Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
Job complains that he was born. (1–10)
Job complaining. (11–19)
He complains of his life. (20–26)Verses 1–10
For seven days Job's friends sat by him in silence, without offering consolidation: at the same
time Satan assaulted his mind to shake his confidence, and to fill him with hard thoughts of God.
The permission seems to have extended to this, as well as to torturing the body. Job was an especial
type of Christ, whose inward sufferings, both in the garden and on the cross, were the most dreadful;
and arose in a great degree from the assaults of Satan in that hour of darkness. These inward trials
show the reason of the change that took place in Job's conduct, from entire submission to the will
of God, to the impatience which appears here, and in other parts of the book. The believer, who
knows that a few drops of this bitter cup are more dreadful than the sharpest outward afflictions,
while he is favoured with a sweet sense of the love and presence of God, will not be surprised to
find that Job proved a man of like passions with others; but will rejoice that Satan was disappointed,
and could not prove him a hypocrite; for though he cursed the day of his birth, he did not curse his
God. Job doubtless was afterwards ashamed of these wishes, and we may suppose what must be
his judgment of them now he is in everlasting happiness.
Verses 11–19
Job complained of those present at his birth, for their tender attention to him. No creature comes
into the world so helpless as man. God's power and providence upheld our frail lives, and his pity
and patience spared our forfeited lives. Natural affection is put into parents' hearts by God. To
desire to die that we may be with Christ, that we may be free from sin, is the effect and evidence
of grace; but to desire to die, only that we may be delivered from the troubles of this life, savours
of corruption. It is our wisdom and duty to make the best of that which is, be it living or dying; and
so to live to the Lord, and die to the Lord, as in both to be his, Ro 14:8. Observe how Job describes
the repose of the grave; There the wicked cease from troubling. When persecutors die, they can no
longer persecute. There the weary are at rest: in the grave they rest from all their labours. And a
rest from sin, temptation, conflict, sorrows, and labours, remains in the presence and enjoyment of
God. There believers rest in Jesus, nay, as far as we trust in the Lord Jesus and obey him, we here
find rest to our souls, though in the world we have tribulation.
Verses 20–26
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 an ill frame for death when so unwilling to live. Let it be our constant care to