13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
13 "Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
13 "If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.
13 "Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him,
13 "If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;
13 "If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
31 Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
31 Let Egyptian traders bring blue cloth and Cush come running to God, her hands outstretched.
31 Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals ; let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
(Read Psalm 68:29-31)
A powerful invitation is given to those that are without, to join the church. Some shall submit from fear; overcome by their consciences, and the checks of Providence, they are brought to make peace with the church. Others will submit willingly, verses 29,31. There is that beauty and benefit in the service of God, and in the gospel of Christ which went forth from Jerusalem, which is enough to invite sinners out of all nations.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
9 blinded by tears of pain and frustration. I call to you, God; all day I call. I wring my hands, I plead for help.
9 My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.
9 My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord ; I lift my hands to you for mercy.
(Read Psalm 88:1-9)
The first words of the psalmist are the only words of comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their afflictions, and such dark conclusion may they make about their end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith. He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ. Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and the deep.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 11:13
Commentary on Job 11:13-20
(Read Job 11:13-20)
Zophar exhorts Job to repentance, and gives him encouragement, yet mixed with hard thoughts of him. He thought that worldly prosperity was always the lot of the righteous, and that Job was to be deemed a hypocrite unless his prosperity was restored. Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; that is, thou mayst come boldly to the throne of grace, and not with the terror and amazement expressed in Hebrews 10:22.