Job 7

Job 7:1

Job, a servant of God An EasyEnglish Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Job

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Chapter 7 Job continues his reply to Eliphaz Job wants to die v1 But in this world, men must work so hard. We are like the workers that other people employ for the day. v2 And I am like a slave who waits for the evening. Or, I am like a worker who must wait for his pay. v3 So, I have been sad for months. And I am miserable every night. v4 At night, I lie down. I think, ‘My nights are so long.’ Then, I wait until dawn. But my body is not still. v5 My body is painful. And my skin is sore.

Chapter 7

This is a very sad chapter. Often we do not realise when our friends are sad. Perhaps our friends are brave, so they do not want to upset us. Or perhaps they do not know how to explain their troubles. But God knows our friends’ worse feelings. And God cares about our friends when they suffer. So we too should care about them.

Verses 1-2

A worker waits to receive his wages for his day’s work. But Job thought that he would receive no reward for his good deeds.

A slave waits for the evening, when he can sleep. His master cannot control the slave by night. And sleep is the only reward that the slave receives for his day’s work. But Job could not sleep because he was too ill (verse 4).

Like the worker and the slave, Job waited. But Job was waiting to die. Job’s death was the only reward that Job expected. Then, at last, Job would not suffer.

Job did not yet realise that God would reward Job in heaven (Revelation 21). But God would soon teach this fact to Job (Job 19:25-27).

Verses 3-5

Job could not sleep by night, because of his pain. Instead, he waited for the dawn. This is very sad. But perhaps Job was starting to have some hope.

Daylight begins to shine at dawn. And light has a special meaning in the Book of Job. Job said that the grave would be dark (Job 10:21). Bildad said that a wicked man does not belong in the light (Job 18:18). Job said that some evil people love the darkness (Job 24:13-16). And God described how he creates the light each morning (Job 38:12-15).

So, in the book of Job, ‘light’ means good things. And ‘darkness’ means bad things.

In verse 4, Job said that he was waiting for the dawn. So, he waited for the light to shine. God created the light so that darkness will not last always (Job 38:13). And God created the morning so that the activities of evil men would end (Job 38:15). Job’s sad prayer v6 But my days are short. And they will soon end, because I will die soon. v7 God, remember my weakness! My life lasts only while I am able to breathe. I shall never be happy again. v8 You can see me now. But (when I die), you will not see me again. You will look for me. But you cannot find me then. v9 A cloud disappears; and a dead man does not live again. v10 He will never return to his house. The people who knew him will forget him.

Verses 6-7

Job was very ill. He did not know when he would breathe for the last time. But God controls our lives. Job would not die until the time that God chose (Job 2:6).

Verses 8-10

Job had many wrong ideas about death. He thought that a man was like a cloud. A cloud simply disappears. So, Job thought that a man could not live after his death. Job even thought that God could not see a dead man.

Later, Job realised that these ideas were wrong. In Job 14:7-9, Job thought about trees. Even if a tree seems dead, a tree can sometimes grow again. And in Job 19:26-27, Job realised that he would see God after his death. In Job 38:17, God explained that he knows every place. God knows where dead people belong. Job complains because of his troubles v11 These facts upset me; and I cannot remain silent. So, I shall speak. My spirit is angry. So, I will complain.

v12 Perhaps God must control the sea, so that it does not flood the land. Perhaps God must guard the great animals in the sea. But God, you do not need to control me.

v13 I think that I should sleep. Perhaps some rest will bring me relief. v14 But if I sleep, I see terrible dreams! So, I am afraid. v15 I would prefer to die. v16 I hate my life. I do not want to live always. God, let me be alone! My life means nothing.

Verse 11

Job thought that a dead man would not live again. But Job did not think that this was fair. Job loved God (Job 1:21). Job wanted to meet God (Job 13:22). Job wanted to be really wise (Job chapter 28). Job wanted to read God’s words (Job 31:35-36). Job wanted to be like a prince, who would meet God (Job 31:37).

Job did not think that these things could happen. He just wanted to die so that he would not insult God (Job 6:10). He did not think that dead people could be wise (Job 28:22).

Job did not realise that God would answer Job (Job 38:1). Job did not expect to see God (Job 42:5). These things happened during Job’s life. Heaven will be much better than this life (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).

Verse 12

Job was right. God controls the sea. See Job 38:8-11. And God controls great animals, like the crocodile (Job 3:8 and Job chapter 41).

Job thought that God was using these terrible troubles to control Job. But Job was wrong. God was not Job’s enemy. Job’s enemy was the devil, called Satan. Satan is like the crocodile. Satan is a strong enemy. And Satan is always trying to attack us.

Verse 13

Job could not sleep because of his pain – see verse 4.

Verse 14

Job was referring to Eliphaz’s dream. See Job 4:13-21. Eliphaz thought that this dream would help Job. But really, the dream only frightened Job. Job had enough troubles already! He did not want to think about Eliphaz’s terrible dream!

Verses 15-16

Job did not want to suffer always. So, he did not want to live always. He did not realise that nobody suffers in heaven – Revelation 21:4. He did not realise that heaven is like a wonderful party – Isaiah 55:1-3. Heaven is the home that God prepares for us – John 14:2.

But we should trust Jesus, so that we can go to heaven (John 14:6). This is why we should invite God into our lives. Job asks why God watches him v17 God, I do not see why a man is special to you. You watch that man. v18 You test him daily. In fact, you are always testing him. v19 I wish that you would look away from me. But you do not even leave me for a second. v20 If my actions were evil, they could not hurt you. You watch all men. So, I do not see why you chose me to suffer.

Surely, I do not cause trouble for you, like a workman’s heavy load.

v21 You could excuse my evil deeds. And you could forgive my errors. But soon I will die. You will look for me. But you will not find me when I am dead.

Verse 17

Job was special to God (Job 1:8). Job knew this. But Job did not know why. God watched Job because Job was God’s servant (Job 2:3). But Job supposed that God had become Job’s enemy. Job thought that God was attacking Job. So, Job was afraid of God.

Christians are special to God. God chose us to be his people (1 Peter 2:9). God is not our enemy. God is our friend (John 15:13-15).

Verse 18

God allows our troubles so that we will learn to trust God more (Hebrews 12:7-11). Later Job realised this (Job 23:10).

Verse 19

God watches us, because he cares about us. He is always helping us. If God did not watch us, we would die immediately. See Job 34:14-15. But Job wanted to die (verse 15).

Verse 20

God watches everybody. But Job was God’s servant. So, Job was special to God. Job supposed that God chose Job to be God’s enemy. But in fact, God was Job’s friend.

Verse 21

Job supposed that God would never excuse Job’s errors. Job thought that, perhaps, God was punishing Job for some evil deed. Job was a good man (Job 1:8). But nobody is perfect (Romans 3:23). However, God was not punishing Job. Job was suffering because Satan attacked Job (Job 2:7).

Job said that God could forgive Job’s evil deeds. And Job was right about this. In fact, God wants to forgive us (Isaiah 1:18). This is why Jesus died. Jesus died to suffer the punishment for our evil deeds (Romans 3:24-26). So we must invite God into our lives (John 1:12).

© 2005, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

October 2005

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