Job 13 (Listen)
13:1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or 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 majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of 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 put my life in my hand?
15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17 Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19 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 hide myself from your face:
21 withdraw your hand far from me,
and let not dread of you terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and count me as your enemy?
25 Will you frighten a driven leaf
and pursue dry chaff?
26 For you write bitter things against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks
and watch all my paths;
you set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 Man wastes away like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Devotional:
Even if he kills me, I will hope in him. I will still defend my ways before him. (Job 13:15 CSB).
How many of us would choose to hope in God even in great pain and affliction? Job’s faith is great in that he still chooses to hope in God alone, even in circumstances that tempt him to give up hope. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we read, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Job doesn’t think he deserves to suffer and is still asking God “Why?” but regardless of his circumstances and the wrong that has incurred in his life, he still chooses to hope in God. Can we take a step further in our faith? Can we make a commitment to hope in God — no matter the situation? Even though I am experiencing _________ (fill in the blank with your current trial or tribulation), yet today and forevermore I will hope in God! As you pray and reflect and fill in the blank, can you declare what Job did in his storm of life?
Pray it: Father, help me to hope in you in the midst of the storms of my life and help me to encourage the same hope in those around me. Amen.
Share it: Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with today?