Introduction: After all that Job has experienced in the destruction of all that he owned, and the death of all his children, and the poor response of his only living relative (wife) - now Job responds, telling how he feels about his circumstance (3:1-19).
Job then tells what God can do (3:20-23), prior to Eliphaz beginning his lecture to Job.
JOB’S FEELINGS ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCE (3:1-19)
Job Cursed the Day - 3:1-3 ...and cursed his day....Let the day perish wherein I was born...the night...There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Cf. 10:18-19
Job wanted the day hidden from history - 3:5-6 ...let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
Job could see no joy that would come from his birth - 3:7-9 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Let them curse it that curse the day...Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
Job was sorry for the efforts of his mother - 3:10-12 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
Job thought it would better to have died with rest of mankind, rather than be born - 3:13-19
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth...with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver...as infants which never saw light...the wicked cease from troubling...the weary be at rest... prisoners rest together...The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
JOB’S UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S HEART (3:20-23)
Understanding is given as a gift to those who suffer (3:20) Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
God’s wisdom leaves us on this earth, but we desire something better (3:21)
We long for death during great suffering, but it does not come (3:21b-22)
We question why we gain knowledge during suffering (3:23) Why is light given to a man whose way is hid - Isn’t there some other way to learn the lessons?
We recognize that God has protected him from death, during suffering (3:23) and whom
God hath hedged in?
JOB’S REALIZED THAT SUFFERING IS PART OF LIFE (3:24-25)
Suffering can occur at any time in life (3:24) For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
Often, suffering centers around our greatest fears (3:25) For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Cf. Job 1:5
We can no nothing to prevent suffering except trust (3:26) I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
