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23 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

I have not changed my mind.  I am going to be very transparent about how I feel.  My words will sound harder than my pain.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!  

Where is God?

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I will plead my case and make my arguments.  I will tell God what bothers me even leave nothing untold.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

I know him and he knows my heart.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Will he use his power against me? No, he would give me the strength I need to cry out to him about my pain because he understands me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

I can talk to God.  He will listen to my cause and how I feel.  He will finalize my plea and his judgment will be right.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

I know him but I can't find him.

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Job knows God is there but feels God is playing hide and go seek.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

I may not know where he is, but he always knows where I am.  When he sees in me what he knows about me I will come out solid.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

I follow him, I kept his word and I have not disobeyed what I know about him.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

I love him, who is the same as His word, more than food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

When God makes up his mind to do as He will, who can advise him differently?  What He wants to be done he does what he does to get it done.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

God is allowing me to be tested and he is aware of what is happening to me.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

I am bothered or confused at what he is allowing me to experience.  When I think about it, I am afraid of Him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

My heart is weak and he troubles me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. 

He let me live to see darkness.  He did not do what he did behind my back.  He wants me to know he is behind all of what I am going through.

SING OR SAY

Job 23

Where is God?

The God I know exists.

Where is the Almighty 

I can’t find him in all this?

I’m gripping like a blind man

His presence know is there

My thoughts of him are known

His proof is in his care.

I know my God

He knows my pain

I’ll wait it out

He’ll make it plain