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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Job 23:13–17. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Some make Job to complain here that God dealt unjustly and unfairly with him in proceeding to punish him without the least relenting or relaxation, though he had such incontestable evidences to produce of his innocency. I am loth to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly with him, but he must bear it because he cannot help it; the worst he says is that God deals unaccountably with him.
I.He lays down good truths, and truths which were capable of a good improvement, Job 23:13, Job 23:14.
1.That God's counsels are immutable: He is in one mind, and who can turn him? He is one (so some read it) or in one; he has no counsellors by whose interest he might be prevailed with to alter his purpose: he has no counsellors by whose interest he might be prevailed with to alter his purpose: he is one with himself, and never alters his mind, never alters his measures. Prayer has prevailed to change God's way and his providence, but never was his will or purpose changed; for known unto God are all his works.
2.That his power is irresistible: What his soul desires or designs even that he does, and nothing can stand in his way or put him upon new counsels. Men desire many things which they may not do, or cannot do, or dare not do. But God has an incontestable sovereignty; his will is so perfectly pure and right that it is highly fit he should pursue all its determinations. And he has an uncontrollable power. None can stay his hand. Whatever the Lord pleased that did he (Psa 135:6), and always will, for it is always best.
3.That all he does is according to the counsel of his will (Job 23:14): He performs the thing that is appointed for me. Whatever happens to us, it is God that performs it (Psa 57:2), and an admirable performance the whole will appear to be when the mystery of God shall be finished. He performs all that, and that only, which was appointed, and in the appointed time and method. This may silence us, for what is appointed cannot be altered. But to consider that, when God was appointing us to eternal life and glory as our end, he was appointing to this condition, this affliction, whatever it is, in our way, this may do more than silence us, it may satisfy us that it is all for the best; though what he does we know not now, yet we shall know hereafter.
4.That all he does is according to the custom of his providence: Many such things are with him, that is, He does many things in the course of his providence which we can give no account of, but must resolve into his absolute sovereignty. Whatever trouble we are in others have been in the like. Our case is not singular; the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren, Pe1 5:9. Are we sick or sore, impoverished and stripped? Are our children removed by death or our friends unkind? This is what God has appointed for us, and many such things are with him. Shall the earth be forsaken for us?
II.He makes but a bad use of these good truths.
Had he duly considered them, he might have said, "Therefore am I easy and pleased, and well reconciled to the way of my God concerning me; therefore will I rejoice in hope that my troubles will issue well at last." But he said, Therefore am I troubled at his presence, Job 23:15. Those are indeed of troubled spirits who are troubled at the presence of God, as the psalmist, who remembered God and was troubled, Psa 77:3. See what confusion poor Job was now in, for he contradicted himself: just now he was troubled for God's absence (Job 23:8, Job 23:9); now he is troubled at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him. What he now felt made him fear worse. There is indeed that which, if we consider it, will show that we have cause to be afraid of God - his infinite justice and purity, compared with our own sinfulness and vileness; but if, withal, we consider his grace in a Redeemer, and our compliance with that grace, our fears will vanish and we shall see cause to hope in him. See what impressions were made upon him by the wounds of his spirit.
1.He was very fearful (Job 23:16): The Almighty troubled him, and so made his heart soft, that is, utterly unable to bear any thing, and afraid of every thing that stirred. There is a gracious softness, like that of Josiah, whose heart was tender, and trembled at the word of God; but this is meant of a grievous softness which apprehends every thing that is present to be pressing and every thing future to be threatening.
2.He was very fretful, peevish indeed, for he quarrels with God,
(1.)Because he did not die before his troubles, that he might never have seen them (Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Job 23:17), and yet if, in the height of his prosperity, he had received a summons to the grave, he would have thought it hard. This may help to reconcile us to death, whenever it comes, that we do not know what evil we may be taken away from. But when trouble comes it is folly to wish we had not lived to see it and it is better to make the best of it.
(2.)Because he was left to live so long in his troubles, and the darkness was not covered from his face by his being hidden in the grave. We should bear the darkness better than thus if we would but remember that to the upright there sometimes arises a marvellous light in the darkness; however, there is reserved for them a more marvellous light after it.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
He declares the reason by which he walks in the narrow path of God without his feet ever turning aside. This compels him to be the dedicated guardian of his precepts, “I conceived with my mind, he says, this esteem for God, because he is the only one for whom this name [of God] is truly fitting.” As for those who are called gods, he does not accept any of those who are called gods, who do not participate in his power. For him everything is easy to do and nobody can oppose his force and will.
49. As if he said in plain words, ‘Already I weigh well what I am suffering, but I still dread things that I may undergo.’ For He accomplishes His will in me, in that He afflicts one with many strokes, but ‘there are many like things with Him,’ in that if He is minded to strike, He sees yet further where the stroke may be added to. Hence we may collect how fearful he was before the scourge, who even after being scourged still dreads lest he should be farther stricken. For seeing the incomprehensible force both of power and penetration that resides in Him, the righteous man would not even on the ground of the scourge upon him be secure.
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Summary
Job 23:14 offers a profound and paradoxical declaration from Job, who, amidst his profound suffering, affirms God's absolute and unchangeable sovereignty. He acknowledges that his current trials are not random misfortunes but are part of a divinely "appointed" decree specifically for him, meticulously "performed" by God. Furthermore, Job humbly concedes that his personal experience is but one instance among countless other unrevealed and equally purposeful divine decrees held within God's inscrutable wisdom, highlighting the vastness and mystery of God's ways and calling for deep trust in His hidden purposes.
Context
Literary Context
Job 23:14 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically within his deeply personal monologue in chapter 23. Here, Job expresses a fervent longing to confront God directly and understand the reason for his immense suffering. Despite this desperate desire for an audience with the Almighty, Job simultaneously grapples with God's overwhelming power and unchangeable nature. He perceives God as omnipresent yet elusive, lamenting, "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him" Job 23:8. This sense of divine hiddenness intensifies his anguish but does not diminish his conviction in God's ultimate control. Earlier in this chapter, Job expresses a remarkable, though painful, trust, declaring that after God has tested him, he will "come forth as gold" Job 23:10. Verse 14 follows this declaration, reinforcing his conviction that his current affliction is a specific "appointed thing" from God, not merely a random calamity. He understands that God's will is fixed and cannot be altered by human protest or even divine appeal, as "he is of one mind, and who can turn him?" Job 23:13. This verse encapsulates Job's paradoxical position: a man who desperately seeks answers from God, yet profoundly trusts in God's sovereign, though mysterious, plan.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Book of Job belongs to the wisdom literature genre of the Old Testament, which grapples with fundamental questions of life, suffering, justice, and the nature of God. In the ancient Near East, suffering was often directly correlated with sin, a common theological framework held by Job's friends. Job's experience directly challenges this retributive theology, presenting a righteous man who suffers inexplicably. The cultural context emphasizes a hierarchical worldview where divine decrees were understood as absolute and unchallengeable. Kings issued decrees, and their word was law; how much more so for the divine King of the universe. Job's statement, therefore, aligns with a broader understanding of divine omnipotence prevalent in the ancient world, yet it subverts the common explanation for why such decrees would be issued to a righteous individual. The setting, though not precisely dated, reflects a patriarchal society where personal piety and communal standing were deeply intertwined. Job's lament is not a rejection of God's power but a desperate plea for understanding within a framework of accepted divine sovereignty.
Key Themes
Job 23:14 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully asserts Divine Sovereignty, emphasizing God's ultimate and meticulous control over all circumstances, including the trials and tribulations of individuals. Job believes that God "performeth" or actively carries out His decrees, indicating an intentional and active involvement in his life. Secondly, the verse highlights the Divine Purpose in Suffering. Job understands that his suffering is not arbitrary but is "appointed" for him, implying a specific, deliberate purpose behind his pain, even if that purpose is currently unknown to him. This theme resonates with the New Testament understanding that God works all things together for good for those who love Him Romans 8:28. Thirdly, the phrase "many such things are with him" underscores the Mystery of God's Ways. Job acknowledges that his own suffering is just one small part of God's innumerable and often hidden decrees, reminding humanity that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are beyond full human comprehension Isaiah 55:8-9. Finally, despite his anguish and confusion, Job's statement reflects a profound, albeit painful, Submission and Trust in God's will and an underlying confidence in His divine administration, even when it defies human logic or conventional wisdom.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb carries the primary sense of completing, making full, or bringing to fruition. While it can also mean to be at peace or to make amends, in this context, it emphasizes God's active and effective execution of His decrees. It signifies that God does not merely declare His will but powerfully and perfectly brings it to its intended conclusion. For Job, this means God is actively and completely bringing about the "appointed thing" in his life, ensuring that His sovereign purpose for Job's suffering is not just planned but fully realized and brought to its designed end, even if that end is painful in the present.
This noun refers to an enactment, decree, or appointed thing. Deriving from a root meaning "to engrave" or "to cut in," it conveys the idea of something fixed, established, and unchangeable, like a law carved into stone. In Job 23:14, it signifies a divine ordinance or statute that God has specifically determined for Job. This implies that Job's suffering is not random but a precise, pre-ordained component of God's sovereign plan, carrying with it a sense of deliberate intention and unalterable certainty, even if its ultimate purpose remains veiled.
Verse Breakdown
"For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me:"
This clause is the core assertion of Job's profound theological understanding. Despite his intense suffering and his inability to grasp its reason, Job maintains that his experience is not chaotic or arbitrary. Instead, it is the direct and active execution ("performeth") of a specific divine decree ("appointed") uniquely designed for him ("for me"). This reveals Job's conviction in God's meticulous sovereignty, where even personal affliction is part of a deliberate, pre-ordained plan. It speaks to God's intentionality and active involvement in the details of Job's life, even in its most painful aspects, ensuring that His will is brought to its full and perfect completion.
"and many such [things are] with him."
This second clause expands the scope of God's sovereignty beyond Job's immediate experience. It acknowledges the vastness and incomprehensibility of God's total plan. Job understands that his "appointed thing" is not an isolated incident but one among "many such things" that reside within God's divine counsel. This phrase highlights the hiddenness and immensity of God's purposes, suggesting that human understanding can only grasp a fraction of God's overall design. It implies an infinite reservoir of divine decrees and actions, most of which remain concealed from human perception, reinforcing the mystery and transcendence of God's ways and humbling human intellect before divine wisdom.
Literary Devices
Job 23:14, though a concise statement, employs several subtle literary devices that amplify its theological weight. The verse functions as a profound Paradox, as Job simultaneously expresses a desperate desire to understand God's ways and an unwavering conviction in God's inscrutable sovereignty. He is a man in agony seeking answers, yet affirming that the answers are beyond his grasp because God's decrees are fixed and numerous. There is an element of Irony in Job's statement; he is suffering unjustly, yet he attributes his suffering to a divinely "appointed" purpose, thus acknowledging God's justice even when he cannot perceive it. The phrase "many such things are with him" functions as a form of Understatement or Meiosis, hinting at the infinite complexity and breadth of God's plans without explicitly stating their boundless nature. This creates a sense of awe and humility before the divine. The language also implies Anthropomorphism in attributing "things" to be "with him" (God), though this is a common and necessary way to speak of divine attributes and actions in human terms. Overall, the verse's power lies in its succinct articulation of a suffering individual's profound, yet painful, submission to an all-powerful and mysterious God.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Job 23:14 stands as a monumental declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous providence, even in the darkest valleys of human suffering. It asserts that God is not merely a cosmic clockmaker who set the universe in motion and then withdrew, but an active, intentional, and sovereign Lord who orchestrates every detail of creation and human experience, including personal trials. This verse challenges the human inclination to view suffering as random or meaningless, instead positing it as part of a divinely "appointed" and purposeful plan. It highlights the profound mystery of God's ways, acknowledging that while His decrees are certain, their full scope and rationale are often hidden from human comprehension. This perspective calls believers to a posture of humble trust, recognizing that God's wisdom far surpasses our own, and His purposes, though sometimes veiled, are always righteous and ultimately for His glory and our good.
Reflection and Application
Job 23:14 offers a profound anchor for the soul in a world often characterized by chaos and inexplicable pain. In an age where control is sought above all else, Job's declaration reminds us that true peace often comes from surrendering to a greater, divine control. When faced with personal trials, global crises, or unanswered questions about suffering, this verse encourages us to shift our perspective from "why me?" to "what is God doing through this?" It doesn't promise immediate understanding or an end to pain, but it provides the foundational assurance that our experiences are not random or meaningless. Instead, they are part of a larger, divinely "appointed" tapestry woven by an infinitely wise and powerful God. This perspective fosters resilience, cultivating a trust that allows us to persevere even when the path is unclear, knowing that God is actively "performing" His purposes. It calls us to humble acknowledgment that God's ways are beyond full human comprehension, and His wisdom far surpasses our own, inviting us into a deeper, more mature faith that rests in His character rather than in our understanding of His methods.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Job 23:14 imply that God directly causes all suffering, including evil acts?
Job 23:14 emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty and His ability to "appoint" or decree events, including Job's suffering. While it asserts that nothing happens outside of God's overarching will and permission, it does not necessarily mean God is the direct author of evil or suffering in every instance. The Bible teaches that suffering can stem from various sources: the fallen nature of the world (e.g., natural disasters), the consequences of human sin (e.g., injustice, war), and even the work of spiritual adversaries (as seen in Job's own story, where Satan is permitted to test him, as detailed in Job 1). However, Job 23:14 affirms that even when suffering originates from these sources, God remains sovereign over it, able to use it for His purposes. He can "perform" His appointed will through or in spite of such events, ultimately working all things for good for those who love Him Romans 8:28. The verse highlights God's providential control, not necessarily His direct causation of every specific evil act.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Job 23:14, with its profound declaration of God's "appointed" will and His "many such things," finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The entire redemptive plan, from creation to consummation, is the supreme "thing appointed" by God, meticulously "performed" through His Son. From eternity past, it was God's unchangeable decree that His Son would come into the world, live a perfect life, suffer, die, and rise again to redeem humanity. Jesus Himself acknowledged this divine appointment, speaking of His "hour" John 12:23 and submitting to the Father's will in Gethsemane, praying, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" Luke 22:42. His suffering on the cross was not random but the very "appointed" sacrifice, "according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" Acts 2:23. Furthermore, the "many such things" that are with God find their clearest revelation in the New Covenant established through Christ's blood, encompassing the calling of His church, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the promise of resurrection, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom Ephesians 1:9-10. Through Christ, the mystery of God's sovereign plan, though still vast, is unveiled as a plan of love and redemption, transforming human suffering into a pathway for conforming to the image of the Son Romans 8:29, ultimately bringing glory to God and eternal good to His people.