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Job

CHAPTER 14

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Life is not without its problems and difficulties. We are born to die. Our days are indeed few. The young do die at times, and the old must die -- unless our Lord returns before that event.
We trouble ourselves and trouble comes from just being in the world because the world is full of sin.

3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

Job's question is related to the shortness of time in life: "God, are You bringing me into judgment ALREADY?"
Since man is born in sin, and has but a short time, how can he make any part of his life clean?
God has already determined the life-span of each individual (verse 5). And God has determined it short so that man will not have to live in the sinful conditions of this eart for a very long time. That was accomplished by GRACE.
Since God is gracious and kind, why would he bring man into JUDGMENT for sinfulness?
The fact is, God does NOT! He brings us instead to REALIZATION of sinfulness, so that we will realize the NEED of our Saviour!
Just because trouble comes to us upon this earth, we shouldn't blame God. WE are the sinners. God is trying to show us the way of salvation.
And the only COMFORT we can have in this life is if God will also be gracious enough to allow us to live with HOPE (Verse 6). That is, if God will not indeed bring us to judgment for every sin during our lives.

7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Job is not questioning the fact of death being part of our time on this earth. He is questioning whether God's treatment of sin is without grace.
Every tree in the forest suffers difficulty, but it has hope of life in its root.
Our root being in God, and our hope being in salvation, we depend upon GRACE in this present life.

11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Again, let me point out, that, in Job's day, God had not yet revealed that a saved man goes immediately to be with the Lord upon the moment of death.
Job considers the grave to be a place of rest until God comes for final judgment.
Therefore his request is that instead of suffering so much, he be allowed to die. At least then, he would have rest until God come for final judgment.

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Classic question here: "If a man die, shall he live again?" And the answer is YES!!
Job realizes that, and he says he shall wait until that time comes.
He shall wait until God "CALLS," him out of death and brings him to life again. He KNOWS that resurrection is a FACT.
He realizes that God has a desire to fellowship with man (verse 15) whom He has created for fellowship with Him.

16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

If God knows every "step" of a man, then does God not ALSO know his sin? Certainly.
And, still, Job questions if God is dealing with EACH sin in judgment and chastising instead of granting grace.
No matter what happens on the earth: whether mountains stand or fall, or all the rocks erode away, God PREVAILS over all mankind (verses 17-20).
And God changes our countenance by chastising us for our sin at times. But does God indeed deal with EVERY sin in chastisement? NO!
His GRACE also PREVAILS!! PRAISE GOD!!
We indeed have pain and suffering as long as we are on this earth (verse 22).
Therefore, let us have that HOPE in the GRACE of God to look upon us through the love of Christ and pour out blessings and mercy upon us.

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