Job 3

After a week of silence and terrible grief, Job “opens his mouth”signifying a monologue. Readers should understand the next section is like a prose, a poetic form of one’s most heartfelt thoughts. One can imagine what anyone in Job’s position the kind of attitude towards life Job may have. He hasn’t cursed God or charged Him with any wrong doing, but Job lifts up his voice to say what his heart has been thinking for the past week in grief. The entirety of chapter 3 is Job’s deep depression and wishing that he’d never been born.  “Let the day perish wherein I was born.” “Why died I not from the womb?” “For my signing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like waters.”

I guess Job’s words are proof that a righteous man that fears God and eschews evil is still able to feel deep depression to the point that he wishes for death.  Whenever in times of suffering, someone is already ready with one of Christendom catch phrases, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”  This phrase I’ve come to dislike in my heart mainly because I don’t think its true.  Job is a biblical example of someone who experienced more than he was able to handle, who despaired to death, but yet did not sin with his lips.

There are quite a few chapters before the end of the book before God gives Job victory.  One should keep that in mind as they continue to read the downward spiral of the conversation between Job and his friends.  What we learn about Job ultimately teaches us about God and why he would allow Job to suffer.  Suffering is no stranger to God’s people, it is a tool in God’s hand to bring about His good purposes.