Job has had enough "help" from his friends. If only they would just be quiet! Job's friends misrepresented God with their pious platitudes. Why must they take God's side and try to explain his actions? Can't he defend himself? If God examined Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, they would be in the same boat as Job. Job is ready to move on from their advice and present his case before God directly. Job's hope is still in God. He is confident that justice will prevail and that he will be delivered from his trials. This is a great lesson for us. No matter our circumstances, our lives are in God's hands and our trust is in him.

Before he presents his case, Job has two requests of God. The first is that God would withdraw his hand from Job so that Job would be free from the terrors he was experiencing. God is majestic and almighty. Who can approach him without being consumed with terror? Next, Job asked for God to communicate with him. If Job had sinned, would God show it to him? It doesn't make sense why God is silent to him and treating him as an enemy. Job feels like a prisoner who is chained at the feet. Why is this? Job is longing for God's answer. It is good for us to ask God to search our hearts and reveal our sins. When he does, we may repent and receive his mercy and forgiveness.


Application: Father, forgive us and draw us close to you.
One Word: Yet will I hope in him