Matthew Henry Commentary Job 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 7
"Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling? As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages: So am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up, and breaketh out afresh. My days are swifter than a weaver`s shuttle, And are spent without hope." — Job 7:1-6 (ASV)
Job here excuses what he could not justify: his desire for death. Observe man's present place: he is on earth. He is still on earth, not in hell. Is there not a time appointed for his abode here? Yes, certainly, and the appointment is made by Him who made us and sent us here. During that time, man's life is a warfare. He is also like day-laborers, who have the work of the day to do in its day and must give an account at night.
Job had as much reason, he thought, to wish for death as a poor servant who is tired with his work has to wish for the shadows of the evening, when he will go to rest. The sleep of the laboring man is sweet; nor can any rich man take so much satisfaction in his wealth as the hireling in his day's wages. The comparison is plain; hear his complaint: His days were useless and had long been so; but when we are not able to work for God, if we sit still quietly for Him, we will be accepted.
His nights were restless. Whatever is grievous, it is good to see it as appointed for us and as designed for some holy purpose. When we have comfortable nights, we must also see them as appointed to us and be thankful for them. His body was foul. See what vile bodies we have.
His life was passing swiftly. While we are living, every day, like the shuttle, leaves a thread behind. Many weave the spider's web, which will fail, (Job 8:14). But if, while we live, we live to the Lord, in works of faith and labors of love, we will have the benefit, for every man will reap as he sowed and wear as he wove.
"Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good. The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be. As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me? When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint; Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions: So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones. I loathe [my life]; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity." — Job 7:7-16 (ASV)
Plain truths concerning the shortness and vanity of human life, and the certainty of death, do us good when we think and speak of them, applying them to ourselves. Dying is done only once, and therefore it needs to be done well. An error here is irretrievable.
Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns: so a new generation of people is raised up, but the former generation vanishes away. Glorified saints will return no more to the cares and sorrows of their homes; nor condemned sinners to the gaieties and pleasures of their homes. It concerns us to secure a better place when we die.
From these reasons Job might have drawn a better conclusion than this: I will complain. When we have only a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the offensive, harmful breathings of sin and corruption. We have much reason to pray that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep.
Job covets to rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our opportunity of glorifying Him, and preparing for heaven.
"What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him, And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment? How long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be." — Job 7:17-21 (ASV)
Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man. But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the concern he has about his sins. The best men have to complain of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of it.
God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Savior of the souls of all who believe; but Job probably meant the Observer of men, whose eyes are on the ways and hearts of all people. We can hide nothing from Him; let us plead guilty before his throne of grace, so that we may not be condemned at his judgment seat. Job maintained, against his friends, that he was not a hypocrite, not a wicked man, yet he confesses to his God that he had sinned.
The best must acknowledge this before the Lord. He seriously inquires how he might be at peace with God and earnestly begs forgiveness for his sins. He means more than the removal of his outward trouble and is earnest for the return of God's favor. Wherever the Lord removes the guilt of sin, he breaks the power of sin.
To strengthen his prayer for pardon, Job pleads the prospect he had of dying quickly. If my sins are not pardoned while I live, I am lost and undone forever. How wretched is sinful man without a knowledge of the Savior!
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