“Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom!”
Job 13:5 (NKJV)

READ: Job 13:1–12

Job in verse 2 of chapter 13 was saying again to his friends that what they know, he also knows (Job 13:2). In verse 5, Job was telling them that they should have kept silent without saying any
words or offering any counsel; that would have been considered wisdom on their part (Proverbs 17:28). But the fact that they kept saying the same thing, condemning him, made them annoying and detestable persons.

This is what I said in one of the teachings: if someone around you is
distressed and you do not know what to say to comfort or encourage him or her, do not say anything—do not add to his burden or sorrow by condemning him.

What was also said earlier is that you cannot use lies or deception to defend God; if you did, God would not be happy with you (Job 42:7,8). The same is repeated by Job in chapter 13, verses 7 and 8:
7 WILL YOU SPEAK WICKEDLY FOR GOD, AND TALK DECEITFULLY FOR HIM? 8 WILL YOU SHOW PARTIALITY FOR HIM? WILL YOU CONTEND FOR GOD? 9 WILL IT BE WELL WHEN HE SEARCHES YOU OUT? OR CAN YOU MOCK HIM AS ONE MOCKS A MAN? 10 HE WILL SURELY REBUKE YOU IF YOU SECRETLY SHOW PARTIALITY.
11 WILL NOT HIS EXCELLENCE MAKE YOU AFRAID, AND THE DREAD OF HIM FALL UPON YOU? 12 YOUR PLATITUDES ARE PROVERBS OF ASHES, YOUR DEFENCES ARE DEFENCES OF CLAY" (Job 13:9–12 NKJV).

The whole essence of Job’s speech was that you cannot use lies or deceptions to defend God or justify Him. God Himself will not be happy with that if you did it (Job 42:7,8). What Job’s friends said
about God concerning Job’s predicament was not right and God was not happy with it.

The two main points of this lesson are:
• Do not try to defend and justify God with falsehood or deception
(Job 42:7,8,10).
• If you do not have a word to offer as counsel to someone who is grieving, keep quiet; do not heap blame and condemnation on the person:
“EVEN A FOOL IS COUNTED WISE WHEN HE HOLDS HIS PEACE; WHEN HE SHUTS HIS LIPS, HE IS CONSIDERED PERCEPTIVE.”
Proverbs 17:28 (NKJV)

Reflect:
• Have you recently said something to a person in distress that
you think added to their burden rather than relieving it?
• At times, do you distort God’s character to make a theological
point? What does Job warn you about that?

Peace!

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