Wisdom Books Job

Job's Initial Response to Zophar

Discover Jesus as: Promised Redeemer Job 13 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 372 of 730
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INTRO

We have only had one full week in our study of Job, but it feels as though we’ve been here for at least a month. It feels repetitive to me as I study. It sounds like the story of the Israelites who kept their eyes on God until they turned away from Him. It’s that same ongoing cycle in Job, based on Job’s three friends who kept saying the same things over and over, with just a slight difference in attitude. Job’s ongoing dialogue with his friends is recorded in chapters 3—31. Job’s friends were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Wiersbe points out that in chapter 13, “Job first expressed his disappointment in his three friends (vv. 1–12), then his declaration of faith in the Lord (vv. 13–17), and finally his desire that God come to him and get the issue settled once and for all (vv. 18–28).”1

TEACHING

Job 13:1–12: Job shared his disappointment with his friends because he didn’t need them to explain what he already understood. MacArthur points out that Job “wanted to take his case before God.”2Nelson’s Commentary states, “The irony is that neither Job nor his friends know very much because they all assume an inflexible dogma of retribution.”3Their theory was based on the idea that a good person would always be blessed while a wicked person would always bring wickedness onto his life. As the three friends watched Job, they concluded he was no longer blessed and had, therefore, become wicked. Job wanted to speak directly to God (v. 3). In verse 4 his friends were whitewashing and spreading their lies of retribution to keep their traditional views (Psalm 119:69). Because they were worthless in understanding what was going on in Job’s life, he told them to be quiet and not speak (v. 5).

Job began his argument in verse 6 and questioned if his friends were testifying deceitfully about God (v. 7). MacArthur interprets Job’s question in verse 8 as, “Are you wise enough to argue in God’s defense?”4Job pointed out that his friends would have been unable to deceive God, and if they tried to deceive him, God Himself would rebuke their actions (vv. 9–10). Job told his friends their words not only offended God but were completely ineffective and worthless (vv. 11-12). All the disappointment Job felt with his friends would also be acknowledged by God’s disappointment of them in Job 42:7–8.

Job 13:13–17: Job then began his declaration of faith. Job told them to listen to his words and that he would take responsibility for his words and his life (vv. 13–14). Regardless of the consequences of his actions, Job’s hope was found in the Lord (v. 15) (Daniel 3:16–18). Job anticipated his deliverance as a godly man (v. 16). Therefore, his friends should pay attention to his words and his faith (v. 17).

Job 13:18–28: Job moved on to his desire for God to be in his life. Job had prepared his case and knew God would vindicate him (vv. 18–19). MacArthur explains Job “would defend his innocence before God and was confident that he was truly saved and not a hypocrite.”5In verse 20, Job switched from his argument with his friends into a prayer to God. Job requested two things. First, he asked God to remove His hand–the actual pain Job was experiencing. Second, he asked God to not let His terror frighten him (vv. 20–21). This second request was about his relationship with God. He didn’t want to be so afraid of God that he ran from Him. Job desired for God to call him and to speak to him (v. 22) (Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7; 21:22; Luke 18:1; John 14:13; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 4:16; James 4:3). Job then asked God to reveal all his sins to him (v. 23). MacArthur explains Job wanted to hear his list of sins so “he could determine if his measure of suffering matched the severity of his sin, and he could then repent for sins about which he was unaware.”6Then Job asked why God considered him an enemy and why did He hold past sins against him (vv. 24–26). Job was saying God wasn’t acting the way Job understood Him to be (v. 27). Verse 28 is best understood with Job 14:1, “Man . . . is short-lived and full of turmoil.” The condition of man is difficult. Job had experienced severe suffering and couldn’t accept that these symptoms and pains had been caused by his own sins.

CLOSING

What I love about Job in this book is that he never stopped loving God. He never blamed God for his suffering. Job always wanted to be restored into relationship with God.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Job (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 28.

  2. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary: Job (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 579.

  3. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 625.

  4. MacArthur, p. 579.

  5. MacArthur, p. 579.

  6. MacArthur, p. 579.

Questions

  1. In Job 13:4, Job called his friends worthless physicians. What do you think he meant by this?
  2. In Job 13:8 (NASB), Job asked his friends, “Will you contend for God?” Do you think God needs anyone to contend for Him? Why or why not? Have you ever found yourself doing this?
  3. Job made a powerful statement in Job 13:15 when he said, “Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.” What does this say about Job’s faith? Do you think this statement proved Satan wrong when he made the accusation against Job back in Job 2:5, “But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face”? If all this happened to you, could you make the same statement that Job did?
  4. Referring to Job 13:24, how do you handle a situation, when it seems God is silent? When you cry out to Him for answers? Do you feel like God considers you an enemy like Job did?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Job 13 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Job 13:5

“If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!”

Job was covered with boils from head to toe when he responded to his three friends. He had listened to their logic and truth. He understood them and yet believed he was not inferior to them. As Job saw into their hearts and motives, he believed they were missing something in their counsel to him. At one point, Job told Zophar: “If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!”

Many families or schools have rules against saying the phrase “Shut up.” In most cultures, this phrase comes across as impolite and crass in its direct approach of telling someone to stop talking. However, Job directed the phrase at his three friends, equating shutting up with wisdom. Yes, sometimes keeping your mouth closed and not offering advice is indeed the best wisdom. Today, be intentional and don’t say everything you think, even on your social media comments, posts, or text messages. Before you say something, pause, close your mouth, and listen longer than you normally would. Rest in the fact you don’t have to get your point across. God is sovereign. God is in control. When you exercise self-control with your words, you allow the Lord to move in the situation. So do as Job said, “Shut up and let that be your wisdom.”

“If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!”

— Job 13:5

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Proverbs 17:28 — “Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.”
  • Proverbs 18:2 — “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.”
  • James 1:19 — “My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”