There is more emphasis than we are often aware of in this chapter. "How should a man be just with God?" More emphasis on "with God." Man may be just in a certain sense—not fail in a way to disturb his conscience in his relationships with men—but just with God is another thing. The three friends put the course of things in this world as an adequate expression of God's righteous judgment. This even is not true. But when the question is how to be just with God, it is wholly different; and this the inward exercises of Job's soul brought him to. The working out this, though in impatience, is what we have in this chapter, and arriving at a need, at the conclusion, which the Savior specifically met. God was there, fear being taken away, and One who could lay His hand on both. Man in the inward parts is exposed before God.
21. On the ground of being perfect.
29. On the ground of being wicked.