Job 3:9

As we go through this book, we must not miss the exquisite beauty of the expressions, both of Job and of all who speak. For if the Spirit of God has seen fit to inspire a writing, He would have us note its form as well as its contents. So in verse 9 the margin of our version reads, "Neither let it see the eyelids of the morning." Another rendering has, "Let it not refresh itself with the eyelids of the dawn" — poetry indeed of exquisite beauty.

In this first part Job curses the day of his birth, wishes that it could be blotted out of the calendar, because it allowed his birth. He desires that that day and night never come into remembrance — so that the very recurrence of the day that was a reminder of his existence might cease.

This was not directly blaming God. But however little he realised it, he was blaming God indirectly, because it was God who gave him life… He was moved by his anguish, not by faith.

He felt himself as if in the hands of arbitrary power, suffering for what he had not done. He sees no way of escape, and so he wishes for death… As long as his sufferings were outward, or physical, Job was calm. But when he let doubts of God's goodness in, he collapsed.

But notice this. Though Job gives way to his feelings in this passionate outburst, he did not renounce God. There is not a word of rebellion against Him. All through his answers to the arguments of his friends he does not lose sight of God. Again and again he expresses confidence in the unseen One, as in that matchless saying, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (13:15).

We can say with confidence: no one who had learned even a little to say "Your will be done" could ever curse his day, or use the language of Job 3… Job was a true saint of God. But he needed to learn himself, as we all do. He needed to see the roots of his own moral being laid bare, so that he might truly abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes.

Let us contrast all these godly men with the matchless Sufferer. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Ah, He never failed. The intensity of His sufferings only gave the occasion for the display of His sinless perfection.

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, with their feet fast in the stocks. Their thoughts were not of cursing the day of their birth. They brought songs in the night.