Job 13:24

_WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE, AND HOLDEST ME FOR THINE ENEMY?_ Hidest ... face - a figure from the gloomy impression caused by the sudden clouding over of the sun. ENEMY. God treated Job as an enemy who must be robbed of power by ceaseless sufferings (Job 7:17; Job 7:21)....

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....

Verse Job 13:24. _WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE_] Why is it that I no longer enjoy thy _approbation_? _HOLDEST ME FOR THINE ENEMY?_] Treatest me as if I were the vilest of sinners?...

WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE - To hide the face, or to turn it away, is expressive of disapprobation. We turn away the face when we are offended with anyone. See the notes at Isaiah 1:15. AND HOLDEST ME FOR THINE ENEMY - Regardest and treatest me as an enemy....

EXPOSITION JOB 13:1, JOB 13:2 The first two verses of Job 13:1. are closely connected with Job 12:1; forming the natural termination to the first section of Job's argument, that all results, whether good or evil, must be referred to God. Job 13:1 is little more than a repetition of Job 12:9 and Job 13:2 of...

WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE,.... Not from his cry, because of his sore and grievous afflictions, as Bar Tzemach; nor from helping and saving him from his troubles, as Sephorno; nor from looking on his right ways, as Jarchi; but from his person, withdrawing the manifestation of his face and favour; withholding the discoveries of his love; and denying him the light of his countenance, and sensible communion with him, and enjoyment of him, he had been indulged with; Job formerly had seen the face of God, enjoyed his presence, and walked in fellowship with him; but now he had withdrawn himself from him, and he knew not where to find him; see Job 23:2; a greater blessing cannot be had than the gracious presence of God; nothing gives more pleasure when enjoyed, and nothing more grievous to good men when it is withheld; oftentimes sin is the cause of it, but not always, as in this instance o...

CHAPTER S 12-14 JOB'S ANSWER TO ZOPHAR _ 1. His sarcasm (Job 12:1)_ 2. He describes God's power (Job 12:7) 3. He denounces his friends (Job 13:1) 4. He appeals to God (Job 13:14) 5. The brevity and trouble of life (Job 14:1) 6. The ray of light through hope of immortality (Job 14:7) Job 12:1. He answers not only Zophar but the others as well. Before this Job had expressed his

Job 13:22 to Job 14:22. Job pleads his cause before God Having ordered his cause and challenged his friends to observe how he will plead, Job now enters, with the boldness and proud bearing of one assured of victory, upon his plea itself. There is strictly no break between the passage which follows and the foregoing; the division is only made here for convenience" sake. It would scarcely be according to the author's intention to make Job 13:23 the plea, and assume that, as God did not answer the demand there made, Job's plea took another turn. The question whether Job actually did expect that he would be replied to out of heaven can hardly be answered. We must, however, take into account the extreme excitation of his mind, and the vividness

WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE, &C.?— This expression, among some others, has been charged upon Job by a learned writer as very improper and unbecoming. Now, though we might admit that there is something faulty in the expostulation, yet it is very much alleviated by those expressions of humility and self-abasement which immediately precede and follow it. Read the 23rd and 25th verses. Scarcely ever were the feelings of the human heart, burdened with such a load of grief, expressed in a more natural or less blameable way; and I could almost recal the concession that I have made, of any thing at all wrong in it: for, if it be a rule of equity to put upon words and things the best construction that they will bear, Job seems, in the first part, to wish that God would discover to him the particular sins, if any, for which he thus afflicted him, and he was ready to deplore them, and to correct...

6. He calls on God for an arraignment. (Job 13:20-28) TEXT 13:20-28 20 Only do NOT TWO THINGS UNTO ME: Then will I not hide myself from thy face: 21 WITHDRAW THY HAND far FROM ME; And let not thy terror make me afraid. 22 Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me. 23 How MANY ARE MINE INIQUITIES AND SINS? Make me to know my transgression and MY sin. 24 WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE, And holdest me for thine enemy? 25 Wilt THOU HARASS A DRIVEN LEAF? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For thou writest bitter things AGAINST ME, And makest me to inherit THE iniquities OF MY YOUTH: 27 THOU PUTTEST MY FEET ALSO IN THE STOCKS, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to th