“Today also my complaint is bitter; 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. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. Job 23:1-10.
Job suffering has made him desperate to connect with his creator. Job’s suffering has created a separation between him and God, at least this is how he feels. He is crushed under the weight of his experiences, and he longs to get a hearing with God. Clearly, he believes God would listen, he would have an audience with God and have the freedom to pour out the agony of his soul before him. Even in this great pain, he believes God would take note of him and value him. He is convinced of his righteousness and that God (alone) would vindicate his case.
Job has no sense of the presence of God with him. Job is groping to find God in his darkness. But he implies that just because he cannot seem to find God that he is not there. All he longs for is an audience with God. He alone can shed light on his journey and the suffering he has gone through. God alone would understand Job’s plight, but there is no response to his cries. He cannot connect with God. Suffering has a way of making us feel all alone. Job feels very much alone, even with his friends present. The first week their comfort was perfect, then they started talking and Job felt very much alone again.
Job has no awareness of the power of God. Interestingly, Job indicates that God is not contending with Job according to his power, but Job is not wishing that God would reverse his circumstances. Job desperately wants understanding. He is convinced that when he has a chance to interact with God, he will be vindicated by God. Job spirals in his suffering with the hope that God can sooth the torment of his soul. He understands that it is foolish to think God can change the past, but he does have hope for the future.
Job has confidence that God knows him. Job has nothing left. But he does believe his best refuge is God himself. God will “pay attention to me” and Job believes he will be acquitted by God. Regardless, if Job is deceiving himself with this or it will prove to be true, he is confident that God will care for him even if God has permitted this tragedy in his life.
Job has confidence that God will bring him through this suffering. It may be hard to believe, but even in such excruciating suffering, Job has the ability to maintain a “spiritual perspective” about the working of God. Job finishes this section with a basic statement of the future. Prophetic or not, Job sees that God knows the pathway he will take. This journey is one of refinement and he anticipates, in God’s sovereign direction, Job sees that this journey will refine his life and he will be a changed, but better person. Job is remarkable in terms of maintaining a “godly” perspective in midst of extreme suffering.
Pastor Brad
