Job 14

13–17 Here Job continues his hesitant thoughts about a future resurrection. He wishes that God would hide him in the grave until His anger has passed; then, after a set time, God might remember him (verse 13), and even call him back from the grave (verse 15). Job wonders if a man could live again after death; Job would be willing to wait for such a renewal all during his time of hard service in the grave (verse 14). Job hopes that if and when God calls him forth, He might not keep track of his sins but seal (them) up in a bag (verse 17).

Clearly, in verses 13–17, Job is expressing a tentative hope in some kind of resurrection after death. The idea of a resurrection is not well developed in the Old Testament; even Job seems to be saying one thing one moment and another thing the next. But in these verses he does rise above his general attitude of pessimism. Just maybe, the grave might be a temporary “hiding place” (verse 13) rather than a “place of no return” (Job 7:9). Just maybe, one day Job's sins might be forgotten, “sealed up,” “covered over” (verses 16–17), and Job might be restored to fellowship with God once more (Psalm 32:1–2; Isaiah 43:25; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9).

18–22 But Job's fragile hope quickly fades (verses 18–19). This resurrection “dream” is too far off. Instead, Job is left with the prospect of imminent death. God is about to send him away to the grave, where one has no knowledge of the living—even of one's own children (verses 20–21). There a man remains alone, and mourns only for himself (verse 22). What a difference there is between Job's dark despair and the New Testament hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting! (John 11:25).