OUR HOPE IS ALWAYS IN GOD

Passage: Job 13:1-28

Key verse: 15a

NIV

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
    and to argue my case with God.(D)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
    you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
6 Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
8 Will you show him partiality?(L)
    Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)

13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
    then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
    for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
    I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
    If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
    and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
    Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(AX) eaten by moths.(AY)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
    my ear has heard and understood it.
2 (A)What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
3 (B)But I would speak to the Almighty,
    and I desire to (C)argue my case with God.
4 As for you, (D)you whitewash with lies;
    (E)worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would (F)keep silent,
    and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
    and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you (G)speak falsely for God
    and speak (H)deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
    Will you (I)plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he (J)searches you out?
    Or (K)can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
    if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his (L)majesty terrify you,
    and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of (M)ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
    and (N)put my life in my hand?
15 (O)Though he slay me, I will (P)hope in him;[a]
    yet I will (Q)argue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
    that the godless shall not come before him.
17 (R)Keep listening to my words,
    and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have (S)prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be in the right.
19 (T)Who is there who will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only grant me two things,
    then I will not (U)hide myself from your face:
21 (V)withdraw your hand far from me,
    and let not (W)dread of you terrify me.
22 (X)Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    (Y)Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why (Z)do you hide your face
    and (AA)count me as your enemy?
25 Will you frighten (AB)a driven leaf
    and pursue dry (AC)chaff?
26 For you (AD)write bitter things against me
    and make me inherit (AE)the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in (AF)the stocks
    and (AG)watch all my paths;
    you set a limit for[b] the soles of my feet.
28 Man[c] wastes away like (AH)a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is (AI)moth-eaten.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Job 13:15 Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope
  2. Job 13:27 Or you marked
  3. Job 13:28 Hebrew He
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Job has had enough “help” from his friends. If only they would just be quiet! Job’s friends misrepresented God with their pious platitudes. Why must they take God’s side and try to explain his actions? Can’t he defend himself? If God examined Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, they would be in the same boat as Job. Job is ready to move on from their advice and present his case before God directly. Job’s hope is still in God. He is confident that justice will prevail and that he will be delivered from his trials. This is a great lesson for us. No matter our circumstances, our lives are in God’s hands and our trust is in him.

Before he presents his case, Job has two requests of God. The first is that God would withdraw his hand from Job so that Job would be free from the terrors he was experiencing. God is majestic and almighty. Who can approach him without being consumed with terror? Next, Job asked for God to communicate with him. If Job had sinned, would God show it to him? It doesn’t make sense why God is silent to him and treating him as an enemy. Job feels like a prisoner who is chained at the feet. Why is this? Job is longing for God’s answer. It is good for us to ask God to search our hearts and reveal our sins. When he does, we may repent and receive his mercy and forgiveness.

Prayer: Father, forgive us and draw us close to you.

One Word: Yet will I hope in him