Job 13

Written on 10/29/2024

Verses 1-5

  • Job continues his words from the previous chapter. He becomes frustrated with his friends for their unhelpful words, telling them that they would be wiser if they just kept silent! Shortly he will turn to speak with God directly in verses 20-28.

    • There is great wisdom in this. Always remember that it shows more wisdom to say nothing than to attempt to speak on matters you don't fully understand. Job's friends did this to their own humiliation.

    • You become like a “worthless physician”—a doctor who only does harm—if you speak unwisely.

 

Verses 6-12

  • Job then reminds his friends that in the act of speaking about God's ways, they are actually attempting to speak for God; and doing so unwisely, they are misrepresenting God and even mocking Him. Job assures them that God will harshly rebuke them.

    • Remember that there will be judgment for teaching (James 3:1). In speaking about God, you run the risk of misrepresenting Him, so be extremely careful about what you speak!

 

Verses 13-19

  • Job now tells his friends that he will speak with God directly, to “defend his own ways before Him” (verse 15b). Job knew that God would save and vindicate him because he was no hypocrite. He was indeed a blameless and upright man. Ultimately, he wanted God to speak and did not want to hear is friends anymore. God does answer Job in the final chapters of the book.

  • Job knew that demanding to speak with God was an audacious move. Why? Speaking with God, particularly to defend something you think you know, is no joking matter; it could end in a harsh rebuke or even death if you're proven wrong. 

    • When you speak to God, particularly to reason about something you think you know, do so with fear! Rebukes could come!

  • In Job's case, though he knew he was not wrong, he was willing to accept death if it had to come to that for any reason. He says, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him” (verse 15a). Job had such faith that even if God killed him he would trust that He does so righteously.

    • Remember that even if we are not in any fault, bad things can happen—even death. Trust that God does what is right even in these cases. Some of the greatest faith shows itself when you are willing to obey God even if doing so will lead to suffering and death.

 

Verses 20-28

  • Now Job speaks to God asking for two things. Job had come to be afraid of what God might do to him.

    • 1. He asks for his suffering and the fear of it to end.

    • 2. He asks for God to communicate so that he would have a chance to understand why he had to suffer. 

      • Then Job asks the questions he wishes for God to answer (verses 23-25). His questions, in summary, are: Why do I suffer? What is my sin?

  • How often do we pray for the same things when times are hard? “God, please end this hardship or at least talk to me so that I can understand why!”

    • The point? First, as Job also learned by the end of the book, be careful what kind of questions you ask God. We don't always need the answers we think we do. When God is silent, it's to test and ultimately strengthen our faith. It's good to trust silently if you can. Pray to trust better!