seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Job 13;1 “My eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless physicians, all of you!
5 If only you would be altogether silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show him partiality?
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?
Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?
10 He would surely call you to account
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would not his splendor terrify you?
Would not the dread of him fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless physicians, all of you!
5 If only you would be altogether silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show him partiality?
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?
Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?
10 He would surely call you to account
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would not his splendor terrify you?
Would not the dread of him fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before him!
17 Listen carefully to what I say;
let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
then let come to me what may.
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before him!
17 Listen carefully to what I say;
let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.
22 Then summon me and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you torment a windblown leaf?
Will you chase after dry chaff?
26 For you write down bitter things against me
and make me reap the sins of my youth.
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;
you keep close watch on all my paths
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.
22 Then summon me and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you torment a windblown leaf?
Will you chase after dry chaff?
26 For you write down bitter things against me
and make me reap the sins of my youth.
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;
you keep close watch on all my paths
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a garment eaten by moths.
like a garment eaten by moths.
a. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will
Thirteen is an unlucky number, so they say. When I noticed that I'm reading chapter 13 of the book on this man who seems to be so unlucky, I figured I was in for a bumpy ride. God and satan got in a contest about how much Job could lose and still love God. When God lets satan take everything from you.... that's pretty unlucky. Then when I opened the chapter and started to read.... I almost giggled..... Job told Zophar and the others..... [verse 5] "you'd be wise to shut up".
Job informed his buddies that he wanted to meet face to face with God and state his case [verse 3]. In verse 13 Job says "Don't interrupt me" "Wait til I am done". I bet someone started to open his mouth and Job wagged his finger at his friend while he was saying that. This chapter is a hoot.... Job is on a verbal rampage.... but notice.... it's his friends he's angry with....not God.
This is from bible-studys.org.
I would rather debate the matter with God than with you. I am not afraid of presenting my person and cause before him, who is a witness of my integrity, and would not deal as unmercifully with me as you do.
Job had no intention of trying to prove his innocence to anyone, but God. It is not a sin to reason with God. In fact, He invites his people to come and reason with Him. God is not so unreachable, that he will not hear our plea to Him.
Job's tongue lashing of his friends wasn't lost on the commentator at enduringword.com.Will you speak wickedly for God… Will you contend for God: Job’s friends were very confident in their ability to speak for God, but since what they said was not true, they actually misrepresented Him. They acted like lawyers on God’s behalf, but since they did not truly represent Him, Job could rightly ask: “Will it be well when He searches you out?”
“Job warned them about lying even while they uttered beautiful words in defense of God. If they were going to plead God’s case, they had better do it honestly. God would judge them for their deceit even if they used it in his behalf (Job 13:8-9).” (Smick)
My cousin died during a routine surgery when she was 18 years old. She left behind a husband, an eighteen month old daughter, and her mother. She was my aunt's only child. My aunt had an awful time carrying her to term. My aunt was a single mother.... and my cousin was her everything. She took the death really hard. Everyone kept telling her that her daughter was in a better place..... but she just missed her so desperately.After the funeral, we learned that there was something else going on.... my cousin was suffering with a horrible disease..... that would have put her in a wheelchair for life.... it was just beginning to show in the symptoms.... so God was being merciful..... but my aunt was still missing her so desperately.
Nothing anyone could say to my aunt would make her feel better. My aunt knew my cousin was bound for Heaven.... but she was still missing her so desperately. So..... she talked to God about it..... she finally broke down and told God the problem..... she missed her daughter so desperately she could barely get through the day...... and God responded.
My aunt was working.....Her daughter "appeared" in front of her. She was stomping her foot like that spoiled little only child I knew her to be. [I figure the foot stomping might have been a sign to prove the validity of the dream or vision..... my cousin was a Christian but she was no goody two shoes by any stretch of the imagination]..... anyway.... my cousin asked my aunt one question that allowed my aunt to let it go.
This is what my cousin was reported to have said to my aunt..... "It's so beautiful here..... I don't hurt anymore.... I don't worry.... if I were to come back.... it would have only been a burden. Raise my baby, mom.... she needs you now.... I'll be here when you get here...... is that ok with you? Would you really want me to leave Heaven to come back?"
My aunt still missed her daughter terribly..... she talked about her until the day she passed away. My cousin's baby was a real source of joy.... she turned out to be as beautiful as her mom was..... and she was a good girl...... not as wild as her mom. My aunt still loved God until the day she passed.... it seemed she just didn't understand Him much. None of us do....huh....
