Job 13:3

_SURELY I WOULD SPEAK TO THE ALMIGHTY, AND I DESIRE TO REASON WITH GOD._ Surely I would speak to the Almighty. Job wishes to plead his cause before God (Job 9:34), as he is more and more convinced of the valueless character of his would-be "physicians" (Job 16:2). As the Almighty power of God precluded his power of standing before God in judgment, he had said he did not desire it (Job 9:3); but now, strongly urged by the sense of his integrity, and reckless of life and hope, he resolves to plead his cause before God, provided that God will give him rest in doing so. His so-called friends are "physicians of no value;" for, coming to console, they only aggravated his misery. So far is he from dreading the judgment of God, with which th

1-12 With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to be taught by them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify themselves, and lower their brethren, more than is fit. When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we may speak at all times. To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value. Job evidently speaks with a very angry spirit against his friends. They had advanced some truths which nearly concerned Job, but the heart unhumbled before God, never meekly receives the reproofs of men....

Verse Job 13:3. _SURELY I WOULD SPEAK TO THE ALMIGHTY_] אולם _ulam, O_ _that: - I wish I could speak to the Almighty_! _I DESIRE TO REASON WITH GOD._] He speaks here to reference to the proceedings in a court of justice. Ye pretend to be advocates for God, but ye are forgers of lies: O that God himself would appear! Before him I could soon prove my innocence of the evils with which ye charge me....

SURELY I WOULD SPEAK TO THE ALMIGHTY - I would desire to carry my cause directly up to God, and spread out my reasons before him. This Job often professed to desire; see Job 9:34. He felt that God would appreciate the arguments which he would urge, and would do justice to them. His friends he felt were censorious and severe. They neither did justice to his feelings, nor to his motives. They perverted his words and arguments; and instead of consoling him, they only aggravated his trials, and caused him to sink into deeper sorrows. But he felt if he could carry his cause to God, he would do ample justice to him and his cause. The views which he entertained of his friends he proceeds to state at considerable length, and without much reserve, in the following verses....

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...

SURELY I WOULD SPEAK TO THE ALMIGHTY,.... Or "therefore I would speak" l, since he knew as much as his friends, and they knew no more than he, if so much, he would have no more to do with them, they should not be his judges; nor would he be determined by them, but would appeal to God, and plead his own cause before him, by whom he doubted not he should be candidly heard; he knew that he was the Judge of all the earth, and would do right; and that he sat on a throne judging righteously, and would maintain his right and his cause; that he would judge him according to his righteousness and integrity, of which he was conscious, and would pass a just decisive sentence in his favour, and give the cause for him against his friends, as he afterwards did; for this is not to be understood of speaking to him in prayer, though that is a speech either of the heart or of the tongue, or of both, to God...

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 has shown that he can speak of God's working in the world; the friends, however, offer an apology for God, which He Himself must reject. I am not inferior to you in knowledge, says Job (Job 13:2). But I would speak and reason with God this you do not understand (Job 13:3). The friends had failed to diagnose his case (Job 13:4); his want is a fresh Divine revelation. They are plasterers of lies in their zeal for God. Their best wisdom were silence (Job 13:5) si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses. God, however, will not approve their respect of persons, their partiality in becoming His advocate (Job 13:8)

THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew. _Shaddai._ App-4....

But this knowledge neither helps nor hinders him. In spite of this knowledge, if not because of it, he desires to reason with God. _surely I would speak_ Rather, BUT I WOULD (same word in Job 13:4)....