1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood. 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. 4You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians. 5If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom! 6Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. 7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? 8Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? 9Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man? 10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. 11Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. 16Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him. 17Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. 18Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated. 19Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. 20Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: 21Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. 22Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. 24Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? 25Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? 26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet. 28So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Job reproves his friends. (1-12) He professes his confidence in God. (13-22) Job entreats to know his sins. (23-28) 1-12 With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to be taught by them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify themselves, and lower their brethren, more than is fit. When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we may speak at all times. To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value. Job evidently speaks with a very angry spirit against his friends. They had advanced some truths which nearly concerned Job, but the heart unhumbled before God, never meekly receives the reproofs of men. 13-22 Job resolved to cleave to the testimony his own conscience gave of his uprightness. He depended upon God for justification and salvation, the two great things we hope for through Christ. Temporal salvation he little expected, but of his eternal salvation he was very confident; that God would not only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his salvation, in the sight and enjoyment of whom he should be happy. He knew himself not to be a hypocrite, and concluded that he should not be rejected. We should be well pleased with God as a Friend, even when he seems against us as an enemy. We must believe that all shall work for good to us, even when all seems to make against us. We must cleave to God, yea, though we cannot for the present find comfort in him. In a dying hour, we must derive from him living comforts; and this is to trust in him, though he slay us. 23-28 Job begs to have his sins discovered to him. A true penitent is willing to know the worst of himself; and we should all desire to know what our transgressions are, that we may confess them, and guard against them for the future. Job complains sorrowfully of God's severe dealings with him. Time does not wear out the guilt of sin. When God writes bitter things against us, his design is to make us bring forgotten sins to mind, and so to bring us to repent of them, as to break us off from them. Let young persons beware of indulging in sin. Even in this world they may so possess the sins of their youth, as to have months of sorrow for moments of pleasure. Their wisdom is to remember their Creator in their early days, that they may have assured hope, and sweet peace of conscience, as the solace of their declining years. Job also complains that his present mistakes are strictly noticed. So far from this, God deals not with us according to our deserts. This was the language of Job's melancholy views. If God marks our steps, and narrowly examines our paths, in judgment, both body and soul feel his righteous vengeance. This will be the awful case of unbelievers, yet there is salvation devised, provided, and made known in Christ.