Job 23
BSB
Job Longs for God
1Then Job answered:
2“Even today my complaint is bitter.
His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3If only I knew where to find Him,
so that I could go to His seat.
4I would plead my case before Him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would learn how He would answer,
and consider what He would say.
6Would He contend with me in His great power?
No, He would certainly take note of me.
7Then an upright man could reason with Him,
and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8If I go east, He is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
9When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him;
when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.
10Yet He knows the way I have taken;
when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11My feet have followed in His tracks;
I have kept His way without turning aside.
12I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth
more than my daily bread.
13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him?
He does what He desires.
14For He carries out His decree against me,
and He has many such plans.
15Therefore I am terrified in His presence;
when I consider this, I fear Him.
16God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me.
17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
by the thick darkness that covers my face.
Introduction
Job 23
This chapter begins Job's reply to Eliphaz. In this reply he takes no notice of his friends, either because he saw it was to no purpose or because he liked the good counsel Eliphaz gave him in the close of his discourse so well that he would make no answer to the peevish reflections he began with; but he appeals to God, begs to have his cause heard, and doubts not but to make it good, having the testimony of his own conscience concerning his integrity. Here seems to be a struggle between flesh and spirit, fear and faith, throughout this chapter. I. He complains of his calamitous condition, and especially of God's withdrawings from him, so that he could not get his appeal heard (Job 23:2-5), nor discern the meaning of God's dealings with him (Job 23:8, Job 23:9), nor gain any hope of relief (Job 23:13, Job 23:14). This made deep impressions of trouble and terror upon him (Job 23:15-17). But, II. In the midst of these complaints he comforts himself with the assurance of God's clemency (Job 23:6, Job 23:7), and his own integrity, which God himself was a witness to (Job 23:10-12). Thus was the light of his day like that spoken of, Zac 14:6, Zac 14:7, neither perfectly clear nor perfectly dark, but "at evening time it was light."
Cross-references: Job 23:2 · Job 23:8 · Job 23:9 · Job 23:13 · Job 23:14 · Job 23:15 · Job 23:6 · Job 23:7 · Job 23:10 · Zech 14:6 · Zech 14:7