For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me ; i.e he will assuredly accomplish whatever he has decreed for me. I cannot expect that he will blench or change. And many such things are with him. He has many other weapons in his armoury, many other woes with which he might afflict me. read more
The humbled and overwhelmed sufferer. The position of Job is one of confusion and unexplained mystery. He is in the hands of the Almighty. His punishment, as some affirm it to be, is very heavy. It at times seems to be greater than he can bear. Yet he is uncondemned within. He holds fast to his integrity. Like his friends, he interprets sufferings into punishments for sin. Yet he is not conscious of sin, certainly not of sin to such a degree as to merit such heavy judgment. He is confounded.... read more
But he is in one mind - He is unchangeable. He has formed his plans, and no one can divert him from them. Of the truth of this sentiment there can be no dispute. The only difficulty in the case is to see why Job adverted to it here, and how it bears on the train of thought which he was pursuing. The idea seems to be, that God was now accomplishing his eternal purposes in respect to him; that he had formed a plan far back in eternal ages, and that that plan must be executed; that he was a... read more
For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me - “I am now meeting only what has been determined by his eternal plan. I know not what is the “reason” why it was appointed; but I see that God had resolved to do it, and that it is vain to resist him.” So when we suffer, we may say the same thing. It is not by chance or hap-hazard that we are afflicted; it is because “God” has “appointed” that it should be so. It is not by passion or caprice on his part; not by sudden anger or wrath; but it... read more
Job 23:13. He is of one mind The word mind is not in the Hebrew, which is only באהד , beehad, he is in one, namely, in one way, or purpose, or counsel. Notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piety, and all my prayers to him, he still continues in the same course of afflicting me. And who can turn him? No man can change his counsels or course of acting. He is most absolute and free, to do what he pleaseth, and he deals with me accordingly, and not by those milder methods... read more
Job 23:14-15. He performeth, &c. Hebrew, ישׁלום חקי , jashlim chukki, he will perfect, or finish, my appointed portion, that is, those calamities which he hath allotted to me for my portion. And many such things are with him. There are many such examples of God’s proceeding with men; and his counsels and providences, though always just, yet are often secret; and we cannot discern the reasonableness or equity of them. Therefore am I troubled at his presence, &c. When I set... read more
Job’s reply to Eliphaz (23:1-24:25)Again Job says that he is not rebelling against God or running away from him as his friends claim. On the contrary he wants to meet God, so that he can present his case to him and listen to God’s answer (23:1-5). He is confident that God will declare him innocent of the charges people have made against him (6-7).No matter where Job has searched for God, he has not found him. He cannot see God, but God can see him. God knows he is upright, and one day, when... read more
His soul = Himself. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . read more
Job 23:13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?— For when he is in the way, who shall turn him? whatever he desireth, that he doth. Job had said, in the preceding verses, that he had observed the steps, and trodden in the way of God; and he now adds, when he is in the way, who shall turn him out? i.e. "Who shall compel God to forsake that way of ruling human affairs which he hath once purposed, and to follow another." Houb. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:13-17
Job to Eliphaz: 3. A meditation on the Divine Being. I. LOFTY THOUGHTS CONCERNING GOD . 1 . The unity of the Divine nature. "For he is in one mind;" literally, "for he is in one" (verse 13). The interpretation which regards this as an allusion to the absolute majesty and undivided essence of the Deity, as in the sublime monotheistic confession of Israel ( Deuteronomy 6:4 ), though not accepted by all expositors, is yet pronounced by most to be perfectly admissible. How far... read more