Job 22:23
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
If you return to the Almighty
The phrase "If you return to the Almighty" is a call to repentance and restoration. The Hebrew word for "return" is "shuv," which implies a turning back or a complete change of direction. This is not merely a physical return but a spiritual one, indicating a heartfelt repentance and a desire to realign oneself with God's will. The term "Almighty" is translated from "Shaddai," a name for God that emphasizes His power and sufficiency. Historically, this name for God is used to remind believers of His ability to provide and protect, underscoring the importance of seeking refuge in His strength.

you will be restored
The promise "you will be restored" speaks to the transformative power of repentance. The Hebrew root "banah" suggests rebuilding or renewing, indicating that God not only forgives but also reconstructs what was broken. This restoration is comprehensive, affecting both the spiritual and material aspects of life. In the context of Job, who has lost everything, this promise is particularly poignant, offering hope that God can restore fortunes and relationships when one turns back to Him.

if you remove injustice far from your tents
The condition "if you remove injustice far from your tents" highlights the necessity of ethical living as part of repentance. The word "injustice" comes from the Hebrew "avel," which encompasses wrongdoing, unrighteousness, and moral corruption. The phrase "far from your tents" suggests a thorough cleansing of one's personal and familial life. In ancient times, the tent was a symbol of one's household and personal domain. This call to remove injustice is a call to holiness, urging believers to live lives that reflect God's righteousness in every aspect of their daily existence.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. Eliphaz the Temanite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Eliphaz is speaking, suggesting that Job's suffering is due to sin and urging him to repent.

3. The Almighty (Shaddai)
A name for God emphasizing His power and sovereignty. Eliphaz calls Job to return to the Almighty, implying a need for repentance and restoration.

4. Teman
A region in Edom, associated with wisdom. Eliphaz, being a Temanite, is considered wise, though his counsel is flawed in the context of Job's situation.

5. Injustice
The wrongdoing or sin that Eliphaz assumes is present in Job's life, which he believes must be removed for restoration to occur.
Teaching Points
Call to Repentance
The verse emphasizes the importance of returning to God as a pathway to restoration. True repentance involves a heartfelt turning away from sin and towards God.

Restoration through God
Restoration is a divine act. When we align ourselves with God's will and remove sin from our lives, He promises to restore us.

Removing Injustice
The call to remove injustice from our lives is a call to live righteously. This involves examining our actions and ensuring they align with God's standards.

God's Sovereignty and Power
The use of "Almighty" underscores God's ability to restore and redeem. Trusting in His power is crucial for spiritual renewal.

Community and Accountability
Eliphaz's counsel, though misguided, reminds us of the role of community in encouraging one another towards righteousness and accountability.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "return to the Almighty" in the context of your personal life, and how can you practically do this daily?

2. How can you identify and remove "injustice" from your life, and what steps can you take to ensure it stays removed?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced restoration after returning to God. What did that process look like, and how did it impact your faith?

4. How can the themes of repentance and restoration in Job 22:23 be applied to a community or church setting?

5. Compare the call to repentance in Job 22:23 with other scriptures like Isaiah 55:7 and James 4:8. What common themes do you find, and how do they reinforce the message of returning to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 55:7
This verse also calls for the wicked to forsake their ways and return to the Lord, promising mercy and pardon, similar to the call for repentance in Job 22:23.

James 4:8
Encourages believers to draw near to God and purify their hearts, echoing the theme of returning to God for restoration.

2 Chronicles 7:14
Highlights the promise of healing and restoration if God's people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways.
The Penitent's Return and RestorationW.F. Adeney Job 22:23
Censorious and Uncharitable ReasoningE. Johnson Job 22:1-30
Peace with GodR. Gree Job 22:21-30
Returning to God by Conviction and ProgressW. D. Horwood.Job 22:23-30
Spiritual ReformationHomilistJob 22:23-30
Standing Right with GodG. Cubitt.Job 22:23-30
People
Eliphaz, Job, Ophir
Places
Ophir, Uz
Topics
Almighty, Built, Evil, Humble, Iniquity, Low, Making, Mighty, Puttest, Remove, Restored, Return, Ruler, Tabernacles, Tent, Tents, Unrighteousness, Wickedness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 22:23

     5578   tents
     6740   returning to God
     8150   revival, personal

Job 22:22-26

     8287   joy, experience

Job 22:23-25

     4333   gold
     4363   silver
     5591   treasure
     6734   repentance, importance

Library
December 29 Morning
Understanding what the will of the Lord is.--EPH. 5:17. This is the will of God, even your sanctification.--Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.--This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.--We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Knowledge and Peace
'Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.'--JOB xxii. 21. In the sense in which the speaker meant them, these words are not true. They mean little more than 'It pays to be religious.' What kind of notion of acquaintance with God Eliphaz may have had, one scarcely knows, but at any rate, the whole meaning of the text on his lips is poor and selfish. The peace promised is evidently only outward tranquillity and freedom from trouble, and the good that is to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Life May be Made
'For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, ... lifting up; and He shall save the humble person.'--JOB xxii. 26-29. These words are a fragment of one of the speeches of Job's friends, in which
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Whether all Things are under Divine Providence
Whether All Things are under Divine Providence We proceed to the second article thus: 1. It seems that not all things are under divine providence. For nothing that is ordained happens contingently, and if all things were provided by God, nothing would happen contingently. There would then be no such thing as chance or fortune. But this is contrary to common opinion. 2. Again, every wise provider, so far as he is able, preserves those in his care from defect and from evil. But we see many evils in
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether God is Everywhere by Essence, Presence and Power?
Objection 1: It seems that the mode of God's existence in all things is not properly described by way of essence, presence and power. For what is by essence in anything, is in it essentially. But God is not essentially in things; for He does not belong to the essence of anything. Therefore it ought not to be said that God is in things by essence, presence and power. Objection 2: Further, to be present in anything means not to be absent from it. Now this is the meaning of God being in things by His
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Everything is Subject to the Providence of God?
Objection 1: It seems that everything is not subject to divine providence. For nothing foreseen can happen by chance. If then everything was foreseen by God, nothing would happen by chance. And thus hazard and luck would disappear; which is against common opinion. Objection 2: Further, a wise provider excludes any defect or evil, as far as he can, from those over whom he has a care. But we see many evils existing. Either, then, God cannot hinder these, and thus is not omnipotent; or else He does
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Doctrine of God
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: (Vs. Atheism). 1. ASSUMED BY THE SCRIPTURES. 2. PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. a) Universal belief in the Existence of God. b) Cosmological:--Argument from Cause. c) Teleological:--Argument from Design. d) Ontological:--Argument from Being. e) Anthropological:--Moral Argument. f) Argument from Congruity. g) Argument from Scripture. II. THE NATURE OF GOD: (Vs. Agnosticism) 1. THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). 2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Pantheism). 3. THE UNITY
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

The Case of the Christian under the Hiding of God's Face.
1. The phrase scriptural.--2. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the divine favor.--3 chiefly as to spiritual considerations.--4. This may become the case of any Christian.--5. and will be found a very sorrowful one.--6. The following directions, therefore, are given to those who suppose it to be their own: To inquire whether it be indeed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may not proceed from indisposition of body,--7. or difficulties as to worldly circumstances.--8,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Bands of Love; Or, Union to Christ. "I Drew them with Cords of a Man, with Bands of Love: and I was to them as they that Take Off the Yoke on their Jaws, and I Laid Meat unto Them. " --Hosea xi. 4.
BANDS OF LOVE; OR, UNION TO CHRIST. SYSTEMATIC theologians have usually regarded union to Christ under three aspects, natural, mystical and federal, and it may be that these three terms are comprehensive enough to embrace the whole subject, but as our aim is simplicity, let us be pardoned if we appear diffuse when we follow a less concise method. 1. The saints were from the beginning joined to Christ by bands of everlasting love. Before He took on Him their nature, or brought them into a conscious
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to Christians to be Holy. By John Bunyan.
Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.'--[Psalm 93:5] London, by B. W., for Benj. Alsop, at the Angel and Bible, in the Poultrey. 1684. THE EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This is the most searching treatise that has ever fallen under our notice. It is an invaluable guide to those sincere Christians, who, under a sense of the infinite importance of the salvation of an immortal soul, and of the deceitfulness of their hearts, sigh and cry, "O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Epistle xxxix. To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria.
To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria. Gregory to Eulogius, &c. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (Prov. xxv. 25). But what can be good news to me, so far as concerns the behoof of holy Church, but to hear of the health and safety of your to me most sweet Holiness, who, from your perception of the light of truth, both illuminate the same Church with the word of preaching, and mould it to a better way by the example of your manners? As often, too, as I recall in
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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