Chapter 13
Job continues:
12:3 and 13:2 repeat the same phrase - I am not inferior to you. Job is still directing his comments to his friends.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. [Job 13:3 ESV]
I was thinking in an earlier chapter Job said bringing a case before God was a bad idea. Who can accuse him?
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. [Job 13:4 ESV]
Hmm. Job is lashing out at his friends for just making his condition worse, for their accusations in spite of his assurance to them that he has no hidden sin. They do not trust their friend's self-examination, but assume that he is either in denial about his sin, or he is a liar.
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? [Job 13:9 ESV]
Job says that God will agree with him that he has not sinned. Job implies that his accusers have more sin in them than he does.
Or...Job is saying that their continued accusations against him are not taking facts into account, but are instead showing partiality in judgement. They won't believe Job's claim that he is innocent. Though God has not presented any arguments, they still believe Job has sinned. They are taking God's side that Job's punishment is deserved, and doing so without evidence. In vs 10 Job says that God will rebuke them for this unfairness on their part.
15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. [Job 13:15 ESV]
A good verse to memorize. Job must surely have been a better man than anyone I know to be able to say this last part.
What does this verse mean?
16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. [Job 13:16 ESV] MSB completely ignores this.
Maybe he means that his own desire to stand before God and argue is in itself the proof that Job is innocent. No guilty man would want to face the ultimate judge.
Job makes two requests of God:
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. [Job 13:20-21 ESV]
This sounds a lot like Solomon in Proverbs, when he says "don't let me be full lest I take God for granted, nor let me starve such that I steal and dishonor God". Could just be a literary device, but Solomon is far distant in time from these events. It seems to have been more a device of Solomon's time.
2024 - Job is addressing God here. This is a prayer. Job asks God to stop punishing him so severely. I think he is saying that he cannot serve God from a condition of such misery. Then he asks God to remove his...terror at the prospect of standing eye to eye with God. At this point, Job fears God in a visceral way. God has let all these things happen to him, though in his own soul-searching, Job can find no justification for it So Job is afraid even to draw a breath lest that make things even worse. How can Job converse with God, how can he learn what he's done, while he fears to breath in and out, lest that is what God is finding offensive. If these two things are removed - if the sufferings will ease up, and Job can sort of "be normal", then:
22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. [Job 13:22 ESV]. Job's prayer is a request for dialog, for communication with God. Job is saying that his current state is so pitiful, and his fear of God so great, that he can't even function as a rational person. He is in pain, and he is in terror. Wow. All this buried out in the middle of Chapter 13.
2023 - This verse: 23 How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. [Job 13:23 ESV]. Again, Job is not denying that he has sinned, but his own knowledge of what is sin and what is right has failed him. He has examined himself and found no fault. If there is fault, why will God not tell him what it is? To Job, God is holding him accountable for something he does not recognize as sin, and God is not informing him of what the problem is so that he can correct it. Isn't this the Bill Burr thing yet again. God, you made me like this, and since I don't find fault in myself, and you won't tell me what is wrong, and you made me so that I cannot discern this awful terrible sin that has brought all this upon me, how can you continue to count me guilty, and continually exact punishment from me? How is this fair!?!?! Same as Bill Burr alright.
Interesting that the day's reading ends here, when Chapter 14 seems to continue the same speech. MSB says this is the end of the first set of speeches. Perhaps Job will open the second set in 14 as he opened the first set.