The Lord Works Without Our Knowledge and Permission (23:8-9)
Ps. 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
Eccles. 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Man’s Attempts to Find out God’s Infinite Ways Are Unsearchable: Behold, I go forward, backward, left hand, right hand...
Job 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Rom. 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
The Lord Reveals Himself in His Own Time (It Takes Faith to Endure): he is not there, I cannot perceive him, I cannot behold him...he hideth himself, I cannot see him:
Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Eccles. 8:17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
The Lord Knows the Outcome of Our Trials and Sufferings (23:10a) But he knoweth the way that I take...
Ps. 139:1-3 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
The Lord Will Reward Us as We Are Faithful and Obedient (23:10-12a)
I Pet. 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
A Realization of God’s Sovereign Wisdom Brings Great Understanding and Reward:
23:10b when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Zech. 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
A Faithful and Obedient Servant, During Trials, Is a Necessary Ingredient to Spiritual Success: 23:11-12a My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips...
Ps. 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Job’s Attitude Reflected His View of God’s Truth (23:12b) I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Matt. 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Thess. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
