Job 9:17

_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 9:17. _HE BREAKETH ME WITH A TEMPEST_] The _Targum, Syriac_, and _Arabic_ have this sense: _He powerfully smites even every hair of my_ _head and multiplies my wounds without cause_. That is, There is no reason known to myself, or to any man, why I should be thus most oppressively afflicted. It is, therefore, cruel, and inconsequent to assert that _I suffer for my crimes_....

FOR HE BREAKETH ME - He is overwhelming me with a tempest; that is, with the storms of wrath. He shows me no mercy. The idea seems to be, that God acted toward him not as a judge determining matters by rule of law, but as a sovereign - determining them by his own will. If it were a matter of law; if he could come before him as a judge, and maintain his cause there; if the case could be fairly adjudicated whether he deserved the calamities that came upon him, he would be willing to enter into such a trial. But where the matter was determined solely by will, and God acted as a sovereign, doing as he pleased, and giving no account of his matters to anyone, then it would be useless to argue the cause. He would not know what to expect, or understand the principles on which an adjudication would be made. It is true that God acts as a sovereign, but he does not act without reference to law. 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

FOR HE BREAKETH ME WITH A TEMPEST,.... Which rises suddenly, comes powerfully, and carries all before it irresistibly; hereby signifying the nature of his present sore afflictions, which came upon him at once, pressed him down, and utterly destroyed him, against which there was no standing: perhaps he may have some reference to the storm of wind that blew down the house, by which his children were destroyed. Schultens renders it, "a burning tempest" s, such as is common in the eastern countries, which Thevenot t often makes mention of; which kills a man at once, and his flesh becomes as black as a coal, and comes off of his bones, and is plucked off by the hand that would lift him up; with which a man is broken to pieces indeed, to which Job may allude: AND MULTIPLIETH MY WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE; referring, it may be, to the many boils and ulcers upon his body; though it may also respect t...

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....

2. Arbitrarily God deals with him, no matter what he may do. (Job 9:13-24) TEXT 9:13-24 13 GOD WILL NOT WITHDRAW HIS ANGER; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him. 14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words _to reason_ WITH HIM? 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. 17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness. 19 If _we speak_ OF STRENGTH, LO, _he is_ MIGHTY! And if of justice, Who, _saith he,_ WILL SUMMON ME? 20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me