Job

“Introduction & Chapter 1”

There is no direct indication of when Job lived, but it has been suggested it was before the time of Abraham. Perhaps about 2000 BC, but we cannot say. Some think he was about 50-60 years of age when his afflictions came about, and that he lived another 140 years afterwards. (More research is needed on dates).

Job lived in Uz and was one of the most wealthy and powerful men at that time. Uz later became known as Edom (re Lamentations 4). However, it is enough to know that many theories surround this book, which some refer to as one of the best epic Jewish poem ever written. This is why others say Job is not an historic person at all, but a folklore legend. As far as we are concerned, it is a straightforward historical account of a real man living righteously despite Satan’s attempt to bring him to the dust, a lesson in obedience and faithful endurance against all odds. Above all, we are shown how a believer responds to gross trials, and how he comes out of it all with integrity and truth. He is mentioned with Daniel and Noah as being righteous.

Verses 1-3

1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

The beginning of this book is ordinary and given in ordinary historical terms. We are told Job (‘lyowb, meaning ‘persecuted’) lived in Uz (‘wooded’; see above but probably close to Ur in the north-eastern Arabian region). He was not strictly an Hebrew, because no such people existed at that time. Like Noah, Job was righteous before God – “perfect and upright” and God-fearing. He rejected evil. “Perfect”, tam = complete and perfect physically, mentally and in beauty, undefiled. “Upright”, yashar = correct, straightforward, righteous, lawful. “Feared God”… showed reverence towards Jehovah and feared His wrath. “Eschewed”, cuwr = he turned away from sin and avoided it, rejecting evil. Such men are rarely found today.

He had seven sons and three daughters, which made him rich in family, also. He had vast herds of animals: 7,000 sheep (including lambs, goats - sometimes referred to as ‘small cattle’; 3000 camels as pack-animals and for riding; 500 yoke of oxen – that is 500 pairs, making 1000 beasts in total, possibly including cows; 500 she-asses/female donkeys. Job also had a huge number of servants. Because of all his assets he was called “the greatest of all the men of the east”. It is interesting to note that the other patriarchs were also wealthy, powerful men.

Verses 4&5

4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job’s children were simply going about their daily business and life. Verse 4 refers to a feast where the sons and daughters all took part, enjoying the fruits of being wealthy, which is not in itself wrong, because Job was righteous and there is no indication the children were wayward or acting sinfully. So they legitimately enjoyed a regular feast together. An ordinary, everyday quality about it all.

When the feasting was over, Job called for them to come around him. Today, as then, rich men and women feast daily in expensive places, thinking nothing of the poor around them, even in their own family. Theirs is a sinful feasting, with thought only of their own satisfaction and expression of wealth so all can see. When gathered it would appear that he spoke to them of Jehovah and their need to live truly, and then he blessed them. This took place at a time when Job got up very early and sacrificed to the Lord, burnt offerings to cancel any sins the children may have committed. This concern was with Job “continually” for his children (and probably for himself also, for none of us is immune from sin, whether secret or public).

Verses 6-12

6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

7. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

After giving a background to Job and his family, the account now switches to the main thrust of what God wishes us to know. Job and his family lived by the grace of God, enjoying the fruit of their labours and life in general. All seemed well. Yet, unknown to Job, events were taking another form that would rock his world to its foundations.

‘Sons of God’ can have a number of possible meanings. In this text it COULD refer to heavenly angels. But, it could also refer to human beings come to worship the Lord. Lucifer/Satan was cast out of Heaven, so verse 6 might be about the former – holy people meeting before God. Also, very often, one who acts and speaks like Satan can be named ‘Satan’. However, in this case, it appears Satan himself mingled with the holy people on earth. Jehovah knew he was there and though He knew the thoughts of the adversary, He asked Satan why he was there. Satan answered that he had interrupted the penalty of banishment put upon him by God, to roam the earth.

To us today, what God said next might seem very odd, for He appeared to immediately speak of Job. It is, though, not so odd, for God knows the heart and He knew before Satan arrived what he was there for – to argue that Job was only holy because of fear, making out that the fear was that of a prisoner who only did what was good because otherwise he would be dealt with harshly and lose benefits. Is this not why so many today, and through the ages, fear God?

So, Jehovah knew why Satan was before Him and brought up the subject Himself – ‘Have you thought of my servant Job? There is no-one so holy on the whole earth like him! He is perfect, righteous and hates evil.’ Satan more-or-less scorns the Lord by saying ‘Yes, Job is afraid of you for a reason!’ Satan continues: ‘You have protected him from everything; you have allowed him to gain significantly in family, land and wealth. If you caused him to lose everything he would soon curse you!’

Jehovah then dismissed Satan after saying that Satan could do whatever he wished with what Job had, but he could not touch Job himself. Satan thought he was triumphant and left God’s presence. It is well to remember that God is Creator, Sustainer and keeper of all life. We are His creatures and he can do anything He wishes with us. Many times we might think we have been hard done by, but, in reality, God is putting us through extended trials that will toughen our spiritual strength and prove ourselves to be true and faithful. So, this statement by God to Satan is not to be thought of as an error or something unkind, even though it shook Job’s life to its very foundation.

Verses 13-17

13. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14. And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

The eldest brother held a feast in his home, and his siblings were with him, and a band of marauders descended on the oxen and asses, as they feasted. A witness ran to Job’s house to tell him. He said that it was a normal day, and people went about their usual daily tasks. Suddenly, Sabeans “fell upon them”, killed the servants, and took the animals captive. Sabeans were inhabitants of Sheba’ (‘seven’, or ‘an oath’). Sheba’ was a region in northern Arabia, thus, if Job lived not far from Ur, they came from just south of his home near the Persian Gulf.

As Job tried to take in this calamity, another messenger arrived to tell him that a “fire from God (‘elohiym)” came and burned up the sheep and servants. Thus, Job was hit by a second calamity… but then came a third messenger with more bad news – Chaldeans (from lower Mesopotamia – also neighbours of Uz) in three groups and stole the camels, killing the servants who looked after them. How did the messenger know that the fire came from God? I suggest that all three calamities were arranged by Satan. There was no reason for God to cause Job to suffer like this. But, Satan said Job only followed God because he had so many blessings, though God denied it – so now Satan wanted to prove God to be wrong by taking away what Job had. Satan is more than capable of producing disasters!

Verses 18-22

18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19. And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Satan was not yet finished! As the third messenger was still speaking, a fourth messenger arrived with even more horrific news. While the Sabeans were rustling the animals, and the children were feasting in the eldest brother’s home, a great wind came from the desert. The word for ‘wind’ is the same word extensively used to speak of the Spirit of God, but in this case it simply means ‘wind’, as the qualifying word ‘wilderness’ proves. Again, this was caused by Satan’s vindictiveness.

The wind tore across the area and demolished the eldest brother’s home, killing the occupants. Though not mentioned, the sisters were amongst those who died. Job was beyond distraught, with so many evils coming to him at one time. He tore his cloak (a typical act of distress), shaved his head and fell prostrate to the floor. This could not happen all at once – it took time to do these things. The surprising thing came when he fell to the ground, for despite the horrors that came to him, he “worshipped” God! ‘Worship’, shachah, means to lay prostrate on the ground as a sign of one’s lowliness before God.

Job proceeded to acknowledge that whatever he had in life was not really his own. He said that he came into the world with nothing, completely naked, and would return to the same condition. “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away”! What a magnificent response to calamity and woe! “Blessed be the name of the Lord”! And so, Satan’s vicious attacks did not cause Job to cry out in anger. Rather, he fell to his face and praised God. “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly”. This word implies that to charge God with the things that happened would have been folly, empty, unseemly. (And, of course, the evils came by Satan’s hand).

Compare our own lives with that of Job. Can we truly say we would respond as Job did to not just one calamity, but four, all at once? I believe Job’s response was conditioned by his whole life. At all times he was righteous, godly, praising God in everything. So, when tragedy struck he was already attuned to praising God, and his true nature won through, even as he mourned his losses of stock and family. Is it any wonder God told Satan that no-one else was like Job? The key to living through disasters, loss, privation and ‘circumstances’, is a continuous attitude of praise and obedience. Today, most people THINK they suffer, when really they do not… it is all in their minds, unworthy to be compared to REAL problems, and so it is sinful.

© February 2021

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In the book of Job we find many deep questions and answers concerning the human frame, even that of believers. It is not, then, just a piece of history… it is also about each one of us as we tackle life in general.

Verses 1-3

1. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

2. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

3. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Some readers might think the opening verses in chapter 2 are a repeat of chapter one, but they are not. This chapter begins with “Again there was a day”, meaning ‘tomorrow’ or ‘the next day’ or soon thereafter. No sooner had Satan brought an onslaught of disasters upon Job, than he began another phase of his evil intent. Remember – GOD did not test Job, Satan did.

Satan again mingled with a gathering of God-fearing men, to scorn God and His people. A second time God asked why he was there. God did not ask because He did not know, but so that the words of both He and Satan were preserved for posterity. Satan replied as he did before – he was coming from his wanderings on and around the earth, where he roared like a lion ready to devour his prey. He is still doing that today, and will continue to do so until time itself is ended by the Lord.

To the reader, including myself, there seem to be missing words, a ‘lead-up’ to why God said what He said. On the other hand, God already knew why Satan was mingling with His faithful people, so He brought up the subject before Satan did. Note how Satan pretended to be one of the people… a common tactic used even now, as Satan, sin, and a wicked character, cause many to mingle with the righteous, pretending to be holy or saved. Their aim is to spread dissent and lies, so Christians fail and fall, not particularly of their own volition, but because they allowed evil people to join them and speak. The evil ones whisper sinful things, often subtly, so others think what is said is holy. That is how hundreds of thousands were lost to lies during the evil period of the Toronto Blessing. It is why others join together with countless cultic movements (including charismatic), soothing their own consciences, and continuing in godless beliefs. It is why Christians have favourite speakers who they treat as mini-gods, losing their sense of questioning and not testing the spirits. All this is an easy road to follow, until they suddenly realise their error, possibly too late. It is not for nothing that such human beings can be labelled ‘satanic’, the worst of whom may even be called ‘Satan’. Think you can recognise a satanic person in your midst? If so, why do you accept error and heresy in your midst?

Jehovah repeats His claim, that Job was the most righteous man on the earth at that time. Even though Satan delivered violent blows to the man, Job remained true, “still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without cause”. Of course, God did not act against Job in any way. He told Satan he could tempt Job to sin in any way, but could not take his life. This is because the Lord knew Job would not sin, no matter what evils befell him.

To us, what happened to Job was a wickedness to be marked up against God, but this is to misunderstand Who God is. God did not turn against Job in any way. He was ‘proving a point’ to the Great Adversary, Satan. We might argue that this is itself evil, but it is to again misunderstand Who the Lord is. He can do whatever He wishes to His creation, including His human creatures. The whole point of our existence is not our human desires and emotions, but His glory and praise! Handing Job over to Satan for a season was not nasty or unholy, it was God’s intention, to thwart Satan. Yet, how many would act like Job? How many would buckle immediately and sin against the Almighty? I think we know the tainted answer. Surely any of us in the same circumstances would have a fit of anger against God when under such extreme pressure? Maybe so, but Job did not fall to sin, so why should we? As already mentioned, I believe Job’s attitude and responses were part of his daily life of righteousness and constant holy dealings with God. So, when evil came, he was internally ready and continued in holiness.

Verses 4-6

4. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

5. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

6. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Satan would not, however, concede. Even today, if he sees a tiny chink in our armour, he will force it open into a bigger gap until he can enter our lives with vicious vengeance. It does not take much, so beware – ‘nip it in the bud’, even if it appears to be like a rose! As soon as temptation arises, cast it out with vigour; a temptation caressed becomes an actual sin.

We are warned not to look directly at the sun, because a few seconds of gazing will destroy our eyes. The same goes for looking at the merest possibility of sin. It shows we have heeded temptation, and sin is born in our soul, ready to drag us under the frothing waves to a spiritual grave. These possibilities are around us night and day. Guard your soul for Satan is out to destroy you and take you into the pit he himself fears and will enter. He cannot do so if we belong to the Lord, but he will tarnish our lives and even expose it to open sin if we allow him to do so.

Satan boasted about “skin for skin” (a saying at that time, meaning ‘life for life’), or, he will lay Job’s life bare so all can see his sin. He continued that Job would finally give anything to retain his life, even to acting sinfully. As if to tempt God Satan scorned – ‘Go on, make his body uncomfortable and he will soon turn against you!’ God cannot be tempted nor can He sin, and He replied – ‘Go to Job and do what you will, but leave him alive’. Christians can be pushed to their very limits, but God does not allow us to go past what we can bear. Thus, even if we suffer (mainly because of our own fault), He will stop us ‘going over the edge’.

Sadly, many today JUMP off the edge because it is easier than facing life and God. And so their lives are miserable and they perceive all kinds of reasons that prevent them from being holy… except for the vital single reason for their misery – their own sinful nature. Thus, the slightest pressure on their lives ends in turning back to sin and refusing to act righteously, preferring neurotic behaviour to truth, because it is easier to give in than to live righteously. Job retained his holiness by constantly living in holiness. It was his ultimate safeguard. And though he suffered beyond what any man can usually take, He did not sin, but remained holy.

Verses 7-10

7. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

8. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

9.  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

10. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Satan’s only desire is to hate God and His saved people, who he wants to reduce to filth and evil. Believers are the real prize, because they represent the Lord, and Satan knows he cannot touch God in any way. So, he will take second-best – believers. He cannot remove their salvation, but he certainly can make their lives a misery or a bad witness. And so Satan hit Job hard with painful boils, head to toe. The word used, šiḥîn, can mean leprosy, but in this text it appears to mean erupting inflamed skin. I shudder as I see what Job did to try to alleviate the burning pain…he scraped his skin with bits of sharp pottery so as to give relief from intense itching. But, applying such a stark method only makes things worse. As he attempted to relieve his symptoms blood and other matter (pus, etc) fell upon the earth Job sat on ash to absorb residues. We can imagine his misery.

The last thing a man needs when suffering such malady is to have someone offer bad advice! It is like adding salt to an open wound. And, as often happens, the bad advice came from someone very close – his own wife. It is possible she was party to Job’s previously holy way of living, but it shows just how different people are; it also shows that each of us stands alone before God. Job’s wife asked why he was still trying to keep his holy integrity, tummâ (personal innocence; rooted in tōm, meaning uprightness, perfection). So, she was telling Job to lose his righteousness in order to gain relief by cursing God! As I hope readers know, cursing someone for harming you does nothing except make you feel temporarily better, but with no actual benefit!

To ‘curse’, bāraḵ, is to blaspheme. Oddly, the same word can also mean to bless, but not in this text. In effect Job’s wife was saying that he should blaspheme against the Lord (here, ‘ĕlōhîm) so He would strike Job down. Thus, his death would finally relieve him of his physical torture. It is possible the wife had Job’s wellbeing in mind and really thought that death would be better than such agony. Even today, wives will take a man to another country to be put to death by doctors, rather than watch them suffer greatly. BUT – what a deception! Did she not know that after death comes another form of life, for eternity?

We do not know if the idea of Sheol* was widespread at that time, so we can only assume her words were well-meant but horribly skewed. Why should anyone want temporary relief when it is followed by an eternity of condemnation and suffering? No doubt she did not think of the consequences! Many today seek relief from fear, anxiety, depression, etc., by taking medications, or even commit suicide. But, these are very bad decisions and ways to live. What is the point of having a moment’s relief or hiding from reality, when the end result is eternal damnation? (* See Outline on the subject, O-266).

Job instantly called her a foolish woman. He reminded her that everything human beings receive is from God, whether good or evil. The good, ṭôḇ, refers to everything fine, best, prosperous and lovely. Evil, ra’, means hurt, trouble, affliction, adverse, harm. God does not send sin upon us, but He can allow it to overcome us if we refuse to listen to Him or disobey. Job did not know that it was Satan who was bringing him down, not God, but, assuming his misery came from God, Job simply accepted it as a punishment for an unknown sin.

There are times in Christian lives when a believer does not know if an action is from God or Satan, but the answer is always to assume oneself to be sinful and to repent of known sin. If none is known, to rest in God and endure what is suffered, while still calling upon Him for respite. So, even when under great duress and pain, following on from intense personal losses and grief, Job did not sin against the Lord when pressed to do so by his wife. Even if God HAD been responsible for Job’s woes, he resolutely believed that whatever God did was just and true.

Verses 11-13

10. Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

11. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

12. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

We now come to the three friend’s usually called ‘Job’s comforters’! That is friends who by their attitude and words make people feel even worse! Strictly, ‘three’ can literally mean three… or thirteen, or 60+13. It can even mean ‘stories’ or ‘forks’, or ‘often’. In this text we know the word refers to three, because the friends are named. They heard news of the calamities upon Job and came to offer support and counsel.

The friends were Eliphaz (‘my God is fine gold’), Bildad (‘confusing by mingling love’), and Zophar (‘sparrow’). They decided to visit to ‘comfort’ him and to mourn his loss of animals and children. Their hearts were ‘in the right place’, by visiting him when he was in his darkest hour. They felt his woes, and sat silently in moral support, for seven days and nights. In itself, this was true friendship. But, after the initial actions things went downhill…

(Eliphaz was a Temanite, a descendant of Esau. Bildad was a Shuhite, from farther east. Zophar was a Naamathite, from a tribal area now unknown). The three friends agreed to come together to travel to visit Job. They arrived as one – all three appear to have come from the east. When they reached Job’s land they could see him sitting on the ground. They must have been close enough to see his face and demeanour, and when they could see his misery they felt an intense emotion, and wept. Each ripped his outer garment in sorrow and threw dust onto their heads.

They reached Job and silently sat down around him on the earth, and stayed that way for seven days and nights, in a show of real friendship and empathy. None said anything because they could see how deeply grieved Job was. Sadly, good intentions are not always suitable as answers.

© February 2021

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As you read this chapter (and others) keep in mind that Job lived at a time and in an age very different from our own (though the anguish and grief are the same as ours). Words and expressions are not the same as in our modern language, hence a need for accurate interpretation. We can reasonably deduce when Job lived, because Uz was a grandson of Shem, Noah’s son, and Uz was still known by that name.

Was Uz actually alive when Job lived? Or, had he died beforehand and the land retained its name? Some suggest the name of Uz was actually Aram. Whatever the case, we cannot fix a date for Job because, if the land of Uz/Haram retained its name well after the death of Uz, it does not really help in giving dates for Job’s life. We only know he lived at a time referred to in early Genesis, apparently before the rise of the Babylonian empire.

Verses 1-4

1. After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2. And Job spake, and said,

3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

When the days of silence were finished Job ‘broke forth’ and “cursed his day”. This should not be thought of using today’s meaning of the term. “Cursed” here is qālal, and it means Job thought nothing of his own life, but thought it despicable… even though he was the most righteous person on earth at that time. His was a rightful assessment of a personal life. Even when we are the most righteous, we are STILL unworthy before God.

God praised Job, but, at the same time, no human life is completely worthy, even when that life is lived in complete harmony with God’s will. This applied to Job and still applies to all Christians today. Our worth is in Christ not in our own selves. Which is why I genuinely see myself as ‘nothing’. All Christian lives are worthy ONLY ‘in Christ’ and not in our own selves.

Thus, Job condemned his own birth, though he had no control over being conceived! Saying he wished he had never been born, he miserably added that though a male child was an agreed ‘prize’ in those days, he wished his birth was kept in darkness. In our day I suggest this was an erroneous statement, for it is God Who brings a new life into the world, even though it is conceived in sin. Therefore, it cannot be condemned or thought nothing of. But, this is my modern view… we have no real idea of how Job thought of the matter; he was speaking from a heart filled with grief. Note that he did not blame God nor speak against Him.

Verses 5-10

5. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

7. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

8. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

10. Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

In effect Job rued the day he was born, because if he had not been born he would not suffer as he now was. This kind of response is not uncommon. We still exist, so nothing changes. It is why suicide is such a feeble and irrelevant act – the person swaps his current woes for future ones, as his soul continues into eternity… only once he commits the awful act he cannot change the future, but has fixed himself into a final state… it seems in scripture suicide is a punishment from God. (I would want to expand on this for several reasons).

Job loathes his birth and life, wanting it all to be covered with a dark cloud, day and night. Is this not how many feel at a time of intense grief? It is caused by the fallibility of human rationality, no matter how righteous a person is. Job wished his life could stand still in a black vacuum, unable to move or speak or think. He wants his grief to remain as a penalty on his soul, with no joy at all for any reason.

This is a very common invalid view in people who resort to depression today. He commends condemning life by others, too, when they encounter their human frailties and troubles (verse 8). When suffering grief, a person does not want any kind of joy or light to enter the dark place, because it seems like a mockery of the grief. But, it also rocks the person out of the perceived ‘comfort’ of being depressed. (See my series on neuroses).

Let the stars lose their light and life, let not the morning arise to allow the sun to shine upon the darkness (verse 9)… but nothing can hide the fact that Job was born. Having been born Job came to know great sorrow… and this was, at the moment, unwelcome. In his deep response Job was showing no regard for his life and does not wish to continue. So, righteous as he was, Job sank below reason.

Many today live like this, even though they have no genuine sorrows or grief to display. It is all in their minds, as they sink under false troubles into a mess of anxiety and depression, none of which has come to pass. By contrast, Job’s sorrow was real, based in actual troubles, whereas modern neurotic behaviour is not.

Grief and sorrow because of an actual event (or, in Job’s life, four events all at once plus physical suffering) is a sad part of human life, but when someone is righteous and wishes only to serve the Lord, such grief will diminish over time. The false grief of a neurotic does not diminish, because God is left out of the matter and the person prefers anguish over non-existent woes than the responsibility of obeying God

Verses 11-13

11. Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12. Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13. For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

Job, speaking from a heavy heart, asked why he did not just die at birth, to save him from what happened. How many today would utter this kind of lament? Many! He continues this reflection, but it is hampered by his emotions and grief – why did not my mother prevent me from leaving the womb, and why did she provide me with milk at the breast! If all had failed, then I would not be suffering as I now do. If only my life ended before it began – I would now be at rest. These are words of a heart so hurt that Job cannot possibly ‘think straight’. He looks at the woes and forgets everything he has received to that point from God. Only the hurt and disaster fills his mind.

It does not take very long for us to forget God’s grace and mercy (as the history of Israel proves)! One day we will be highly motivated to praise Almighty God, and within days a snag or woe will seem to cause all previous helps to evaporate into the clouds, as if we had never been given joy or good in the first place. Yes, by avoiding all woes, we would be ‘at rest’, but at what price?

How many of his servants would have had gainful and, no doubt, well-remunerated work? How would his children have fared without his holy mind and heart before God? We must never denounce our own existence, for it is given by God for a purpose. In Job’s case, his life meant he was a figurehead throughout the East, a great man who influenced so many. Sadly, intense lamentation will often cause us to not see what is plainly before us.

Verses 14-19

14. With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

15. Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

16. Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

17. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

18. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

19. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

In these verses we see Job’s utter despair. Do not think that fullest obedience or trust will always bring joy and peace from troubling thoughts. Satan will not let anyone of faith rest in their beliefs. He must insert nagging fear into them so they do not live as they should. Here Job is simply saying that the wicked will always bring their evils upon the world, but if they are stopped at birth they will not trouble others any longer. Of course, this is fanciful for when one evil man dies or is not born, others take his place.

Whatever Job thinks of as bringing bad circumstances to mankind, he says mankind is better off without them. If they died or, better, were never born, the world would be a nicer place. Sadly, it is only a dream for evil people will continue to be born and make havoc until the end of time. This is observable in our modern days!

Yet, we must remember Job was in the depths of grief and was tortured by painful physical ailments. It can be very hard to maintain joy in this kind of situation. BUT, we must try, for behind the smoke and fiery furnace the Lord is holding out His hand to us and we must not let go; His ‘arm is stretched out still”. Even as we cry bitter tears we must continue to trust and follow. Without this we can indeed give in… but will suffer all the more.

The 17th century poet, Richard Lovelace, said,  “Stone walls do not a prison make. Nor iron bars a cage”. (‘To Anthea from Prison’). Once we prostrate ourselves meekly, or with pain or sadness, to a circumstance, we make our own prison. If we do not let our souls fly to freedom in Christ, we will crush our own aspirations and the salvation given by the Lord.

Again, I recommend reading Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, especially where the hero was imprisoned by the Giant Despair. It took a while for Christian to see the light, so to speak, and chose to seek freedom from his plight. He was, in effect, in the same position as Job. It was only when he threw aside the despair that his mind was given clarity, and he was able to escape the dungeon he almost decided to stay in.

Job had only just entered that dark place we can all experience when under a bad attack by our enemy (which can include our own minds), so we have no right to condemn him for his thoughts. God did not do so, therefore we should not, either. See Philippians 1, where we see how ‘circumstances’ are allowed or sent by God for our heavenly wellbeing, and for the furtherance of God’s work.

Verses 20-22

20. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

21. Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

22. Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

Why is light given to those in misery? Why does life continue for those whose souls are drenched in bitterness? This is the condition of countless souls today as they exist in lives of anxiety, fear and depression. But, it is a condition that is self-imposed. Though the saved soul has joy the soul hides it in a corner so it cannot operate to give life and vigour.

Some long to die rather than suffer, and others prefer suffering to obeying God, even though the life they still have is a gift from God. They cannot yet see that the prison walls do not imprison them, but their own minds and low understanding of joy and peace. So, they dig in the dirt of their misery to find a way out, not recognising that the way out only leads to more prison cells. It is only when they submit to the Lord and accept their condition that peace and freedom will come. So, they keep on digging, ignoring the treasures of the Lord and only wanting rest from their emotional turmoil. Thus, the grave is their final resting place, not God’s open arms and mercy. In effect they give away their godly heritage for a few moments of rest.

Verses 23-26

23. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

24. For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

25. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Why, asks Job, is a man given light and is protected, when he knows not his future? ‘My mind is being ravaged even before I get up each morning. My words pour out in grief like the sound of torrents of waters. I cry out because my worst nightmares have come to pass. I lived in peace and did not see what was to come. Now I have no rest and no peace; I lived by Jehovah’s law and still the trouble came!’

Note something here? Job says he had thoughts in his mind before Satan came to torment him. Is this significant? Look forward 2000 years to what James said – that each man is tempted by his own inward desires and thoughts. Could it be that Satan tapped into Job’s innermost fears and used them to drag him bodily and mentally over hot coals? Job, though kept for many years by Jehovah, did not feel secure in his great wealth, status and family. He has already hinted that none of it was deserved. Now he is voicing it openly: he feared losing everything and that is exactly what Satan has brought him down to – nothing.

How many Christians believe they have wealth or status or achievements because of their own work and struggles? Too many. How many believe, against obvious sins, that they deserve their wealth? And how many live for their wealth and achievements? If we have anything at all, it is because God has given it. And, as Job said, He gives and He can take away!

What we receive in life is not down to our own work and struggles, or even our holiness and goodness; everything, good or bad, is what God determines in eternity for our wellbeing. But, above all that, God does what praises Himself… our earthly wellbeing comes second.

Indeed, as I think about it, my own life has known many struggles; money has eluded me in the main; I have lost much, but gained spiritually. I now see it all as a passing thing. I must hold lightly to what I have been given, for it does not belong to me. To put it bluntly, I am a nobody who has nothing! If I struggle to maintain wealth (that is rhetorical, for I never seem to gain or retain money!) then I struggle for nothing. I almost lost my home a few years ago… but, the home is not mine, it is God’s. So, are we wiser than Job? Do we understand that his dilemma is also ours?

The book of Job is not just about Job; it has great relevance in every saved person’s life today. His response to the worst of woes is just like ours*. So, reading how he progressed in his thoughts is of immense help. (* Though he began from a position of utter obedience and trust in Jehovah… most today have little of this evidenced in their lives… and that includes me at times!).

© February 2021

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