job 23
===Job 23:3-9:
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause 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 unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 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: |
If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say…. But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” Job is frustrated that he cannot go where God is to confront him. He wants to stand face-to-face with God and hear God’s explanation for his suffering. He complains that he does not know where to find God, but God knows where to find him, presumably to inflict suffering on him. Then Job speaks from his self-righteousness, that when God has done his worst on him, he will still be righteous. In other words, even God cannot make him sin!
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===job 23:10:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
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But he knoweth the way that I take — My comfort is, that, though I cannot see him, and know all his ways, and the reasons of his dispensations; yet he, being everywhere present, alway sees me, knows my heart and life, and observes the whole course of my conduct, my internal desires and designs, and the counsels of my heart, as well as my outward words and actions. It is a great comfort to those who are upright in their intentions, and mean honestly, that God understands their meaning though men do not, cannot, or will not. When he hath tried me — When he hath proved me by these afflictions, as gold is tried by the fire; I shall come forth as gold — Which comes forth from the furnace pure from all dross. The Hebrew is absolute, בחנני, bechanani, He hath tried me, I shall come forth. They that keep the way of the Lord may comfort themselves when they are in affliction with these three things: 1st, That they are but tried; it is not intended for their hurt, but for their honour and benefit; it is the trial of their faith, 1 Peter 1:7. 2d, That when they are sufficiently tried, they shall come forth out of the furnace, and not be left to consume in it, as dross or reprobate silver. The trial will have an end; God will not contend for ever. That they shall come forth as gold, pure in itself, and precious to the refiner. They shall come forth as gold approved and improved; found to be good, and made to be better. Afflictions are to us, as we are; those that go gold into the furnace will come out no worse. --Benson Commentary
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February 3, 2022: David Platt wrote: It’s just this wrestling of faith, because Job knows and he says at different points that he knows the almighty hears him. He knows that the almighty God is his defender and redeemer, as we’ve seen before. But in this verse, he says very clearly, God knows everything about my life, what’s led to this point. Job’s telling these so-called friends, God knows if what I am experiencing is a result of my wickedness or my blamelessness. God knows the way that I take it. He knows where I am right now. Then he says, “When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” What a picture. Job saying, I want to come out of this refined. I want to come out of this purified. I want to come out of this as gold and this is something we see all throughout scripture. Considerate it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know this testing of your faith develops perseverance. The end of trials and suffering in our lives can be perseverance and endurance, and joy and peace, and all of these good things; gold. |