Matthew Henry Commentary Job 3:20-26

"Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul; Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures; Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave? [Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat, And my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing which I fear cometh upon me, And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble cometh." — Job 3:20-26 (ASV)

Job was like a man who had lost his way, and had no prospect of escape, or hope of better times. But surely he was in a poor state of mind for death when so unwilling to live. Let it be our constant care to get ready for another world, and then leave it to God to order our removal there as he thinks fit.

Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest hardships, to be willing to live. Job's way was hidden; he did not know why God contended with him. The afflicted and tempted Christian knows something of this heaviness; when he has been looking too much at the things that are seen, some chastisement of his heavenly Father will give him a taste of this disgust with life, and a glance at these dark regions of despair.

Nor is there any help until God restores to him the joys of his salvation. Blessed be God, the earth is full of his goodness, though full of man's wickedness. This life may be made tolerable if we attend to our duty. We look for eternal mercy, if willing to receive Christ as our Savior.