Job 9:16

_IF I HAD CALLED, AND HE HAD ANSWERED ME; YET WOULD I NOT BELIEVE THAT HE HAD HEARKENED UNTO MY VOICE._ If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.-For he breaketh me with a tempest. 'I would not believe that He had hearkened (attended) unto my voice, who breaketh [bruiseth, _ SHUWP_ (H7779)]; but Umbreit takes it breathes violently upon] me (as a tree stript of its leaves) with a tempest.' Probably "If I had called, and He had answered" refers not to the answer to prayer; but, 'If called Him to court (summoned Him to try the question of right at issue between Him and me), and He answered my challenge and submitted to a trial.' So in Job 13:22. 'Call' and 'answer' are judicial terms like our 'plaintiff' and 'defendant.'...

14-21 Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. Job 32:1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is afterwards reproved. Still Job knew so much of himself, that he durst not stand a trial. If we say, We have no sin, we not only deceive ourselves, but we affront God; for we sin in saying so, and give the lie to the Scripture. But Job reflected on God's goodness and justice in saying his affliction was without cause....

Verse Job 9:16. _IF I HAD CALLED, AND HE HAD ANSWERED_] I could scarcely suppose, such is his majesty and such his holiness, that he could condescend to notice a being so _mean_, and in every respect so infinitely _beneath_ his notice. These sentiments sufficiently confuted that slander of his friends, who said he was presumptuous, had not becoming notions of the majesty of God, and used blasphemous expressions against his sovereign authority....

IF I HAD CALLED, AND HE HAD ANSWERED ME - It is remarked by Schultens, that the expressions in these verses are all taken from courts of justice. If so, the meaning is, that even if Job should call the Almighty to a judicial action, and he should respond to him, and consent to submit the great question about his innocence, and about the justice of the divine dealings with him, to trial, yet that such was the distance between God and him, that he could not hope successfully to contend with him in the argument. He would, therefore, prostrate himself in a suppliant manner, and implore his mercy and compassion - submitting to him as having all power, and as being a just and righteous Sovereign. WOULD I NOT BELIEVE - I cannot believe that he would enter into my complaint. He deals with me in a manner so severe; he acts toward me so much as a sovereign, that I have no reason to suppose that he...

EXPOSITION JOB 9:1 Job, in answer to Bildad, admits the truth of his arguments, but declines to attempt the justification which can alone entitle him to accept the favourable side of Bildad's alternative. Man cannot absolutely justify himself before God. It is in vain to attempt to do so. The contest is too unequal. On the one side perfect wisdom and absolute strength (verse 4); on the other, weakness, imperfection, ignorance. guilt (verses 17-20). And no "daysman," or umpire, between them; no third party to hold the balance even, and preside authoritatively over the controversy, and see that justice is done (verses 33-35). Were it otherwise, Job would not shrink from the controversy; but he thinks it ill arguing with omnipotent power. What he seems to lack is the absolute conviction expressed by Abraham in the emphatic words'"_ _Shall not the Judge of al

IF I HAD CALLED, AND HE HAD ANSWERED ME,.... Mr. Broughton reads the words, "if I cry, will he answer me?" as if Job had some doubt upon his mind whether God would vouchsafe to answer him, though he should make his supplication to him, as he proposed; seeing he had so sorely afflicted him, and still continued his hand upon him; or the words may be rendered, "though I have called, and he has answered" q, in times past. Job was a praying person, he had often prayed to God in his closet, and in his family, for himself, and for his children, and for his friends, and he had found God to be a God hearing and answering prayer, but seems to question whether he would answer him now, if he did pray to him: [YET] WOULD I NOT BELIEVE THAT HE HAD HEARKENED UNTO MY VOICE, or "would hearken" r, at this time, and under the present circumstances; or should he, the mercy would be so great, that he could...

CHAPTER S 9-10 JOB ANSWERS BILDAD _ 1. The supremacy and power of God (Job 9:1)_ 2. How then can Job meet Him? (Job 9:11) 3. He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked (Job 9:22) 4. Confession of weakness and the need of a daysman (Job 9:25) 5. Murmuring against God (Job 10:1) 6. Welcoming death (Job 10:18) Job 9:1. The final words of Bildad seemed to have had a momentary soothing

JOB 9:1 is Job's answer to the position taken up by Bildad, viz. that the Almighty cannot judge falsely (Job 8:3). In Job 2 accepts the general principle that God judges according to merit. But of what use is this? Man has no chance of asserting his righteousness before God, of putting in his claim to reward. There is no equality between the Judge and the person judged. If man wishes to maintain an argument with God (Job 9:3 _mg._) God can ask him a thousand questions that will baffle him. God is all-wise and almighty: who can withstand Him? (Job 9:4). He is almighty (Job 9:5 f). There follows a series of

From the operation of this terrible force in the physical world Job passes on to describe its display among creatures, and to shew how it paralyses and crushes them....

IF I HAD CALLED, AND HE HAD ANSWERED ME— _But if I should call, that he might answer me, I could not easily believe that he would hear my voice;_ Job 9:17. _Since he hath broken me with a tempest, and inflicted many wounds upon me without cause,_ Job 9:18. _Nor hath given me space to take my breath, so hath he filled me with bitterness._ Houbigant. This version shews the connection, and seems to give us the true sense of the passage. See Lowth's Prelections, p. 455. 8vo....