Come Boldly Unto The Throne Of Grace
- Justin Ray
- Jul 19, 2020
- 6 min read
Job 23
When we read about Job, there is no doubt that his problems were real. He was not making a mountain out of a molehill. In the midst of his sufferings, he sought God. In our text today, he feels like God is nowhere to be found. He has said such in previous chapters, but today I want to look at that idea. Chances are, you have felt (or are currently feeling) that way. I know I have.
Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter:
My stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!
That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me,
And understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power?
No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him;
So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;
And backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:
He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps,
His way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?
And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me:
And many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence:
When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft,
And the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness,
Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Job 23
As we think of this chapter, it is divided into four sections, so we will consider four quick thoughts. Also, we must remember that Job is speaking as a saved man. We read in chapter 19 his profession of faith in his "Redeemer". So, if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, this is for you.
MORE THAN I CAN BEAR
(v. 1-5)
Job is at the lowest point of his life. He had never faced anything like this before. Not knowing what was taking place in the realm of God and Satan, he blamed God for what was taking place. When I say "blamed", I mean that he is recognizing that God is the ultimate authority in the universe and therefore he had to allow this to happen, or else it would not have happened. That is true. We read in chapters 1 and 2 that God had to give Satan permission to do any of this to Job. Job is recognizing God's sovereignty in the universe.
In verse 2, Job says that God's hand (my stroke) is actually heavier than what he is able to express (his groanings). Because of this, he desires to come before God and plead his case (v.3). He wants to know where he might find God so that he can come before his throne. If it were possible, he would lay all this out to God and seek mercy (v.4). He is looking at God as a judge and he wants to be able to represent himself in court. In verse 5, he basically says "at least then I would understand". Haven't you felt that way, that you would simply like to understand why God is allowing something in your life?
God Would Help
(V. 6-9)
Job knows that God is not his enemy. There are times where that is hard to tell from the words he speaks, but he knows that God is righteous. In verse 6, he says that God would not plead against him. The idea is like a prosecutor in court. Oh what a wonderful truth that is! God does not plead against us when we are his children. Our sins were paid for by his Son. Job was looking forward to his redemption but the result was the same, God was not his prosecutor. He knows that if he could only approach God's throne that he could get help from God (v.7). If he could only come before God's throne, he would be delivered from this torment. Oh that lost people felt this same way!
Verses 8 and 9 present a different problem. It is one that we do not have today. Job did not know how to approach the throne of God. Yes, he offered sacrifices and prayed, but this is where there is a stark difference in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus was not yet serving in his High Priestly role. He was not yet daily making intercession for his saints (Hebrews 7:25). Job says that he has looked all over for God, but cannot find Him. This reveals that tangible separation that sin put between man and God. While we know that Jesus is our mediator and makes intercession for us, think about how distant God can feel to us today. Can you imagine how Job must have felt?
He Shall Sit As A Refiner (Malachi 3:3)
(v. 10-13)
This is almost like Romans 8:28. While this whole process is not fun, and had even made Job pray for death, he knows that God is refining him like a precious metal. He says in verse 10 that he "shall come forth as gold". Gold is put to extreme heat to remove impurities. That is what Job believed God was doing in his life, but the fire was hot and the process hurt. There are several times in scripture where God is compared to a refiner who is purifying his people like Gold. Job is one, Malachi is another, and I read in Proverbs today the same idea (Proverbs 17:3).
In verses 11-12, Job says that he has not backslid through all of this. He has continued to walk with God. He says his foot has not slipped, he has kept God's ways, he has not forsaken God's commandments, and he values the word of God greater than food and the necessities of life. Job, though he does not understand all that is going on, knows that he needs God. He still loves God.
Finally in verse 13, Job speaks about the sovereignty of God's will. Much like the Psalms, Job has complained about injustice but the more he seeks God, the more he realizes that God is sovereign and righteous. Look at what he says, "But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth". God does not change his will because of us, he changes us because of his will. This goes back to the idea of the refiner. God is removing the impurities from our character to make us better fit for his will. God does not change, nor should he. He changes us to grow us and strengthen us.
God Has A Plan
(v. 14-17)
For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me:
And many such things are with him.
Job 23:14
I had to put there verse here again because it is important! Look at what Job said. "He performeth the thing that is appointed for me". God is doing that which he has willed for Job. This tells us that God had a plan for Job and it was a personal plan. It was tailor made for Job. This plan was for Job's refining. It was not to destroy Job, though it felt like it. This shouldn't scare us away from God, it should draw us closer to him. Think about this for just a moment, what if gold could speak, feel, and move? What if the gold decided that the fire was too hot. The heat was too painful and so, it jumped out of the refining pot into the fire in an attempt to get away. Sure, the gold might also get away from the fire but the soot and debris from the fire would further contaminate the gold. The process would need to start over. By the way, while we may think that we are going through Hell, God does not try his Saints with the fires of Hell. Hell is far removed from us. The closest we come to it is not peril but trying to save others from it through the preaching of the Gospel.
In verses 15-17, Job speaks of fearing God. I know we often say that "fear" means reverence but there is a degree of terror as well. If there wasn't why did the people of the Bible fall on their faces when they came into his presence. John had walked with Jesus during his ministry, but when he encountered Jesus in his glory, he fell on his face as dead. God was teaching Job to fear him more. The process was painful and Job did not understand. While it terrified him, he knew that he had to cling to God. This was his only hope.
Father, help me to seek you as diligently as Job did. May I trust that my own trials are being used to purify me. Help me to not doubt you. Let your word fortify my mind and heart for such times. Thank you for having a plan for my life and working to make me more like your Son.
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