Job 23:1-17 - Trust and Follow the Unseen God

Job 23:1-17

Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments

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.

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.

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 answered Eliphaz who accused him of suffering for sinning against God because he attributed all suffering as a punishment instead of a higher purpose to glorify God through a response of faith through endurance that holds to God’s word no matter what comes.  Job admitted that he was suffering terribly and was finding it impossible to see God through it all, yet he wanted to present his case before the Almighty if he was permitted to approach that throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and hear then response of God to understand what he had done wrong.  Job anticipated finding justice before God for deliverance and not a simple answer of power in condemnation.  He looked everywhere as God seemed distant and unapproachable as described by being unable to see clearly how He really works in the lives of men like himself.  Even so, by faith Job held to the heartfelt belief that God both knew the way his life took and that when he was tested by Him that he would one out with value to God and His glory as described by pure and precious gold.  He kept the way he walked therefore to God’s path laid our in the map of His word and refused to turn (Isaiah 30:21) aside as he kept his ear of faith to the words he heard and knew to be true and right.  He treasured the words of God’s mouth more than the food he daily needed to survive, his daily bread (Jeremiah 15:16, Luke 11:3) which we also find essential every morning from His scriptures as words for life (2 Peter 1:3) and godliness.  Job realized the character of God as unchangeable, all powerful, and in complete sovereign control of the universe.  He knew that His will was immutable and certain in providence that was predetermined, no matter the suffering Job had to endure.  Knowing the character and power of God, Job trembled in His presence (Psalm 2:11, Philippians 2:12, Acts 9:31) with godly fear in looking into the darkness of the world and his own suffering beyond his understanding.  He did not have the same measure as we do now in Christ who have the peace of the Holy Spirit in us to comfort in our suffering and give understanding and grace to endure what we face.  May we be ever thankful for this grace and peace as we face uncertainty in adverse circumstances and knowing we are both being tempted and attacked by the adversary and tested by the Lord for our response of trust according to His word and promises.  We also trust and follow the unseen God as His character and purposes are revealed to us in the inner man by His word and Spirit.