7:11Job felt deep anguish and bitterness, and he spoke honestly to God about his feelings to let out his frustrations. If we express our feelings to God, we can deal with them without exploding in harsh words and actions, possibly hurting ourselves and others. The next time strong emotions threaten to overwhelm you, express them openly to God in prayer. This will help you gain an eternal perspective on the situation and give you greater ability to deal with it constructively.
Life Application Study BibleJobChapter 7
Job 7
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 795, 796
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
7Job 7
1like a servant waiting to be paid.
3I, too, have been assigned months of futility,long and weary nights of misery.
4Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
5My body is covered with maggots and scabs.My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.
Job Cries Out to God
66 “My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle.They end without hope.
7O God, remember that my life is but a breath,and I will never again feel happiness.
8You see me now, but not for long.You will look for me, but I will be gone.
9Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes,those who die* will not come back.
10They are gone forever from their home—never to be seen again.
11“I cannot keep from speaking.I must express my anguish.My bitter soul must complain.
12AmIa sea monster or a dragonthat you must place me under guard?
13I think, ‘My bed will comfort me,and sleep will ease my misery,’14 but then you shatter me with dreamsand terrify me with visions.
15I would rather be strangled—rather die than suffer like this.
16[hate my life and don’t want to go on living.Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days.
17“What are people, that you should make so much ofthat you should think of us so often?
18For you examine us every morningand test us every moment.
19Why won't you leave me alone,at least long enough for me to swallow!
20If I have sinned, what have I done to you,O watcher of all humanity?Why make me your target?Am Ia burden to you?
21Why not just forgive my sinand take away my guilt?For soon I will lie down in the dust and die.When you look for me, I will be gone.”
Textual footnotes
- 7:9 Hebrew who go down to Sheol.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
7:12Job stopped talking to Eliphaz and spoke directly to God. Although Job had lived a blameless life, he was beginning to doubt the value of living in such a way. By doing this, he was coming dangerously close to suggesting that God didn’t care about him and was not being fair. Later God reproved Job for this attitude (38:2). Satan always exploits these thoughts to get us to forsake God. Our suffering, like Job's, may not be the result of our sin, but we must be careful not to sin as a result of our suffering.
7:20Job referred to God as a watcher or observer of humanity. He was expressing his feeting that God seemed like an enemy to him—someone who mercilessly watched him squirm in his misery. We know that God does watch over everything that happens to us. We must never forget that he sees us with com- Passion, not merely with critical scrutiny. His eyes are eyes of love. B:1ff Bildad was upset that Job still claimed innocence while questioning God's justice. The basis of Bildad’s argument (the justice of God) was correct, but his idea of God’s justice was not. Bildad’s argument went like this: God could not be unjust, and God would not punish a just man; therefore, Job must be unjust. Bildad felt there were no exceptions to his theory. Like Eliphaz,
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Study feature · page 796
Bildad wrongly assumed that people suffer only as a result of their sins. Bildad was even less sensitivesand compassionate, saying that Job’s children died because of the/r wickedness. (For more information about Bildad, see the chart in chapter 28, p. 819.) 8:14, 15 Bildad wrongly assumed that Job was trusting in something other than God for security, so he pointed out that such supports will collapse. One of people's basic needs is security, and many will do almost anything to feel secure. Eventually, however, our money, possessions, knowledge, and relationships will fail or be gone. Only God can give lasting security. What have you trusted for your security? How lasting is it? If you have a secure foundation with God, feelings of insecurity will not undermine you.