Job Asks if Humans Will Live Again
February 3, 2020
Commentary
In this chapter, Job turns from confidence in his ability to defend himself before God to deep sorrow over life’s frailty and death’s certainty. He says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (v. 1). Trouble is common to all—sickness, loneliness, disappointment, and loss. Job feels life is unfair. Since no person is sinless, he wonders why God deals so strictly with mankind. His words reflect honest pain and a searching heart in deep personal anguish.
Job compares human life to a flower that quickly fades and to a shadow that disappears (v. 2). Our days are limited and appointed (vv. 3–6). He asks whether there is hope beyond death. A tree, though cut down, may sprout again (vv. 7–9). But when a person dies, where is his hope? Water evaporates and cannot be gathered again (v. 11). Yet Job senses that God will one day call, and he will answer (v. 15). He longs to be hidden until God’s anger passes and to be remembered (v. 13), in God’s appointed and merciful time.
Job asks, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (v. 14). Death seems like release from life’s burdens, yet uncertainty troubles him. The Old Testament reveals little about resurrection, so his struggle is understandable. Still, it is remarkable that Job believes God might hide him in death and bring him forth again, according to His faithful promises.
He feels that God counts every step and seals up his sins (vv. 16–17). If mountains erode and stones wear away, how can fragile humanity endure (vv. 18–19)? Man is overpowered and sent away (v. 20). Earthly hope fades, and sorrow fills his view (vv. 21–22). Job speaks as one overwhelmed, seeing life only from an earthly perspective, without yet seeing God’s eternal plan and purpose.
Application
When life feels short and unfair, do I bring my honest questions to God, as Job did? Or do I hide my pain? Do I remember that my days are in His hands? When I fear death or loss, can I still trust His faithful promises? I want to live wisely today, knowing life is brief, and place my hope not in this world, but in God’s eternal plan.
Job 14:1–22 (NET)
1 “Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.
2 He grows up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.
3 Do you fix your eye on such a one? And do you bring me before you for judgment?
4 Who can make a clean thing come from an unclean? No one!
5 Since man’s days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.
6 Look away from him and let him desist, until he fulfills his time like a hired man.
7 “But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.
8 Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil,
9 at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.
10 But man dies and is powerless; he expires—and where is he?
11 As water disappears from the sea, or a river drains away and dries up,
12 so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.
13 “O that you would hide me in Sheol, and conceal me till your anger has passed! O that you would set me a time and then remember me!
14 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my release comes.
15 You will call and I —I will answer you; you will long for the creature you have made.
16 “Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.
17 My offenses would be sealed up in a bag; you would cover over my sin.
18 But as a mountain falls away and crumbles, and as a rock will be removed from its place,
19 as water wears away stones, and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man’s hope.
20 You overpower him once for all, and he departs; you change his appearance and send him away.
21 If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it.
22 His flesh only has pain for him, and he mourns for himself.”
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