2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
2 I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
2 Job prayed: "Here's what I want to say: Don't, God, bring in a verdict of guilty without letting me know the charges you're bringing.
2 I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me.
2 I will say to God, 'Don't simply condemn me- tell me the charge you are bringing against me.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
8 Let me give you some good advice; I'm looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
(Read Psalm 32:8-11)
God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in thee, and in thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?
12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
(Read Psalm 19:11-14)
God's word warns the wicked not to go on in his wicked way, and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way. There is a reward, not only after keeping, but in keeping God's commandments. Religion makes our comforts sweet, and our crosses easy, life truly valuable, and death itself truly desirable. David not only desired to be pardoned and cleansed from the sins he had discovered and confessed, but from those he had forgotten or overlooked. All discoveries of sin made to us by the law, should drive us to the throne of grace, there to pray. His dependence was the same with that of every Christian who says, Surely in the Lord Jesus have I righteousness and strength. No prayer can be acceptable before God which is not offered in the strength of our Redeemer or Divine Kinsman, through Him who took our nature upon him, that he might redeem us unto God, and restore the long-lost inheritance. May our hearts be much affected with the excellence of the word of God; and much affected with the evil of sin, and the danger we are in of it, and the danger we are in by it.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about;
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
23 Search me, OÂ God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
(Read Psalm 139:17-24)
God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses, which are so curiously fashioned, as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But our immortal and rational souls are a still more noble work and gift of God. Yet if it were not for his precious thoughts of love to us, our reason and our living for ever would, through our sins, prove the occasion of our eternal misery. How should we then delight to meditate on God's love to sinners in Jesus Christ, the sum of which exceeds all reckoning! Sin is hated, and sinners lamented, by all who fear the Lord. Yet while we shun them we should pray for them; with God their conversion and salvation are possible. As the Lord knows us thoroughly, and we are strangers to ourselves, we should earnestly desire and pray to be searched and proved by his word and Spirit. if there be any wicked way in me, let me see it; and do thou root it out of me. The way of godliness is pleasing to God, and profitable to us; and will end in everlasting life. It is the good old way. All the saints desire to be kept and led in this way, that they may not miss it, turn out of it, or tire in it.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong - then guide me on the road to eternal life.
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
(Read Psalm 139:17-24)
God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses, which are so curiously fashioned, as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But our immortal and rational souls are a still more noble work and gift of God. Yet if it were not for his precious thoughts of love to us, our reason and our living for ever would, through our sins, prove the occasion of our eternal misery. How should we then delight to meditate on God's love to sinners in Jesus Christ, the sum of which exceeds all reckoning! Sin is hated, and sinners lamented, by all who fear the Lord. Yet while we shun them we should pray for them; with God their conversion and salvation are possible. As the Lord knows us thoroughly, and we are strangers to ourselves, we should earnestly desire and pray to be searched and proved by his word and Spirit. if there be any wicked way in me, let me see it; and do thou root it out of me. The way of godliness is pleasing to God, and profitable to us; and will end in everlasting life. It is the good old way. All the saints desire to be kept and led in this way, that they may not miss it, turn out of it, or tire in it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 10:2
Commentary on Job 10:1-7
(Read Job 10:1-7)
Job, being weary of his life, resolves to complain, but he will not charge God with unrighteousness. Here is a prayer that he might be delivered from the sting of his afflictions, which is sin. When God afflicts us, he contends with us; when he contends with us, there is always a reason; and it is desirable to know the reason, that we may repent of and forsake the sin for which God has a controversy with us. But when, like Job, we speak in the bitterness of our souls, we increase guilt and vexation. Let us harbour no hard thoughts of God; we shall hereafter see there was no cause for them. Job is sure that God does not discover things, nor judge of them, as men do; therefore he thinks it strange that God continues him under affliction, as if he must take time to inquire into his sin.