King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, January 08, 2026
Chapters: Job 13-17
Message: Job: Job Has Hope
Hello My Friend,
At the heart of every saved, born again Christian is the hope that their faith in Christ will supersede every bit of pain, sorrow, and heartache they ever encountered when they see Jesus. Holding on to hope does not mean that it comes without challenges. Much like faith, hope often rises and falls like a roller coaster. We must remember that Satan himself is behind the doubts and fears that seek to undermine our hope in God. As we continue in the reading of Job, we see that his hope has been tested in every possible way, not only through the loss of his children and possessions, but through the deterioration of his health. And as if that were not enough, he is surrounded by three friends who sit in judgment.
[Job 13:1-10 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.]
Many of us have encountered people—sometimes even those closest to us—who seem to take on the role of judge, pointing out perceived faults and offering unsolicited advice as if they know God better than we do. It can be deeply frustrating, especially when their words twist the truth and leave us feeling misunderstood or unfairly blamed. God, has humbled me in so many ways these past few years in that He has shown me how to have respect, compassion, and empathy toward all people regardless of how they live their lives, [Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.]
I have seen people walk away from God altogether because of something spoken or done through another person’s harsh words. Granted, if someone turns away from God, there are deeper issues in their heart that they must address with Him first. However, we ought never to be the trigger that adds to their doubts or pushes them further from the truth. Our words carry weight, and careless judgment can wound far more deeply than we realize. Job’s friends were convinced they had the full picture, and spoke with confidence about matters they did not truly understand. They assumed guilt where there was none and offered correction where compassion was needed. Yet Job held firmly to what he knew to be true about himself and about God.
[Job 13:13-16,18-21 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.]
In other words, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that Jesus is the One before whom we will stand, and not anyone else. We have nothing to prove to people, only to God. If there is unrepentant sin in our lives, He will make it known to us in His time and in His way. It is not our place to judge others unless it is righteous judgment, nor are we to assume guilt simply because something appears sinful from the outside, [Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.]
Is it in God’s good pleasure that His children be ill and treated harshly? No, it is not, but since we live in a world that is broken and corrupt with every evil imagined we can expect the bad with the good. This is essentially what Job begins telling his friends. They were quick to draw conclusions, quick to accuse, and quick to speak as though they understood the mind of God. But Job reminds them that each person stands accountable before God alone, and that human assumptions are a poor substitute for divine truth.
[Job 14:1-5,7,10 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?]
As I am reading this, I am reminded of the tree next to my house that was cut down, leaving only the stump behind. Yet right in the center of that stump, a new tree grows. Every time I see it, I am reminded that Jesus is the Vine and I am one of His branches. Life springs from Him, even in places that appear dead or finished. In the same way, our flesh has its appointed bounds. It cannot go where our soul will go until the resurrection. But even with the limitations of this earthly body, we have hope that we will not cease. Our hope is rooted in Christ, and because He lives, we know that our story does not end in the grave.
[John 15:5-6 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:]
If you think that the people that were here before the Law was written did not know about their being a day when we will all change, think again. Job speaks of this, he knew that while his body might be in the grave at least he would be at peace knowing that he was awaiting his change to come.
[Job 14:12-15 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.]
This gets me every time I read it, how in the world did people before the Law was written know about resurrection? Well, Job, sure got it right, there will come a day when all saints will change, in fact, that is the day that they will become immortal, [1 Corinthians 15:52-54 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.]
Now, while Job’s friends were not really enemies, they were unlearned, and actually thought they were doing him a favor. I am sure that Job was not ready for round two from his friends, but here comes Eliphaz with a second attack upon Job. He unjustly charges him with casting off the fear of God, and restraining his prayer before God.
[Job 15:1-6,12-13 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, 2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. 5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee. 12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, 13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?]
Eliphaz, believes that Job is saying that he believes that his own righteous will save him and that is what is condemning him. In other words, he is saying that our own righteousness cannot save us and if we believe that it can then our own mouths will condemn us. Well, there is some truth to this because there is absolutely no way that we can save ourselves, and we are liars if we believe otherwise, [1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
Do you see how these men twisted everything that Job said around? They were not really listening to what he said, only what they wanted to hear. Eliphaz, is beside himself, he thinks that Job is guilty as sin and that is why he does not have the guts to talk to God, speaking about those same branches from that tree.
[Job 15:20-21,30-35 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. 21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. 30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. 31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. 32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. 33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive. 34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.]
Eliphaz, suggests that everything that Job had worked for was for his own glory and is now coming to light. He contends that wicked people, particularly oppressors, who are subject to continual terror, live very uncomfortably, and perish very miserably. This is another misconception because there are plenty of wicked people prospering and can care less about their salvation. There is only one explanation as to why the unsaved are prolonged life and that is solely for the purpose of their learning of Christ, but like Jesus said, [Mark 10:25-27 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.]
There is nothing more aggravating than having someone accuse you of something then telling you that because you are speaking up for yourself that you are proving your guilt, but in all reality we are guilty of thinking like this, my husband has said it to me a few times, my mother as well. If it is one thing I have learned, never assume you know what is going on with someone because they get defensive. Well, Job, could not take it anymore and just lashes out at them for being the miserable comforters that they were.
[Job 16:1-7 Then Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. 6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.]
In other words, Job is saying, “Put yourself in my shoes, then perhaps you would not be so accusing.” Can you sort of understand why we are put through these tests? We belong to Jesus, we have overcome the wicked one, and Satan cannot touch our soul, but sorrow really does bring us closer to God and the reminder that we have a friend who is closer than our brother, [Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.]
Hope can often get pushed to the back when you find yourself with obstacles at every corner, and it does not help with all the demands of life that seem to push it further back. While we do need to be pushed sometimes in order for that hope to resurface there is a line that ought not be crossed and God knows just how far to go, but that does not mean that Satan does not. The more they spoke against Job, the more frustrated he became, and they were not about to change their opinion of him either. He was beginning to think that God sent them to bring more grief to him.
[Job 17:1-4,9-10,15-16 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. 10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.]
They can persecute us, falsely accuse us, and even question our faith in Christ, but they cannot take our hope in Christ away from us for he truly knows the way that we take. The hope that we have is definitely not the same hope that the world or these fools who think they know God have. Our hope is in Christ! And even in our graves we have overcome the wicked one!
[1 John 2:12-14 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.]
Today’s Prayer:God, Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save me from my sins, He not only saved me from death and hell, He gave me hope that one day I will suffer no more. While I know that it is Your opinion of me that matters, and I am not here to please anyone, but You, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to endure not only my afflictions, but those who add to them. When I am looking for comfort remind me that it is found in You, even when it seems as though I am all alone and have opposition by others. Let me be a faithful and true witness, having compassion, and offering simple comfort to those who need it. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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