Job Chapter 7
1 "Isn't a man forced to labour on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3 so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.
10 He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11 "Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13 When I say, 'My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint;'
14 then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:
15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16 I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be."
Footnotes
- Verse 9 (Sheol)
- Sheol is the place of the dead.
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Job Chapter 7 Guide
Without waiting for their reply, Job broke out into a new lamentation, more bitter than the first, for it came out of a heart whose sorrow was aggravated by the misunderstanding of friends. Indeed, its very strength was a new protest against the only open charge Eliphaz had made, namely, of sin and foolishness in complaining at all.
In this lamentation there are two movements: first, a great complaint concerning the stress and misery of life (1- l0), and, second, a complaint directed against God (11-21). The toil of life is strenuous indeed. It is a warfare. Man is a hireling, a servant, whose labour issues in nothing, and whose rest is disturbed with tossing. Nothing is satisfying, for nothing is lasting, and figure is piled on figure to emphasize this: a weaver's shuttle, wind, the look of the eye, the vanishing cloud. There was absolutely no ray of hope in this outlook on life. Because of it Job complained not only of life, but directly against God. It was determined. "I will not refrain ... I will speak ... I will complain."
How terribly the vision of God was blurred in these days of suffering is illustrated as the man cried out that God would not let him alone, and asked why he must be tried every moment. It is such a cry and complaint that none can understand who has not passed into some sorrow equally severe. In saying this we simply state the fact, and those tempted to criticism of the attitude should remember that God patiently bore and waited, knowing that at the back of the complaint was an unshaken confidence, even though for a moment the surfaces were swept with the hurricanes of doubt blowing up out of the darkness.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Job Chapter 7 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Job's troubles. -- (1-6)
- Job expostulates with God. -- (7-16)
- He begs release. -- (17-21)
Verses 1-6
Job here excuses what he could not justify, his desire of death. Observe man's present place: he is upon earth. He is yet on earth, not in hell. Is there not a time appointed for his abode here? yes, certainly, and the appointment is made by Him who made us and sent us here. During that, man's life is a warfare, and as day-labourers, who have the work of the day to do in its day, and must make up their account at night. Job had as much reason, he thought, to wish for death, as a poor servant that is tired with his work, has to wish for the shadows of the evening, when he shall go to rest. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet; nor can any rich man take so much satisfaction in his wealth, as the hireling in his day's wages. The comparison is plain; hear his complaint: His days were useless, and had long been so; but when we are not able to work for God, if we sit still quietly for him, we shall be accepted. His nights were restless. Whatever is grievous, it is good to see it appointed for us, and as designed for some holy end. When we have comfortable nights, we must see them also appointed to us, and be thankful for them. His body was noisome. See what vile bodies we have. His life was hastening apace. While we are living, every day, like the shuttle, leaves a thread behind: many weave the spider's web, which will fail, ch. 8:14. But if, while we live, we live unto the Lord, in works of faith and labours of love, we shall have the benefit, for every man shall reap as he sowed, and wear as he wove.
Verses 7-16
Plain truths as to the shortness and vanity of man's life, and the certainty of death, do us good, when we think and speak of them with application to ourselves. Dying is done but once, and therefore it had need be well done. An error here is past retrieve. Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns: so a new generation of men is raised up, but the former generation vanishes away. Glorified saints shall return no more to the cares and sorrows of their houses; nor condemned sinners to the gaieties and pleasures of their houses. It concerns us to secure a better place when we die. From these reasons Job might have drawn a better conclusion than this, I will complain. When we have but a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the noisome, noxious breathings of sin and corruption. We have much reason to pray, that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep. Job covets to rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our opportunity of glorifying him, and preparing for heaven.
Verses 17-21
Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man. But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the concern he is in about his sins. The best men have to complain of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of it. God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Saviour of the souls of all that believe; but probably Job meant the Observer of men, whose eyes are upon the ways and hearts of all men. We can hide nothing from Him; let us plead guilty before his throne of grace, that we may not be condemned at his judgment-seat. Job maintained, against his friends, that he was not a hypocrite, not a wicked man, yet he owns to his God, that he had sinned. The best must so acknowledge, before the Lord. He seriously inquires how he might be at peace with God, and earnestly begs forgiveness of his sins. He means more than the removing of his outward trouble, and is earnest for the return of God's favour. Wherever the Lord removes the guilt of sin, he breaks the power of sin. To strengthen his prayer for pardon, Job pleads the prospect he had of dying quickly. If my sins be not pardoned while I live, I am lost and undone for ever. How wretched is sinful man without a knowledge of the Saviour!
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.