Job 9:16

“If I had called, and he had answered me, etc.] Mr. Broughton reads the words, “if I cry, will he answer me?” as if Job had some doubt upon his mind whether God would vouchsafe to answer him, though he should make his supplication to him, as he proposed; seeing he had so sorely afflicted him, and still continued his hand upon him; or the words may be rendered, “though I have called, and he has answered” f388, in times past. Job was a praying person, he had often prayed to God in his closet, and in his family, for himself, and for his children, and for his friends, and he had found God to be a God hearing and answering prayer, but seems to question whether he would answer him now, if he did…”

“would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice--who breaketh me (as a tree stripped of its leaves) with a tempest.”

“If I had called, and he had answered me - It is remarked by Schultens, that the expressions in these verses are all taken from courts of justice. If so, the meaning is, that even if Job should call the Almighty to a judicial action, and he should respond to him, and consent to submit the great question about his innocence, and about the justice of the divine dealings with him, to trial, yet that such was the distance between God and him, that he could not hope successfully to contend with him in the argument. He would, therefore, prostrate himself in a suppliant manner, and implore his mercy and compassion - submitting to him as having all power, and as being a just and righteous Sovereign.…”

“Yet - I could not believe that God had indeed granted my desire, because I am still full of the tokens of his displeasure; and therefore should conclude that it was but a pleasant dream, and not a real thing. Job 9:17”

“If I had: Psa 18:6, Psa 66:18-20, Psa 116:1, Psa 116:2 would I: Job 29:24; Exo 6:9; Jdg 6:13; Psa 126:1; Luk 24:41; Act 12:14-16 Job 9:17”

“16 If when I called He really answered, I could not believe that He would hearken to me; 17 He would rather crush me in a tempest, And only multiply my wounds without cause; 18 He would not suffer me to take my breath, But would fill me with bitter things. 19 If it is a question of the strength of the strong - : "Behold here!" And if of right - : "Who will challenge me?" 20 Where I in the right, my mouth must condemn me; Were I innocent, He would declare me guilty. The answer of God when called upon, i.e., summoned, is represented in Job 9:16 as an actual result (praet. followed by fut. consec.), therefore Job 9:16 cannot be intended to express: I could not believe that He answers me, but: I…”