JOB LESSON 23
We will begin this in Job 23:1 "Then Job answered and said,"
Job 23:2 "Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier
than 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!"
It appears, that Job had sought the LORD, and He had been no
where 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."
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."
Job knew that God would make it clear to Job in what he had
failed God, if he could only talk to Him. God does not speak in words
that are not understood. Job knew it would be very clear.
Job 23:6 "Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No;
but he would put [strength] in me."
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."
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.
Job 23:8 "Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and
backward, but I cannot perceive 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]:"
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 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."
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]."
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 started.
Job 23:13 "But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and
[what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth."
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."
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."
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:"
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 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.
Job 23 Questions
1. What did Job say in verse 2?
2. Why was Job's complaint bitter?
3. Who did it appear Job was seeking?
4. If he had been able to find Him, the trial would not have been
____________.
5. What was Job sure would happen if he could get an audience with
God?
6. What was "arguments", in verse 4, speaking of?
7. What was Job assured he would understand, if he could hear from
God?
8. In verse 6, God, would ___________ Job.
9. What does the author wish that we would have when we stand before
our Judge?
10. Why did Job want his judgement to come now?
11. What was Job's original complaint?
12. What was difficult for Job to comprehend?
13. What must we continue to remember in these lessons about Job?
14. Why did Job believe he could not reach out and touch God?
15. If Job did not falter, who would it witness to?
16. Job believed when God tried him, he would come out as _______.
17. Job had walked on the _________ and _________ path.
18. Where must Christians walk?
19. A Christian is a ___________ in and a ________ of Jesus Christ.
20. How do we know that Job thought more of the Word of God, than he
did physical food?
21. Quote Job chapter 23 verse 13.
22. In verse 14, it wass as if Job was saying what?
23. Job was troubled at God's ___________.
24. What was verse 16 saying?
25. What were Job's two complaints in verse 17?
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