Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Ver. 3. Surely I would speak to the Almighty] It were far better for me to speak to God than to you, and much fairer dealing from him I might expect. "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he," Deuteronomy 32:4; but ye are forgers of lies, and ye load me with false accusations, depraving my speeches, as thou, Zophar, especially hast done, wishing withal that God himself would speak with me face to face; which, if it should come to pass, thou saidst my misery and affliction would be redoubled. But oh that I might commune with the Almighty! surely and seriously I would rather do it than with you, my friends; and should hope so to defend mine innocence against your slanderous accusations; yea, to maintain God's justice against you, in the presence and judgment of God himself. Oh the confidence of a good conscience! see it in Abimelech, Genesis 20:5, but much more in David, Psalms 7:8; Psalms 7:4; Psalms 139:23,24; Jeremiah 12:1; in every strong believer, 1 Peter 3:21; those that walk uprightly, and speak uprightly, Isaiah 33:15. Not so every ungirt Christian or profligate professor, Job 13:14. The sinners in Sion are afraid, fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrites, &c., but good Job was none such; and God knew it to be so; what if to the wicked he be a devouring fire? yet to those that fear his name he is a reviving sun, Malachi 4:1,2. And upright Job feareth not to reason with him. Upon the same ground John Huss, and other martyrs, cited their persecutors to answer them by such a time before God's tribunal.

And I desire to reason with God] If he please (Si voluerit). So the Septuagint adds, and makes out Job's meaning; as if he had used the like modesty and humility as Nehemiah, and after him Esther, did in their suits unto the king of Persia, when they said, If it seem good to the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, Neh 2:5 Esther 5:4. Others think that Job here desireth to plead with God as with a party that had dealt too hardly with him, &c.; that he challengeth God into the schools, as it were, there to crack an argument with him, and by reason to reduce him to milder dealing. And, indeed, the Hebrew word here used signifieth to dispute or argue, and from it the Rabbis call logic the art of arguing. This boldness is that, say our large annotations, which both Elihu and God blame Job for in the end of the Book, though neither of them condemn him for a hypocrite; and that shows that Job did speak amiss of God in his passion, and is not altogether to be excused; much less in everything to be commended.