Job 23:4

“I would order [my] cause before him, etc.] Either, as a praying person, direct his prayer to him, and set it in order before him, (see <190503> Psalm 5:3); or else as pleading in his own defence, and in justification of himself; not of his person before God, setting his works of righteousness in order before him, and pleading his justification on the foot of them; for, by these no flesh living can be justified before God; but of his cause, for, as a man may vindicate his cause before men, and clear himself from aspersions cast upon him, as Samuel did, (<091205>1 Samuel 12:5); so he may before God, with respect to the charges he is falsely loaded with, and may appeal to him for justice, and…”

“order--state methodically (Job 13:18; Isa 43:26). fill, &c.--I would have abundance of arguments to adduce.”

“I would order my cause before him - Compare the notes at Isaiah 43:26. That is, I would arrange my arguments, or plead my cause, as one does in a court of justice. I would suggest the considerations which would show that I am not guilty in the sense charged by my friends, and that notwithstanding my calamities, I am the real friend of God. And fill my mouth with arguments - Probably he means that he would appeal to the evidence furnished by a life of benevolence and justice, that he was not a hypocrite or a man of distinguished wickedness, as his friends maintained. return to 'Top of Page'”

“23:4 present my arguments: Job wanted to make his case with God (13:3, 18, 22; 16:21; 31:35); Abraham pled directly with God regarding Sodom (Gen 18:25-32), and Moses did the same for Israel (Exod 32:12-13; Num 14:13-19).”

“order: Job 13:18, Job 37:19; Psa 43:1; Isa 43:26 fill my mouth: Gen 18:25-32, Gen 32:12; Exo 32:12, Exo 32:13; Num 14:13-19; Jos 7:8, Jos 7:9; Psa 25:11; Dan 9:18, Dan 9:19 Job 23:5”