From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
August 15 "O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come
even to his dwelling! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth
with arguments." Job 23:3, 4 Was not Job in the same spot where we often are? If this
aged patriarch had not known what it was to be shut up in his mind, harassed
and distressed, and well-near overwhelmed with the attacks of the wicked
one, he would not have said, "O that I knew where I might find him! that I
might come even to his dwelling! I would order my cause before him, and fill
my mouth with arguments." Has that ever been, is it now, the genuine
feeling, the real experience of your soul? Do look into your heart, you that
fear God. Do look for a moment, if you have never looked before, at the work
of grace (and where are you, if you have never looked at it?) and consider
if you know any of these matters. Did you ever, in a feeling of darkness,
gloom, bondage, and distress of soul, cry (I do not say the words, it is the
feelings we want, let the words go), "'O that I knew where I might find
him!' Lord, I do want to find you; my soul longs after you; I want a taste
of your blessed presence; I want to embrace you in the arms of my faith; I
want the sweet testimonies of your gracious lips; 'O that I knew where I
might find you!' I would not care what I went through." If so, then these very things show that you have the fear
of God in your souls, and the teaching of the Spirit in your hearts. You are
where Job was, and if you know something of what Job speaks here, "O that I
knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his dwelling!"--if
that is the desire of your soul, you have Job's religion, you have job's
experience, you have Job's affliction in this matter, and you will have
Job's deliverance, Job's joy, Job's peace, and Job's salvation. Job's God is
your God, and you will soon be where Job now is, bathing your ransomed soul
in all the glory of the Lamb.