Job’s Appeal to God – The Struggle for Understanding

Date: Wednesday Night, November 13, 2024

Main Text: Job 7:1–21 (KJV)

Introduction to Job Chapter 7:

In Job 7, Job shifts his focus from his friends to God. It is a raw, emotional chapter filled with questions and appeals. Job speaks directly to God, lamenting the brevity and suffering of human life. His words reflect the depth of his pain and his longing for answers. Job’s plea reminds us that God is big enough to handle our honest cries, even when they come from a place of despair.

Key Themes in Chapter 7:

1. The Brevity and Struggles of Life:

Job reflects on the fleeting nature of human existence and the suffering that often accompanies it.

2. The Transparency of Lament:

Job’s honest and raw dialogue with God serves as an example of the transparency we can have in prayer.

3. The Search for Meaning:

Job wrestles with the question of why God allows suffering and what purpose it serves in the grand scheme of life.

Section 1: The Hardship of Human Life (Job 7:1–10)

Read: Job 7:1–10

Job 7:1–10 KJV 1900

1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, And as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, And wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life is wind: Mine eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

Verse 1 (KJV): “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?”

Discussion:

• Life as Toil and Labor (Verses 1-3):

Job compares human life to that of a laborer or hireling, filled with toil and waiting for rest. This imagery highlights the difficulty and weariness of life on earth.

Verse 2 (KJV): “As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:”

Job’s words reflect his longing for relief, much like a worker longing for the end of a long day.

• Sleepless Nights and Restless Days (Verses 4-6):

Job describes his sleepless nights and the agony of each passing day, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll of his suffering.

Verse 5 (KJV): “My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.”

Job’s vivid description of his physical condition paints a picture of the intensity of his pain.

• The Fleeting Nature of Life (Verses 7-10):

Job laments the brevity of life, comparing it to a breath or a fleeting cloud. He feels that death is imminent and irreversible.

Verse 7 (KJV): “O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.”

Job’s words convey a sense of hopelessness, reflecting the fragility of human life.

Section 2: Job’s Lament to God (Job 7:11–16)

Read: Job 7:11–16

Job 7:11–16 KJV 1900

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; 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 whale, That thou settest a watch over me? 13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint; 14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions: 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.

Verse 11 (KJV): “Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

Key Points:

• Job’s Honest Lament (Verse 11):

Job resolves to speak openly about his anguish, refusing to suppress his feelings. His honesty underscores the importance of transparent communication with God.

• God’s Attention to Humanity (Verses 12-14):

Job questions why God pays so much attention to humanity, especially when it seems to bring more suffering than comfort.

Verse 12 (KJV): “Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?”

Job feels scrutinized by God, as if he were a chaotic force that must be restrained.

• The Terror of Night (Verses 13-14):

Job describes how even sleep, which should bring relief, is filled with terrifying dreams and visions.

Verse 14 (KJV): “Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:”

His words reflect a deep sense of vulnerability and the absence of peace in his suffering.

• A Wish for Death (Verses 15-16):

Job expresses his desire for death, seeing it as a release from the agony of his existence. His longing reflects the depths of his despair.

Verse 16 (KJV): “I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.”

Job’s plea is raw and unfiltered, showing the depth of his emotional pain.

Section 3: Job’s Questions to God (Job 7:17–21)

Read: Job 7:17–21

Job 7:17–21 KJV 1900

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, So that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For now shall I sleep in the dust; And thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Verse 17 (KJV): “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?”

Discussion:

• Why Does God Care About Man? (Verses 17-18):

Job echoes the sentiment of Psalm 8 but with a bitter twist. He questions why God pays so much attention to humanity, especially when it seems to bring only suffering.

Verse 18 (KJV): “And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?”

Job’s words reveal his struggle to reconcile God’s attention with the pain he feels.

• A Plea for Forgiveness (Verses 19-20):

Job wonders why God won’t leave him alone and asks whether his suffering is due to sin. His plea for forgiveness highlights his desperation for relief.

Verse 20 (KJV): “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?”

Job’s question reveals his confusion and longing for reconciliation with God.

• The Finality of Death (Verse 21):

Job concludes with a somber reflection on the finality of death, lamenting that God seems to focus on him only to let him perish.

Verse 21 (KJV): “And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.”

His words reflect the deep pain of feeling abandoned by God.

Application:

1. The Importance of Honest Prayer:

Job’s raw and unfiltered dialogue with God reminds us that we can bring all our emotions, questions, and pain to Him without fear of rejection.

2. Understanding the Depth of Suffering:

Job’s vivid descriptions challenge us to empathize with those who are suffering deeply and to avoid offering shallow platitudes.

3. The Search for Meaning in Suffering:

Job’s questions highlight the struggle to find meaning in pain. This chapter encourages us to seek God’s perspective, even when answers seem elusive.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Job’s description of life in verses 1-10 reflect his view of human existence during suffering?

2. What can we learn from Job’s honesty in addressing God directly with his questions and frustrations?

3. How do Job’s words in chapter 7 challenge us to rethink our understanding of suffering and God’s role in it?

Conclusion:

In Job 7, we see the depths of Job’s despair as he turns his lament directly toward God. His questions and appeals reflect the raw humanity of suffering, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can bring our honest cries to God.

Preview of Next Session:

Next week, we will explore Job Chapter 8, where Bildad speaks for the first time, offering his perspective on Job’s suffering.