Job 7
Job 7 is part of Job's response to his friends, where he continues to express his anguish and lament his suffering. He reflects on the brevity and misery of life, questioning why God continues to afflict him. Job pleads for relief and understanding in the midst of his suffering, wondering if his life even matters in God's grand scheme. The chapter captures Job’s deep emotional turmoil and sense of hopelessness as he seeks answers.
Job 7:1-5 (NKJV)
1 “Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
2 Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade, And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
3 So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, And the night be ended?’ For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.
5 My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.”
Job compares life to the harsh labor of a servant or hired worker, who longs for rest and relief at the end of the day. He feels that his life is filled with meaningless toil and suffering, as he experiences sleepless nights full of tossing and turning. His physical condition is dire, with his body covered in sores, worms, and dust. This imagery reflects the depth of Job’s misery, both physically and emotionally, as he feels abandoned and helpless in his suffering.
Job 7:6 (NKJV)
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.”
Job sees his life passing by rapidly, like a weaver’s shuttle that moves quickly back and forth. He feels that his life is fleeting, yet filled with pain and hopelessness. His suffering has robbed him of any hope for the future, and he is consumed by despair.
Job 7:7 (NKJV)
7 “Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good.”
Job pleads with God to recognize the brevity of his life, comparing it to a mere breath that passes quickly. He believes that his future holds no joy, and he will never again experience happiness or see good days. This statement reveals Job’s deep sense of resignation and loss of hope.
Job 7:8-10 (NKJV)
8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
9 As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
10 He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.”
Job contemplates his inevitable death, noting that once he is gone, no one will see him again. Like a cloud that vanishes, he expects to disappear into the grave without a trace. He expresses the finality of death, believing that he will never return to his home or be remembered. This underscores his sense of isolation and the futility of life.
Job 7:11 (NKJV)
11 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”
Job resolves to no longer hold back his words. His spirit is overwhelmed with anguish, and he feels compelled to express the bitterness that fills his soul. He believes that his suffering is so intense that silence is no longer an option, and he must voice his deep pain.
Job 7:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set 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 with visions.”
Job questions why God watches over him so closely, as if he were a dangerous sea or sea monster that needed to be restrained. Even when he seeks rest and comfort, his sleep is plagued by terrifying dreams and visions, which prevent him from finding peace. He feels trapped and tormented by God’s constant presence in his suffering.
Job 7:15-16 (NKJV)
15 So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body.
16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.”
Job’s suffering is so intense that he wishes for death, even preferring strangling over continuing to live in his current state. He despises his life and expresses a desire to be left alone by God. Job believes that his life is fleeting and insignificant, and he longs for an end to his torment.
Job 7:17-19 (NKJV)
17 “What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart 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, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?”
Job wonders why God pays so much attention to humanity, especially when it leads to constant testing and suffering. He feels overwhelmed by God’s scrutiny, which he perceives as relentless. Job begs for a brief moment of relief, asking God to look away and allow him some peace, even for the smallest amount of time.
Job 7:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, And You will seek me diligently, But I will no longer be.”
Job questions whether he has sinned to deserve such treatment from God. He feels as though God has targeted him unfairly, making his life unbearable. Job wonders why God does not simply forgive him and take away his iniquity if that is the cause of his suffering. He concludes by expressing the inevitability of his death, stating that once he is gone, it will be too late for God to find him.