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Job 6-7 – Praying through the Bible #160 – A Prayer About Rash Words
Pain brings rash words. That is the explanation – or rationalization – of Job to Eliphaz (Job 6.3). He does what is so easily and commonly done; He blames God: “Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks of their poison. God’s terrors are arrayed against me” (Job 6.4). Job’s physical suffering is compounded by mental suffering brought on by spiritual confusion. God is not listening (6.8-9). Not only is disease killing Job, so is God’s silence.
Death is not Job’s enemy. His “unrelenting pain” (6.10) makes life unwanted. Death is not an enemy also because “I have not denied the words of the Holy One” (6.10). Our relationship to God defines our death. Job has loss all hope for this world (6.13). The world becomes meaningless to us when we no longer see meaning for us.
Job’s perspective on life changes when becoming ill: “(1) Isn’t mankind consigned to forced labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand? (2) Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hired man he waits for his pay” (7.1-2). He who had hired hands now considers his life like those he once hired. This should give perspective. Life is more than temporary blessings or burdens. Having flesh crawling with maggots changes how the mind sees (7.5). The question is, should it?
Job explodes with rash words once again: “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul” (7.1). Rashly he questions God’s perspective on man, wondering if man is a sea or sea monster needing to be controlled. (7.12). God is everywhere, which annoys Job. He can’t even escape God in sleep or dreams (7.13-14). Irrationality controls our thinking when suffering insomnia or a lack of rest. Job would rather be strangled than go on (7.15). And yet strangely – remember rationality has been forsaken – despite praying for God to kill him; now he prays God will leave him alone (7.16).
Then Job asks the question the entire Bible is written to answer; but he thinks the answer is contrary to reality: “What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him?” (7.17). He thinks divine curiosity with man brings destruction, just like how pagan gods interfered. While God’s care is contrary to reality; Job does not think this proves love. Job wonders why too much attention is paid to something so worthless. As in, why is a boy so interested in a bug then squashes it? “If I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I have become a burden to You?” (7.20). Job can’t see that God thinks so highly of mankind that He will send His Son as suffering’s final answer. Jesus will endure sin’s arrows, and drink the poisonous cup even though we have lived like maggots.
Prayer Challenge: Pray rashness and irrationality will not overcome in times of trial so that we blame God for our suffering and can’t see His love in His Son.
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