Albert Barnes Commentary Job 23:10

"But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." — Job 23:10 (ASV)

But he knows the way that I take - Margin, “is with me.” That is, “I have the utmost confidence in him. Though I cannot see him, yet he sees me, and he knows my integrity; and whatever people may say, or however they may misunderstand my character, yet he is acquainted with me, and I have the fullest confidence that he will do me justice.”

When he has tried me - When he has subjected me to all the tests of character which he shall choose to apply.

I shall come forth as gold - As gold that is tried in the crucible, and that comes forth the more pure the more intense the heat. The application of fire to it serves to separate every particle of impurity or alloy, and leaves only the pure metal. So it is with trials applied to the friend of God; and we may remark

1. That all real piety will bear any test that may be applied to it, as gold will bear any degree of heat without being injured or destroyed.
2. That the effect of all trials is to purify piety, and make it more bright and valuable, as is the effect of applying intense heat to gold.
3. There is often much alloy in the piety of a Christian, as there is in gold, that needs to be removed by the fiery trial of affliction. Nothing else will remove it but trial, as nothing will be so effectual a purifier of gold as intense heat.
4. A true Christian should not dread trial. It will not hurt him. He will be the more valuable for his trials, as gold is for the application of heat. There is no danger of destroying true piety. It will live in the flames, and will survive the raging heat that shall yet consume the world.