Job 36:23

23 Who may seek out the ways of God? either who dare say to him, Thou hast wrought wickedness?

Job 36:23 Meaning and Commentary

Job 36:23

Who hath enjoined him his way?
&c.] He teaches men his own ways, the methods of his grace and mercy towards them; and he prescribes to them the ways in which they should walk; but none can lead or prescribe to him; as the way of governing the world, in what manner he should act in it; who has "taught him in the path of judgment?" or "showed to him the way of understanding?" ( Isaiah 40:14 ) ; and particularly whom he should afflict, in what manner he should do it, when and how long he should continue it; all which he does according to his sovereign will, and is not to be controlled: and, in a spiritual sense, no man can or ought to enjoin and prescribe to him whom he should save, and in what way; he saves whom he pleases, and in his own way, even by his Son Jesus Christ, and no other; or "who hath visited", or "should visit on him", or "with him his way" F5? who can take upon him to examine into his ways, and scrutinize them, and call him to an account for what he does? no man can overlook his ways and works, or censure him for any of his actions:

or, who can say, thou hast wrought iniquity?
this may be said of every man, but it cannot be said of God by any without sin; for, as there is no iniquity in his nature, there can be none in his works; not any in his works of providence, no, not in the afflictions of his people; just and true are all his ways.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (wkrd wyle dqp ym) "quis visitavit super illum viam ejus", Montanus, Michaelis; "cum eo", Tigurine version.

Job 36:23 In-Context

21 Be thou ware, that thou bow not (down) to wickedness; for thou hast begun to follow this wickedness after (thy) wretchedness.
22 Lo! God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the givers of law. (Lo! God's strength towers over all, and there is no one like him among the law givers, or the rulers.)
23 Who may seek out the ways of God? either who dare say to him, Thou hast wrought wickedness?
24 Have thou mind (Remember), that thou knowest not his work, of whom men have sung.
25 All men see God; each man beholdeth afar. (All see God, or what he hath done; but all behold him from afar.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.