Matthew Henry Commentary Job 13:13-22

"Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will. Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand? Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears. Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous. Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost. Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face: Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid. Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me." — Job 13:13-22 (ASV)

Job resolved to cling to the testimony his own conscience gave of his uprightness. He depended on God for justification and salvation, the two great things we hope for through Christ. He expected little temporal salvation, but he was very confident of his eternal salvation: that God would not only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his salvation, in the sight and enjoyment of whom he would be happy. He knew himself not to be a hypocrite and concluded that he would not be rejected.

We should be well pleased with God as a Friend, even when He seems against us as an enemy. We must believe that all things will work for good for us, even when all seems to work against us. We must cling to God—yes, even though we cannot at present find comfort in Him. In a dying hour, we must derive living comforts from Him; and this is to trust in Him, though He slay us.