Job (Preaching the Word) by Christopher Ash

Author:Christopher Ash [Ash, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crossway
Published: 2014-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Job’s problem—not surprisingly—is that God is invisible. The words translated “forward . . . backward . . . on the left hand . . . to the right hand” (vv. 8, 9) are traditionally spoken from the standpoint of someone facing east and so may mean “east . . . west . . . north . . . south.” The north (Zaphon) is traditionally the place of the mountain of the gods, and the imagery was taken over by Jewish monotheism (e.g., Psalm 48:2, where Zion is spoken of as being in the “north”—symbolically, if not geographically). This may be why the north (“on the left hand”) is the place where “he is working” (v. 9). The repeated point is that in whatever point of the compass Job searches, wherever he goes on the outer fringes of the cosmos, he cannot “perceive . . . behold . . . see him” (v. 8, 9). God is invisible, and therefore Job can have no control over God (since knowledge of someone’s whereabouts is akin to power over them). He longs to “find” God (v. 3).

But although he cannot as yet find God, he has a confidence in final vindication. This confidence is expressed in verses 10–12 in terms of a clear conscience. Notice the repetition of the word “way” (vv. 10a, 11b): although Job does not know where God is, he does know and follow “his way” of life (morally), and he is confident that God knows Job’s “way” and that God knows that Job’s “way” is in line with God’s own “way.”

Job is steadfast (“My foot has held fast” [v. 11]), single-hearted (“[I] have not turned aside” [v. 11]5), and motivated by love (“I have treasured the words of his mouth” [v. 12]). He is a believer walking the walk of faith. Without having seen God, he loves him and loves his words (cf. 1 Peter 1:8). His conscience is clear before God. This is why he can say that when God has “tried” him, he will come forth “as gold” (v. 10b). This trying may refer to refining or purification;6 or it may simply be a confidence that when tested he will be found to be genuine, that “the tested genuineness of [his] faith,” which is “more precious than gold,” will be seen in the end (cf. 1 Peter 1:7).

So Job longs for final vindication before God, and he is confident of final vindication before God. But this confidence is not a shallow or trite thing, for Job is also afraid.

Job’s Heart’s Fear, the Awe That Is Mixed with His Confidence: God Is Frighteningly Sovereign (vv. 13–17)

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?

What he desires, that he does.

For he will complete what he appoints for me,

and many such things are in his mind.

Therefore I am terrified at his presence;

when I consider, I am in dread of him.

God has made my heart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me;

yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,

nor because thick darkness covers my face.

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