Most scholars translate the text in verse-13 to say: “he (God) is one…” vis-à-vis of one mind or purpose (Job23:13), then going on to say that the Lord is unchangeable. However, I think the better rendering is, according to the minority reading, “he is alone…” (so the Vulgate) and even, “it is he, himself, alone” (so Coverdale). The idea seems to be that no one is with God! That is to say, he has no partner, who would be powerful enough to disagree with him and thereby influence his will or purpose for mankind. Certainly, man is unable to change the Lord’s mind or will, but more to the point, neither is there anyone with God who would be able to do so. Thus, the Lord is unchangeable! Whatsoever he proposes to do is what he does, and no one is able to prevent that from occurring (Job 23:13-14; cp. Isaiah 55:8-11).
Job seems to conclude that death without vindication is inevitable, for he understands that his fate is not designed for him, alone. Rather there are many other instances that he could point to, whereby the innocent suffer and die without a favorable judgment on the part of the Lord – “…and many such things are with him” (Job 23:14). Job’s conclusion is given with a kind of moaning, wishing it weren’t true, but yielding to what he knows is true!
Therefore, Job says he is troubled at God’s presence, because the inevitable truth of the matter isn’t encouraging. Job feels helpless, in that the Lord is silent when he prays. God is immovable, unchangeable, and there is absolutely nothing Job is able to do to cause him to reconsider what he has done. So, he’s afraid of God. Job’s inner strength has been melted, and he finds himself troubled in the presence of this Almighty and relentless Authority (Job 23:15-16).
Job isn’t afraid of death, but he laments the fact that the Lord had not taken him in the midst of his prosperity. There, he had been known to be the friend of God, the one whom the Lord had blessed abundantly. Before his trials, Job was honored by men. He was a figure sought after in the gates of the city, and his name was unblemished. Now, however, the friends had labeled him as the chief of sinners (Job 4:7-8; 15:5-6; 22:5; cp. 1Timothy 1:15). Even he didn’t know why the Lord had treated him so terribly. Although he protested that he was righteous, appearances denied his words, according to the popular traditional beliefs, and he would go to his death with everyone believing he was a great sinner.
Hope had faded, as Job sought to remain above the dark waters of the Lord’s purpose for him. It was disheartening for him to be unable to see the order that must be in the chaos that is ever present before him (Job 23:17). He, therefore, concludes that his obedience to moral responsibility, and his sense of justice and truth were no more than worn out tools that don’t avail much in attaining the answers he seeks. With nothing left but a sigh of despair for life and vindication, Job must, finally, admit that the Lord is that Unknown God (cp. Acts 17:23), who was yet to be fully revealed in Christ. While it is true that God could be known to exist through the things he had created (Romans 1:20), the deep things about him, the unknowable things, the things not revealed in his creation, can only be taught us by the Spirit of God, which was yet to be given man (1Corinthians 2:10), because Christ had not yet come and was not yet glorified (John 7:39; 1Corinthians 3:17).
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38 responses to “It Is He, Himself, Alone!”
You are welcome to your worldview, but may I say that I’ve discussed/debated similar things with other Jews. Those Jews were much more pleasant than what I’m finding in this experience. They disagreed with me without descending into an attitude of disrespect.
It appears you simply don’t remember what is said from one comment to the next. I told you that I don’t recognize the Trinity as a true expression of God. Once again you compare your worldview with mine and declare yours is the correct worldview without offering any evidence to support you case. Just saying…
mosckerr, indeed, you are a man of great understanding, intuitively knowing the differences of our worldviews and choosing the correct one. You even excel in understanding history and are able to explain what it is not, what Christians look like and what is and what is not a bribe. It was such a pleasure to be granted this time with you. I cannot tell you how much I value your addresses. Your integrity is beyond reproach. I was fortunate to be granted the light of your presence. Have a pleasant life.
You mentioned “prayer”. I responded with the difference between Xtian “prayer” from tefillah, understood as the distinction between two different Gods.
In like manner Messianic “Jews” worship other Gods. No surprise here, avoda zarah a cursed plague which all generations of Israel have struggled with. Jewish assimilation in g’lut approaches 70 to 75%. Consequently that Jews worship foreign Gods goes hand in hand with assimilation and intermarriage with Goyim. Direct Torah violations. The Harry Potter gospel noise testament, Jews have denounced as a false counterfeit for well over 2000 years. Such Jewish converts to abomination the Siddur which contains the standing Amidah tefillah refers to such “jews” as informers/spies\מלשינים, the 12th blessing in the Amidah tefillah.
The 3 oaths sworn by the Avot wherein they cut a brit alliance, the k’vanna of saying kre’a shma. Knowledge of tefillah Jews do not have have not shared with Goyim. Tefillah a matter of the heart, and not of the Heavens. Tefillah Jews search our hearts and not the heavens to address our fidelity to keeping the oath brit alliance with our forefathers. This oath brit alliance cements the current living generations of Israel with our forefathers. Hence the closing word ONE of the krea shma means that we living Jews today accept the oaths sworn by our forefathers in all generations that Israel lives on this earth.
Messianic Jews do not know nor keep the oath brit alliance with the Avot forefathers Avraham, Yitzak and Yaacov. The switch to Our father who art in heaven narishkeit. Tefillah contrasts with prayer in that the latter prays to Gods in the Heavens whereas Jews daven to the Spirit of HaShem (the oath brit alliance) within our hearts.
Eddie all translations of the T’NaCH suck. For example, what qualifies as the Order of sugyot which defines both T’NaCH and Talmud organization? You do not know, nor have you ever searched out this kabbalah. The Siddur this word סידור, it contains the root word סדר or Order. The Mishna, the definitive codification of Sanhedrin common law court rulings, written by Rabbi Yechuda Ha’Nasi – known as the 6 Orders of the Mishna. The letters of Mishna likewise means Neshama – the soul dedicated to keeping the oath brit faith judged every Rosh HaShannah.