Job 13-14

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Job’s Continuing Response to Zophar

BACKGROUND NOTES

Job’s first response to Zophar is three chapters long and divided into two major parts. In part one, which includes chapter 12 and the first 19 verses of chapter 13, Job responds to Zophar by telling him that he and his two friends are _________in their counsel of Job. In part two of Job’s response, Job presents what he views as his hopeless case directly to God, in what is really a ________ of despair.
In verses 1-5 of chapter 13, what was Job’s request through Zophar to his three friends?
After again requesting Zophar (v 13) to be ________, Job makes known to Zophar that he will prepare his ______ and present it directly to ____ (v 15).
Job, in verses 23-26 of chapter 13, makes what request of God?
What is the important role of God that Job speaks of in verses 5 and 6 of chapter 14?
In Job’s continuing prayer of despair, do his statements in verses 7-12 support the teaching of annihilation?

Job responds to Zophar by telling him that his two friends are wrong in their counsel of Job. In part two of his response to Zophar, Job takes his case to God in a prayer of despair.
Job’s request to his three friends in verses 1-5 of chapter 13 is that they be silent.
After requesting a second time that Zophar be silent, Job makes known that he will prepare his case and present it directly to God (v 15).
In verses 23-26, Job pleads with God to please show him his iniquities and sins – even the sins of his youth, if indeed that was why he was suffering.
The important role of God that Job speaks of in his prayer is that it is God who, in His sovereignty, determines the number of our days and years (ch 14, vs 5, 6).
No! Verses 7-12 do not support the false teaching of annihilation or the false doctrine of soul-sleep. Job is merely contrasting the life of trees and people. Trees have the advantage of being able to grow up again after they were cut down, but not people when they died.

Consider the problem of Job’s three friends in being unable to “hold their tongues” of counsel. Discuss the common characteristic in our day of people being eager to give prolonged counsel to others, yet falling short when it comes to listening. Discuss characteristics such as humility, compassion, sensitivity and mercy that should pervade a believer’s life, and which should greatly help in being “swift to hear [and] slow to speak . . .” (James 1:19).

Does your life as a Christian demonstrate a deep gratitude toward God for the reality of life after death . . . eternal life . . . and eternal life with Him? Even in suffering, the believer should continually give thanks for the mighty promises of God and the hope that we have in Him!

“But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job 13:3, 15