Job 12 – 14

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Overview

Ch 12 -14 is Job response to Zophar’s three accusations:

Chapter 12 – Zophar accused Job had no knowledge of God (11:5-12)

  1. Job affirmed that he had wisdom and understanding just a they did (Job 12).
  2. Job said:
    1. “But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?” (v12:3).
    2. “What you know, I also know; I am not interior to you.” (v13:1)
    3. Job pointed out God is completely sovereign in what He does with nature (v14-15) and with people (v16-25). God has the wisdom to know what to do, and He has the power to accomplish it (v13,16).

Chapter 13 – Zophar accused Job was a guilty sinner (11:1-4)

  1. Job affirm his integrity (Job 13)
  2. Job would rather speak and argue his case to the Almighty God, instead of debating with his friends (v13:3). He would rather his friends to silent (v13:5,13) instead of trying to be by “physicians” on Job’s case (v13:4).
  3. Job challenged his friends that if God examine them as if Job did to him, they will surely not turn out good (v13:9).
  4. Staring from v13:20, Job speak to God directly.
  5. Job asked God to grant him two things:
    1. to withdraw His hand from him (v13:21)
    2. to  know him how many wrongs and sins Job has committed (v13:23), so he could determine if his measure of suffering matched the severity of his sin.
  6. Job felt God might be punishing him for sins committed years earlier in his youth. (v13:26).

Chapter 14 – Zophar assured Job there was still hope if he acknowledge his sins and repent(11:13-20)

  1. Job admits that his hope is almost gone (Job 14).
  2. In ch 14:1-12, Job used several images to illustrate the hopeless condition of man in this world.
  3. Man is like a flower, springs up and withers away, like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure (2). Our life is short, what are you doing in your life to make this short life a meaningful life?
  4. “Look away from him and let him alone…” (v6). Job has no more hope, he does not want to be bother. He just want to be lone for the remaining of his life. Often when we go through extreme pain, we just want to be alone. We feel that no want understand our pains, not even the closest friends, maybe not even God. Sometimes as friends, all we can do for our suffering friends is to pray for them.
  5. Job said at least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail (v8). But man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more (v10).
  6. Job asked “If a man dies, will he live again?” (v14). Job did not think man could have life after death. Thank God we who life in the NT world know! [but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.] (2 Tim 1:10). 1 Corinthians 15 tells us there resurrection after death: [For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.] (1 Cor 15:21-22).

 

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