Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 9:23

"If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent." — Job 9:23 (ASV)

The scourge slay suddenly. —Probably meaning that in the case of a hidden calamity overtaking an innocent man, He, God, will laugh at it; that is to say, He will take no more notice of it than if it provided Him with amusement. The very fact that such calamity often befalls the innocent is, in any case, from one perspective, a proof of His indifference—the indifference of Him who, by exercising His providence, could easily intervene to prevent it. Thus, it appears as if He truly winks at it.

Job’s argument is the argument of a man who willfully shuts out faith in his assessment of God’s dealings. It is not that Job is devoid of faith, but in arguing with his friends, who maintain God's strict, rigid justice, he confronts them with the severe logic of facts, which they can neither contradict nor explain. Of course, for the very requirements of argument, he takes the pessimistic view of Divine providence and even declares that the earth is given over into the hands of the wicked man: He covereth the face of the judges thereof; and if it is not He that doeth this, who is it? there can be none other.

He either doeth the evil Himself, or He permits it to be done; and what is the difference, supposing Him able to prevent it?

When we review the disorders of the earth—and how much more so in Job’s day—all must admit that faith is severely tested. Even faith can offer only a very partial explanation for them. Therefore, such a line of argument is fully justified when the adversary is determined to maintain that all is rose-colored, happy, and equal, as Job’s friends did.

They had before them an instance of inequality in Divine conduct, and they had to either reconcile it with Divine justice or give up the contest. They could not do the one and were unwilling to do the other. Therefore, it only remained for Job to assert the inequality of Divine dealings, and he puts the case as strongly as he can, all the time, it must never be forgotten, holding fast his faith in God, so that in the end he is even justified by God, who says to his friends, Ye have not spoken of me that which is right, like my servant (Job 42:8).