Job 7:17 Commentary and Bible Study

‘What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?’ Calvin compares these words with David’s words in Psalm 8:4, ‘What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?’ and argues that they have an entirely contrary meaning to what Job says here. David intends to exalt God’s infinite goodness in that he condescends to look on creatures so far beneath him. If man is considered in himself, he is seen to be so poor a creature that God ought to have no respect for him at all. Nevertheless God has made man to have dominion over all his creatures, and has particularly glorified him in Christ, and for this David is full of praise. But Job’s meaning is that he wishes God to go far away from man and leave him alone. He is not giving thanks like David, but uttering a complaint. He asks God to remove his gaze from man and stop testing him, for man is not able to bear such scrutiny. To Job, God’s providence is a source of anxiety not of comfort. To him, it is like a great and powerful noble fixing his attention on a lowly labourer in his kingdom and requiring him to live up to his standards. Job regards this as a form of persecution because the two are so unequal. God’s attention only seems to bring suffering and fear upon man, and therefore he would rather that the Lord turned away from him. It is a source of discomfort and trouble for man to be watched so closely by one who is so much greater than him. ‘How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?’ This is meant in a bitter spirit. ‘Why am I being dealt with in this way?’ Job feels that he is not given a moment’s relief. One trial is quickly follows by another; he has scarcely recovered from one blow before the next falls. One consciousness of guilt leads to another. There is no let up. ’I cannot do the smallest thing’ – by implication, I cannot make the smallest slip you coming down on me like a ton of bricks. ‘I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?’ This reads like a confession of sin, but in context it is not that. ‘I have sinned’ says Job – this is poor repentance – ‘but what do I do to thee?’ How does my sin affect you, that you examine my life so minutely? I don’t deserve this harsh treatment. The phrase ‘O thou preserver of men’, is better translated ‘O thou watcher of men’ and this is more consistent with the thought of the passage. God is our preserver, but Job is complaining about God’s excessive scrutiny. ‘You are watching man too closely; he cannot endure it.’ ‘Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?’ Other versions have, ‘Why have you set me as your target?’, or ‘made me your mark?’ a rendering which develops further the same idea. Why have you singled me out for special attention. Job is now thinking not of mankind as a whole but of himself in particular. God is being vindictive to him and it has made his life a misery. His very existence is a burden to him. Every conscious moment is further torment. Was this really what God created man for? he asks. Oh Lord, why did you make man special, higher than the animals, if you are going to treat him as you are treating me? Why, if all you would do is find fault? We must never question God or dream that he is being unfair.‘And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.’ He almost demands God’s pardon. It is very impertinent language. Who that sought the Lord would expect to receive his forgiveness if they approached in this spirit? He seems to think that if he is forgiven, he will be healed again. No, there are other reasons for sickness besides punishment. He says resentfully, ‘One day I will die and never be a nuisance to you again.’