASSERTS HIS INTEGRITY
Job’s understanding of God is displayed in verse ten. God knows every turn that Job has taken. God knows every way he has gone. The same is true of us today. He knows what roads we have traveled – what paths we have gone down. Even if our paths have led to a dead end – God knows. Job goes on to say that when he is tested he will come forth like gold. In this I am reminded of first Peter chapter one where it says:
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)
A true Christian should not dread trial. It will not hurt him/her – though it is painful as you pass through. He/she will be the more valuable for the trial. It is the heat that makes things pure. There is no danger of destroying true holiness. Holiness will live through the flames, and will survive the raging heat that will consume the world. Job believes that if he were tested – everything would turn out alright.
Job makes some bold statements in verses eleven and twelve. Job claims that the path he has gone down has been a Godly path. The picture I get in my mind is of a father and son out for a walk in the new fallen snow. As they travel along the snow gets deeper and it becomes harder and harder for the son to keep abreast of the father – to make it through the depth of the snow. The son then gets behind the father and starts stepping where the father has already stepped. Thus the son is following in the same trail as the father. Job says he has not left the trail. He has not turned aside. Job even goes on to say that he has not even strayed from God’s commandments – in fact he has valued God’s Word even more than food – necessary food – the food he needs for survival. God’s Word is more precious to me than the food that will keep the body alive. Matthew Henry says this about God’s Word being our food:
“Note, The word of God is to our souls what our necessary food is to our bodies; it sustains the spiritual life and strengthens us for the actions of life; it is that which we cannot subsist without, and which nothing else can make up the want of: and we ought therefore so to esteem it, to take pains for it, hunger after it, feed upon it with delight, and nourish our souls with it; and this will be our rejoicing in the day of evil, as it was Job’s here.”
13 "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him. 15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him. 16 For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me; 17 Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face. Job 23:13-17 (NKJV)
JOB STANDS IN AWE OF GOD
Job tells us that God is unique. That is no understatement. He is One. He stands alone. You have no power to change the mind of God. He sees all. He knows all. There is none other like Him.
The New King James says, “"But He is unique, and who can make Him change?” Job 23:13 (NKJV)
Here are some ways that some other translations have translated the phrase:
(ASV, KJV) But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?
(BBE) But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it.
(Bishops) He is still at one point, and who can turn him?
(CEV) But he alone is God, and who can oppose him?
(DRB) For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought.
(ESV) But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
(GNB) He never changes. No one can oppose him or stop him from doing what he wants to do.
(GW) But God is one of a kind. Who can make him change his mind?
(JPS) But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him?
(MSG) But he is singular and sovereign. Who can argue with him?
(NASB) But He is unique and who can turn Him?
God alone is God. He can do what He wants. It is a great thought though that the character of God does not change. If we lived in a world where God was not consistent it would be chaos. But this is not the case.
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)
“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.” Psalms 19:9 (HCSB)
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” Psalms 33:11 (HCSB)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (HCSB)
Clarke says of verse thirteen: “It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot prevent its accomplishment.”
God does not act out of character. There is mercy, righteousness, justice, love, grace, forgiveness, holiness, etc. that has been consistent – forever. It is true that God could do whatever He wants – but He does not operate outside of His character – even though He is all powerful and answers to no one. He alone is God.
Job says that God has plans for him. So too it is with us. People are not without purpose. Nations are not without purpose. In God’s economy all things have a purpose. God says of the nation Israel:
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)
It is not just nations that God has plans for – it is also churches. Churches are made up of individual members. If we want spiritually strong churches we must develop spiritually strong members. It is just not the obligation of the pastor to baptize people – he/she is also instructed to teach and train people to be disciples. Evangelism is not an end in itself. People after conversion must be taught to become “doers of the word.” Anything short of this is not fulfilling the great commission.
Job’s focus in verse fourteen is that God will work out what He has appointed for him.
As Job considers the ways of God he is left with a sense of terror and fear. To stand in the presence of One who is so powerful would be terrifying. Job says that it would even make his heart weak. Yet Job is not silent – even though he has limited understanding and insight. Compared to the understanding that God has – Job is left in the dark. So too are we all.
He who stands in the presence of God would be humbled. We can consider God’s goodness, loving-kindness, and mercy with intellectual interest – but to experience His holiness and justice would shake us in our souls. If cherubim and seraphim veil their faces before his throne what must a sinner feel? How could one stand without a mediator and sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Can any human being come into the presence of the Judge without being humbled?
