Daily Devotional Sunday 12th September 2021

by William Moody

Job 23

Job Replies: Where Is God?

23:1 Then Job answered and said:

  “Today also my complaint is bitter;1
    my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
  Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
    that I might come even to his seat!
  I would lay my case before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
  I would know what he would answer me
    and understand what he would say to me.
  Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
    No; he would pay attention to me.
  There an upright man could argue with him,
    and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
  “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
    and backward, but I do not perceive him;
  on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
    he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10   But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11   My foot has held fast to his steps;
    I have kept his way and have 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 portion of food.
13   But he is unchangeable,2 and who can turn him back?
    What he desires, that he does.
14   For he will complete what he appoints for me,
    and many such things are in his mind.
15   Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
    when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16   God has made my heart faint;
    the Almighty has terrified me;
17   yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
    nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Footnotes

[1] 23:2 Or defiant
[2] 23:13 Or one

(ESV)

Job doesn’t reply directly to Eliphaz but he is more concerned with his standing before God. Job desires to come before the Lord and present his case (v1-7). Job has confidence in how God would receive him (v6-7).

But Job’s problem is that he believes the Lord is distant and he can’t perceive His presence (v8-9). This can be a real problem in difficult times. But how we feel doesn’t necessary mean that’s the reality.

Job then shares a Word of testimony of the life he has led (v10-12). Can you measure up to the life of Job? Pray about this.

Job maintains a very high regard for the Lord and has a proper fear of God (v13-17). There is no sense of Job treating God in a casual way. His belief of God is of one who is high and exalted and not one you can content with and expect to succeed. Pray that you reverence for the Lord will be growing as your knowledge of the Lord also grows.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.