Job 13:17

_HEAR DILIGENTLY MY SPEECH, AND MY DECLARATION WITH YOUR EARS._ My declaration - namely, that I wish to be permitted to justify myself immediately before God. WITH YOUR EARS - i:e., attentively....

13-22 Job resolved to cleave to the testimony his own conscience gave of his uprightness. He depended upon God for justification and salvation, the two great things we hope for through Christ. Temporal salvation he little expected, but of his eternal salvation he was very confident; that God would not only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his salvation, in the sight and enjoyment of whom he should be happy. He knew himself not to be a hypocrite, and concluded that he should not be rejected. We should be well pleased with God as a Friend, even when he seems against us as an enemy. We must believe that all shall work for good to us, even when all seems to make against us. We must cleave to God, yea, though we cannot for the present find comfort in him. In a dying hour, we must derive from him living comforts; and this is to trust in him, though he slay us....

HEAR DILIGENTLY MY SPEECH - That which I have made; that is, the declaration which I have made of my innocence. He refers to his solemn declaration, Job 13:15 that he had unwavering confidence in God, and that even should God slay him he would put confidence in him. This solemn appeal he wished them to attend to as one of the utmost importance....

EXPOSITION JOB 13:1, JOB 13:2 The first two verses of Job 13:1. are closely connected with Job 12:1; forming the natural termination to the first section of Job's argument, that all results, whether good or evil, must be referred to God. Job 13:1 is little more than a repetition of Job 12:9 and Job 13:2 of...

HEAR DILIGENTLY MY SPEECH,.... Or, "in hearing hear" s; meaning, not only that his friends would attentively hear him, but continue to hear him; that they would hear him out what he had to say further: upon his expressing himself with so much faith and confidence in God, they might rise up from their seats and be preparing to be gone, as not having patience to hear a man talk so confidently, who they thought was a bad man and an hypocrite; or they might attempt to interrupt him while speaking, and therefore he desires they would be still, and patiently and diligently hear what he had more to say: AND MY DECLARATION WITH YOUR EARS; that is, that they would listen to it attentively, when he doubted not but he should make his case as clear as the sun, and set it in such a point of view, as that it would appear most plainly to be right, and he to be a just man. s שמעו שמוע "audite audiendo...

CHAPTER S 12-14 JOB'S ANSWER TO ZOPHAR _ 1. His sarcasm (Job 12:1)_ 2. He describes God's power (Job 12:7) 3. He denounces his friends (Job 13:1) 4. He appeals to God (Job 13:14) 5. The brevity and trouble of life (Job 14:1) 6. The ray of light through hope of immortality (Job 14:7) Job 12:1. He answers not only Zophar but the others as well. Before this Job had expressed his

Job turns to plead his cause with God. He will speak whatever it costs (Job 13:13). This also, he says, shall be my deliverance, that a godless man will not come before Him. Job means that his deliverance must come, not as the friends say, from submission and confession, but from courageous self-defence. Job seems to gain confidence from his resolve to speak without fear. He feels that God, the natural protector of innocence, must in the end be on his side: Job's very boldness will appeal to His better nature. This is the first time that Job really shows confidence in God. Behind His wrath, he feels, there is something that is on his side. It seems as if Job's firm resolve to maintain his consciousness of innocence gave him a basis whence to feel after the true nature of God. Such is Job's confidence, as he prepares to plead his cause ...

HEAR DILIGENTLY. Figure of speech _Polyptoton._ App-6. "Hear ye, hearing": i.e. Listen attentively; or, give diligent heed. Compare Isaiah 6:9. See note on Genesis 26:28. DECLARATION. opinion. Occurs only here....

Job now turns from his friends, whom he commands to be silent, to his great plea with God, resuming the intention expressed in Job 13:3. The passage has two parts, one preliminary, Job 13:13, exhibiting a singular picture of the conflict between resolution and fear in Job's mind. He will go before God come upon him what will (Job 13:13). Yet he cannot hide from himself that it may be at the hazard of his life. Yet he will not be deterred; he will defend his ways to God's face (Job 13:14). And yet again, this very courage which he has, arising from his sense of innocence, is a token to him that he shall be victorious ...

5. Job would dare to present his case before God. (Job 13:13-19) TEXT 13:13-19 13 HOLD your PEACE, LET ME ALONE, that I may speak; AND LET COME ON ME WHAT WILL. 14 Wherefore should I TAKE my flesh In my TEETH, And put my life IN MY HAND? 15 BEHOLD, HE WILL SLAY ME; I HAVE NO HOPE: Nevertheless I will maintain MY WAYS BEFORE HIM. 16 This also shall be MY SALVATION, That a godless man SHALL NOT COME BEFORE HIM. 17 Hear diligently my speech, AND let my declaration be in your ears. 18 Behold NOW, I HAVE SET MY CAUSE IN ORDER; I know that I am RIGHTEOUS. 19 Who is he that will contend WITH ME? For then would I hold my peace and GIVE UP the ghost. COMMENT 13:13-19...