Job 3

CHAPTER 3

Job Speaks (3:1–26)

1 From here on to nearly the end of the book, the writer records the words of the various characters in poetic form. Many of the expressions are figures of speech and not meant to be taken literally. But the meaning of the poetic expressions represents the true thoughts and feelings of the speakers. In particular, when Job speaks, he is pouring his heart out to God; he is not hiding anything from God. Even when his feelings are utterly negative and he is close to despair, he lets God know exactly how he feels.¹⁴

We will hear Job say many wrong things—things spoken in desperation; but we will never hear him ask to be restored to his former prosperity. Job's main concern throughout the book is his relationship with God. This is why he seeks vindication, because without it he is sure his relationship with God will be lost forever.

When Job finally opens his mouth after seven days of silence, he is in the depths of despair. His faith and perseverance seem to have vanished; he curses the day of his birth.¹⁵ In effect, he is saying that God was wrong to have created him; he is charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22). In these opening words Job comes as close to cursing God as at any other time in the book. Satan seems to have triumphed.

2–10 In these verses, Job expresses in visual language his wish that he had never been born. His very existence, once such a great joy to him, is now an unbearable burden. Job wants the day of his birth blotted out from memory, even from God's memory (verses 4–6). He wants that day cursed, because it “allowed” him to be born¹⁶ (verses 8–10).

11–15 Since his birth was not prevented, Job next wishes he had died at birth. Then he would have been at rest instead of suffering in agony(verse13);he could have been resting with kings and rulers (verses 14–15).

16–19 Here Job continues to look on death as a blessing compared to his present suffering. There (in the grave) even the wicked rest along with the weary (verse 17). Captives are free (verse 18). Everyone—small and great—is there, resting (verse 19).

20–22 Job again expresses his longing to die, to reach the GRAVE¹⁷ (verse 22).

23–26 Job now asks why life should even be given to one whose way is hidden—who cannot see the way; why give life to one who is hedged in? (verse 23). Earlier Job had had a hedge of protection around him (Job 1:10); now that “hedge” had become a prison wall.

All his life Job had shunned evil (Job 1:8), lest some catastrophe befall him or his family. Now he says: “What I feared has come upon me” (verse 25). He sees death as a place of peace and rest; but in his miserable condition, he finds neither peace nor rest (verse 26).

How could a man of such great faith and perseverance have reached this state? The answer is: Job was human. And because of this, we today can take encouragement. When suffering comes to us, we at first may strive to be brave and resolute; we may try to persevere; we may, in faith, cast ourselves upon God. But, as happened to Job, we may become so discouraged, so depressed, that faith itself seems to evaporate; and we are left without hope, without a sense of God's presence. More than once, Job even thought God had become his enemy (Job 13:24; 33:10). And yet, even if we reach this low state, let us remember Job. Let us remember that in the end God came to him, affirmed him, and restored to him all that he had lost. God may indeed seem to leave us, but if we call to Him He will always come—just at the right time.

It must be emphasized that Job never actually cursed God; he never lost his faith. But he was perplexed by God's seeming injustice: How could a good God have allowed such a calamity to befall an innocent person? Five times in this chapter Job asks the question “Why?” And we, too, ask that question. However, God may not give us the answer. Through Scripture, and especially through the book of Job, God simply reminds us that He knows what He is doing and that we can trust Him. In the end, suffering will bring us great benefit—as long as we submit to God in faith (Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 1:6–7).