Job 7 - Job Appeals to God

LINK: Job 7

BACKGROUND 

I woke up this morning and began reading today's reading and thought, "This sounds like Ecclesiastes!" "Human life is a struggle, isn't it? It's a life sentence to hard labor . . . I'm given a life that meanders and goes nowhere --" (7:1, 3; The Message). His life had "no meaning" and is the same Hebrew word, heḇel, Solomon used over and over again in the book of Ecclesiastes. His life was "hard service" which in Hebrew means "military service."  Job was saying his life was harder than a soldier, hired man, and slave! His days were hard, but his nights were even harder as he dealt with his physical infirmities. 

Job was miserable and wanted to die, and he let God know how he felt. He wanted God to tell Him how he had sinned. Why did God not pardon Him and be done with the whole thing?  Job wanted closure.  

REFLECTION 

Pain does bring out raw honesty. Job's friends would no longer listen, but God would listen and Job poured his heart out to Him. He questioned the point of life and why God was doing it all. God can take honesty better than our friends or family. We have seen this honesty as we have read the Psalms of David. We will see more as we read the "weeping prophet" Jeremiah. Honesty before God is very important. 

APPLICATION 

Are you suffering? "Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord" (Lamentations 2:19; Psalm 62:8). Listen to what He says. 

I have found Immanuel Journaling to be very helpful in processing suffering and pain. The linked website explains it and then has a handout to download. I have made a one-page handout with just the journaling prompts, pasted it in my journal, and write it in there instead of on the handout. You might like to do the same.

PRAYER

Lord, it is hard to see Job suffer, but I know You have myriad lessons to teach us in our suffering. We want to be honest before You and allow that suffering to help us to see You (Job 42:5) more clearly. Amen.