Self-Defence Before God: 1. the Weak Against the Strong
E. Johnson Job 13:23-28 How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. I. THE CRY OF INJURED INNOCENCE. (Ver. 23.) He asks that he may have his sins enumerated and brought home to him, and that he may not thus ever be punished without the knowledge of the nature of his guilt. II. SENSE OF THE SILENCE AND WITHDRAWAL OF GOD. (Ver. 24) God does not answer his challenge, and still his suffering continues, as if he were a foe to whom the Almighty deigns not to utter a word. The silence, the seeming deafness and dumbness of God before his creatures' pitiful cries, is more awful than all his thunder. Oh that he would but speak, in whatever accents! Man can never cease to agonize, to pray, to wrestle with the Unseen, until he extorts some response to the cry and craving of his heart. III. PLAINT OF THE WEAKNESS OF SELF IN THE PRESENCE OF OMNIPOTENCE. (Ver. 25.) He has two vivid figures to represent this weakness: (1) that of the leaf, driven to and fro by the wind, so feeble and vanishing a thing has his life become; (2) that of the dry and worthless stubble; and yet God is against him as if he would drive and purge away every vestige of his existence. His fan is in his hand, and he is winnowing his floor from this useless chaff! IV. SENSE OF THE AGGRAVATION OF HIS SIN. (Ver. 26.) In addition to his natural pains, he is loaded with the memories of long-past sins, which he had thought forgiven. The record of the sins of youth still seems to stand in the Divine book. Remembrance turns the past to pain. Men look indulgently on the "sins of youth," both in themselves and others. But here is a warning against these light views of transgression. The sowing of" wild oats" is certain, sooner or later, to be followed by a bitter harvest (comp. Psalm 25:7). V. THE SENSE OF BEING FETTERED AND WATCHED. (Ver. 27.) He is like a criminal with his feet fastened in a block of wood, which he must carry with him wherever he goes. And all this power and violence, this watching and restraint, is put forth on one who is as helpless and broken as a worm-eaten, moth-gnawed garment (ver. 28). - J. Parallel Verses KJV: How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. WEB: How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.