Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God
1 Job reproves his friends of partiality. 14 He professes his confidence in God: 20 and entreated to know his own sins, and God’s purpose in afflicting him.
Job 13:1 “My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.
Verses 1 and 2 are closely connected with ch. 12, forming the natural termination to the first section of Job’s argument that God is sovereign in the affairs of men.
Job 13:2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
Job 13:3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.
Zophar had expressed the wish that God might appear and speak against Job (ch. 11:5). Job would welcome the opportunity to talk things over with God.
Job 13:4 You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!
Physicians of no value. They were like physicians who go forth to visit the sick but can do nothing for them.
Job 13:5 If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.
If it be thought that Job is somewhat impatient, it must be remembered that he is confronted by three opponents, all eager to catch him in a fault, and far from mild in their reprimands.
Job 13:6 Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips.
Job 13:7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?
This phrase stands at the beginning of the Hebrew sentence, thereby indicating that it is to receive special emphasis. “For God will you maintain unjust principles?” How often unjust things have been said and done, professedly to advance the interests of God For him. Placed, in the Hebrew, at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, like the phrase, “for God,” above.
Job 13:8 Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?
Job is saying, in effect, “Will you, from partiality to God, maintain unjust principle, and defend positions that are really untenable?” Job felt that his friends were injuring him, while endeavoring to vindicate God. He felt that they were acting out of mere servility to God, without an adequate understanding of the issues involved.
Job 13:9 Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?
Would you be able to stand the scrutiny of God? Do you think you can deceive God as you would deceive a fellow man? God is too great and wise to be deceived by flattery or by a show of reverence.
Job 13:10 He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.
This prediction was later fulfilled (see ch. 42:7). Accept persons. That is, show partiality (see on v. 8). In no circumstance is it right to show partiality, regardless of the person involved. The exact truth is to be sought after, and judgment arrived at accordingly.
Job 13:11 Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you?
Job warns his friends of the exaltation and loftiness of God. He feels that they are exposing themselves to divine wrath by their wrong ideas.
Job 13:12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
The quotations from the wise men of old are worth no more than ashes. Job seems to be ridiculing the arguments of his friends, which he characterizes as breastworks of clay.
Job 13:13 “Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
There is a suggestion here of an attempted interruption. Job is asking for the privilege of being permitted to go on and finish his speech, let come what would. In the Hebrew the pronoun “I” is stressed, meaning “and I [not you] will speak.”
Job 13:14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
Job recognizes that he is arguing with God. He is aware of his weakness. Yet he persists in stating the case that he feels is right, regardless of the consequences. The verse reflects the moral daring of Job.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Hope in him. Job emerged from the abyss of despair. “From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God. Triumphantly he declared: ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him’”
Job 13:16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!
Job 13:17 Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.
This text underscores what job has said in the previous verses. He wants his friends to be aware of his trust in God as well as his intention to voice his complaint.
Job 13:18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
Job 13:19 Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.
“I must talk or I will die.” Ever since Job’s friends accused him of wickedness, he has insisted on the privilege of pleading his case before God. Things have now reached a point at which he must either speak or expire.
Job 13:20 “Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you:
Job asks for two favors: (1) relief from suffering for a time at least (v. 21); (2) relief from mental and spiritual terrors (v. 21). Without the absence of physical pain and mental anguish Job feels that he would not be able to plead his case fully or fairly.
Job 13:21 Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.
Job 13:22 Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me.
Job was ready to take the part either of the defendant or the plaintiff in his trial with God. Job 13:23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.
Job does not claim absolute perfection, but he does maintain that his sins do not measure with his suffering. He calls upon God to enumerate his sins.
Job 13:24 Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?
There may have been a dramatic pause following v. 23, while Job awaited God’s answer regarding his sins. When God failed to answer, Job exclaimed, Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?
Job 13:25 Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff?
Job compares himself to two of the least substantial and worthless objects imaginable. He cannot understand why God should frighten and pursue one so insignificant.
Job 13:26 For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth.
Job refers to making a record of the charges that God brought against him. Of my youth. Job regards his affliction as the result of the sins of his youth, since he has no sins of his mature years that would incur such divine displeasure.
Job 13:27 You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
Shackles. A primitive means of punishment and imprisonment.
Keep close watch. Job would be confined to certain limits. God set bounds for his activity. Job is like a man imprisoned and guarded, without freedom.
Job 13:28 “So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.
Job refers to the frailty of himself and all mankind (see v. 25). His use of the third person, “he,” in referring to himself intensifies the sense of insignificance. This verse is logically connected with ch. 14, which develops the idea of the frailty of man.