Job 13:21

_WITHDRAW THINE HAND FAR FROM ME: AND LET NOT THY DREAD MAKE ME AFRAID._ (Note, Job 9:34; Psalms 39:10, "Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand"). The "two things" (Job 13:20) which Job requests are: (1) That God will withdraw His heavily pressing hand from him - i:e., remove his disease; (2) That God will not overwhelm him by His terrible presence, as He usually does those before whom He appears visibly. So Job will not shrink from meeting Him, to try his cause before Him face to face (Job 13:22)....

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....

WITHDRAW THINE HAND FAR FROM ME - Notes Job 9:34. The hand of God here is used to denote the calamity or affliction which Job was suffering. The meaning is, “Remove my affliction; restore me to health, and I will then enter on the argument in vindication of my cause. I am now oppressed, and broken down, and enfeebled by disease, and I cannot present it with the vigor which I might evince if I were in health.” AND LET NOT THY DREAD MAKE ME AFRAID - “Do not so overpower me by thy severe majesty, that I cannot present my cause in a calm and composed manner.” See the notes at Job 9:34. Job felt that God had power to overawe him, and he asked, therefore, that he might have a calm and composed mind, and then he would be able to do justice to his own cause.

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...

WITHDRAW THINE HAND FAR FROM ME,.... His afflicting hand, which pressed him; this he desires might be removed, or otherwise he could not have the command of himself, make use of his reasoning faculties, recollect his arguments, and give them in their due force and strength; for afflictions of body affect the soul and memory, understanding and judgment; this is one of the things he would have agreed unto before the dispute was entered on; the other follows: AND LET NOT THY DREAD MAKE ME AFRAID; the terrors of his law, or the dreadful apprehensions of his wrath; he desires to be freed from all slavish fear of God, that now possessed his mind through the severity of his dispensations towards him, behaving as if he was his enemy; or he deprecates his appearance in any external visible way and manner, which might be frightening to him, and so hinder freedom of speech in his own defence; thes...

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 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 ...

6. He calls on God for an arraignment. (Job 13:20-28) TEXT 13:20-28 20 Only do NOT TWO THINGS UNTO ME: Then will I not hide myself from thy face: 21 WITHDRAW THY HAND far FROM ME; And let not thy terror make me afraid. 22 Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me. 23 How MANY ARE MINE INIQUITIES AND SINS? Make me to know my transgression and MY sin. 24 WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE, And holdest me for thine enemy? 25 Wilt THOU HARASS A DRIVEN LEAF? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For thou writest bitter things AGAINST ME, And makest me to inherit THE iniquities OF MY YOUTH: 27 THOU PUTTEST MY FEET ALSO IN THE STOCKS, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to th

JOB'S THIRD SPEECH (CONTINUED) 1-12. Job claims to understand as much about God as the friends. He rejects their opinion as to the cause of his troubles, and regards it as an attempt to curry favour with God....

JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 13 JOB CONTINUES HIS REPLY TO ZOPHAR JOB WARNS HIS FRIENDS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR WORDS V1 I myself have seen that God does this. I have heard about this, and I know it. V2 I know the things that you know. V3 But I want to speak to God. I want to argue with God about my situation. V4 But you tell lies to hide the truth. You are like doctors who cannot cure anyone. V5 So, be silent! Then, you would be much wiser! V6 Listen to my speech! Think about my words!...