Job 23:13 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Job 23:13

Comments

God is sovereign; this was understood from earliest times. He has a plan which is only partially known by human beings and he will not change that plan just because men find some parts of it hard. No one can force him to change his plan against his will. This is not to say that God does not hear and answer our prayers, but, if so, those prayers were taken into account in his eternal plan; they form part of that plan, being the means by which his will is accomplished, for through prayer he even allows us to be co-workers with him in bringing about his work. We are heard when we ask according to his will and then we have the confidence of knowing that he hears us. But to change his mind against his secret will is impossible. He is not answerable to any one else; no external pressure can be brought to bear on him; he does not fear anything so that he could be threatened, nor does he lack anything so that he could be rewarded. He knows that his own will is best and he will not do anything less than what is perfect in every situation.Job understands that God has appointed deep waters for him at times, and if so, he must go through these. God’s promise at such times is that ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you’ (Isaiah 43:2). The terms of the promise indicate that it is not possible to avoid these episodes in life, for God is determined to teach him through them and knows that they are the only means by which certain lessons can be learned. We must submit without murmuring to times of trial, and find consolation in the fact that they are designed for our profit. We will not profit from them if we fret and struggle, but we are best able to learn the lesson they contain if we take refuge in humility, continue to give thanks, and remember the kindness of our Father’s chastising hand.

Application

‘Many are moved when they hear God spoken of, and are somewhat well disposed, but that disposition is not well established in them, and therefore we see that the faith that appears in them for a time, vanishes away. Let us note well then that we never make progress in God’s school until his word is so deeply rooted in our hearts (that is to say that we have received it with such a mind) that it is not just some passing emotion to accept the thing that is spoken to us, but a heartfelt affection settled upon us in earnest’ (Calvin – in modern English).

‘When God has spoken and promised to be merciful and favourable to us, and to help us in all our needs, we must steadfastly believe it and rest on it without doubting whether or not he will perform his promise. Why? Because his truth is infallible. On the other hand, if he threatens us we must tremble, assuring ourselves that it is not for us to dally with such a matter … We know that God speaks his mind to us when he pledges himself to be pitiful and to receive us in mercy. If he so calls us to himself, it is not to beguile us and to load us with some vain hope. Therefore since we have assurance of his good will, let us boldly rest upon it. For what reason? Because he does not change … and although we see the whole world oppose God’s promises, yet we shall continue to be at rest, just as we see the Holy Ghost arms the faithful with such trust, and teaches them to defy all their enemies … We may despise all that our enemies can practice or devise. How so? Because they cannot withstand God or prevent him performing what he has spoken … Also, if he rebukes our vices, and is so good as to warn us of them, let us not remain unable to be amended in our wrongdoing, but let us humble ourselves and carefully endeavour to prevent the curse which God has warned us of, because for this purpose he warns us – so that he would not be constrained to execute his wrath against us’ (Calvin – in modern English).

‘When we see things out of order in the world and everything seems to go other than it should, let us remember that it is said that God holds the reins of the bridle, and that nothing is done except what he has predetermined in his purpose. Often we make think what is done is very strange, for our eyes are too poor sighted to comprehend the infinite power of God. What then? Let us conclude that because God is righteous, we must accept all his works, even though they are not to our liking’ (Calvin – in modern English).

Questions

The NKJ differs here from the KJV. The Hebrew says, ‘He is in one [with one]’ and the KJV and other versions supply the word ‘mind’ to give the sense, but the NKJ understands this as one in the sense of uniqueness. The word ‘mind’ is supplied because of what follows in the verse, which is clearly about the secret will and purpose of God and how unalterable it is. The uniqueness of God is not a relevant thought in context, nor does the preposition ‘in’ suggest this.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Job 23:13 Commentary and Bible Study