Mark A. Copeland
The Book Of Job
Job's Soliloquy (3)


OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To consider Job's soliloquy, which starts the "great controversy" between Job and his friends

2) To appreciate the depth of Job's complaint, why he wished that he had never been born

3) To note the questions he raised as he sought to understand the problem of suffering

SUMMARY

Having sat in silence for seven days in the presence of his friends who had come to comfort him, Job
finally speaks. In the form of a soliloquy, he begins by cursing the day of his birth and the night of his
conception for failing to prevent his sorrow (3:1-10). He then bemoans why he did not die at birth or
even be stillborn, for then at least he would be at rest, just like those who were great in their lifetime, or
like those who had been oppressed (3:11-19). Job also wonders why the suffering who long for death
are allowed to linger. He concludes by stating that what he most greatly feared has now come upon him:
trouble, from which there seems to be no rest (3:20-26).

OUTLINE

I. JOB'S CURSE (3:1-10)

A. HE CURSES THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH...
1. Not just the day of his birth, but also the night of his conception
2. Because of the sorrow that has come his way
-- I.e., he wished he had never been born

B. IN THIS HE RESEMBLES JEREMIAH...
1. Who had an unpopular ministry - Jer 20:14-18
2. Who experienced much suffering like Job

C. AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER...
1. Both expressed a desire never to have been born
2. Yet neither Job or Jeremiah for a moment considered the possibility of suicide
3. They might have questioned the Lord's wisdom, but they did not dare take the precious gift
of life with which He endowed them (Wayne Jackson)

II. JOB'S QUESTIONS (3:11-19)

A. WHY DID HE NOT DIE AT BIRTH?
1. Then he would have been at rest
2. He would be with those who were great and powerful in their lifetime

The Book Of Job 13
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