REPOST FROM AUGUST 24, 2026

 Mary Lynne Webb

August 24

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Job 7

We can all understand how Job must have felt, even if we have not personally experienced the suffering he endured. In the first three verses of chapter 7, Job’s words are consistent with what scripture teaches us about the fall of man to sin when Adam and Eve believed the lies of the serpent. This is the fate of all men for as long as the Lord tarries in His Triumphful Return. 

Genesis 3:17-19

Amplified Bible

17 Then to Adam the Lord God said, “Because you have listened [attentively] to the voice of your wife, and have eaten [fruit] from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’;

The ground is [now] under a curse because of you;

In sorrow and toil you shall eat [the fruit] of it

All the days of your life.

18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;

And you shall eat the plants of the field.

19 “By the sweat of your face

You will eat bread

Until you return to the ground,

For from it you were taken;

For you are dust,

And to dust you shall return.”

We don’t all work the fields, but we even the “white collar workers” work for wages that are used to supply the needs of their families, deal with stress that is overwhelming, yet they continue to work to provide food, clothing, and shelter. These particular statements of Job are universal in one way or another.  

As we move to verses 4 through 6 we see specific examples of Job’s personal suffering. He can’t sleep at night because of his physical pain and longs for the morning, but in the morning his suffering remains. Some of us understand this personally, others have observed this type of suffering in those we love, and others can only imagine how this might feel. I watched my husband scream out in agony during the night, and sit in his suffering during the day. Neither we nor God fault a person for expressing the pain of physical afflictions. It’s a little more difficult to understand Paul’s response to his suffering, and especially to apply it to ourselves. Job’s suffering was because of his faith in God, not because of his lack of faith. Paul’s suffering was because of his faith and commitment to share the gospel with us Gentiles. How grateful we are that God chose to include us in His gift of salvation. 

Colossians 1:24-29

Amplified Bible

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I [a]supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]— 26 that is, [b]the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people). 27 God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed]. 29 For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.

For us to personally apply this concept, we must be willing to hear what God teaches us through His indwelling Spirit. Is our suffering a discipline for our unrepentant sin? Is it to draw us closer to God as we turn to Him? Is He glorifying Himself in ways that we may never understand. Is our suffering for the advance of the gospel? I have had friends and family who have suffered greatly with pain from cancer, diabetes, and other health afflictions yet who used these opportunities to share the gospel and encourage others who were also suffering. 

In verses 7-10 Job talks about the inevitability of death. The Old Testament does not talk about the resurrection of the dead specifically. David hints at it when his first child with Bathsheba dies. He says he can not bring the child back but that he can go to the child, indicating an eternity in heaven. Even in the historical context of the New Testament, the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead, but the Pharisees did.  This particular difference in Jewish theology got Paul out of several dangerous situations. Job’s words are consistent with that lack of understanding of life after death. As believers in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial and substitutionary death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, we have a better perspective of what our physical death means. Paul explains this.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Amplified Bible

51 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “Death is swallowed up in victory (vanquished forever). 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].

In verses 11 through 21, Job speaks honestly about his anguish. I think that sometimes we are afraid to honestly talk to God about our circumstances, or struggles, or our suffering. If we think about it though, that just sounds silly. He already knows all our thoughts before we think them. Job asks God “why” questions, questions that reflect his mental, emotional, and physical suffering. He doesn’t understand. I think this is probably the toughest question for me too as I read the book of Job. I wonder why God allowed Satan to attack Job. We understand suffering, trials, and tribulations from a New Testament perspective. Job didn’t have that information. 

Hebrews 12:1-3

Amplified Bible

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

James 1:2-3

Amplified Bible

2 Consider it nothing but joy, my [a]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].

1 Peter 1:6-7

Amplified Bible

6 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We will see in the last few chapters how God answers Job’s questions, rebukes his friends, and restores him to an even more prosperous life than he had before. We also will have a better life when we are resurrected to spend eternity with God in Heaven