“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Suffering has pushed Job past the point of holding back, and he decides to stop bottling up his words. Commentators differ on how to read what follows: a failure of self-control, a mark of real faith, or both.
The Turn Toward God
The word "therefore" marks a change of audience. Up to this point Job has been answering his friends. Now he speaks to God.
F. B. HoleBut in the second part Job clearly turned to God, and began to address Him with his bitter complaint. He realised his own littleness. He was not something great like a sea or a sea-monster. In verses 13-16 he cries out that even his nights are a torment. He feels that the dreams and visions of terror come to him from God. He loathes his present life and tells God that he wants to die.
Refusing to Restrain the Mouth
Job's resolve grows straight out of what he has been feeling. That is where the danger lies.
Leslie M. GrantHowever, Job bases his words on the feeling he has expressed. He says he will not restrain his mouth. He will speak in the anguish of his spirit and complain in the bitterness of his soul (v.11). If we give way to our feelings, the effect will always be the same: we shall not be able to restrain our mouths. Sober wisdom and concern for the truth will teach us to restrain our words. But our feelings will lead us to speak without thinking.
Spirit and Soul
Job names two parts of himself: his spirit and his soul. The Old Testament keeps those two words apart, and so does he.
The Christian's FriendOther passages in the Old Testament show that soul and spirit were not confused. Scripture knew them and kept them apart. Hezekiah said that he spoke in the bitterness of his "soul" (nephesh). He then adds, "In all these things is the life of my spirit (rooagh)" (Isaiah 38:15-16). And Job says, "I will speak in the anguish of my spirit (rooagh), I will complain in the bitterness of my soul (nephesh)" (Job 7:11).
What Job Could Not See
Job's words here are powerful poetry about the shortness of life. One writer weighs that poetry and finds it only half right.
Samuel RidoutThis is beautifully poetic, and true as far as man's view goes... It is the funeral song of human existence since sin brought in death. "But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him" (Psalm 103:15-18). Ah, Job sees only the dark side, for while he turns to God as he does here, it is not of mercy but of wrath that he speaks.
Complaint Aimed at the Right Person
Commentators differ on how to weigh Job's outburst. Grant hears unguarded feeling. Kelly, reading a later chapter, hears something better.
William KellyIt was a great relief to the tried man to speak out. He had completely failed to win their sympathy. But Job still preferred to speak plainly, and he had no difficulty in meeting anything they had to say... "As for me, is my complaint to man?" In the middle of all this he has the deep sense of having to do with God, and that is true piety.
Where the Complaint Ended
Later Job makes the same complaint again, this time straight to God. There the reason behind the whole ordeal comes into view.
Leslie M. GrantHe begins his complaint by repeating that his soul loathes his life. So he lets himself give free course to his bitter complaint, speaking straight to God... "Show me why You contend with me" (v.2). In one respect it was true that God was contending with Job, and Job did not learn why until the last chapter of this book. He needed this painful experience. It taught him that his own nature was sinful, and it showed him the pure grace and goodness of the Lord Himself.
When God finally answered, the man who would not restrain his mouth had nothing left to say.
Leslie M. GrantHe wanted God, but felt God had withdrawn from him and would not answer his prayers. How little he realised that God knew perfectly what Job was feeling and what he was thinking... In fact, when God finally dealt directly with Job, Job had no arguments to present to Him at all.
Summary
- Turn — "Therefore" marks Job turning from his friends to God, and from argument to open complaint.
- Depth — Two words, not one: anguish reaches his spirit (rooagh), bitterness his soul (nephesh). The pain runs through his whole inner life.
- Danger — Give feelings free rein and the mouth will not stay shut. Wisdom holds words back; feeling lets them go.
- Distortion — Job turns to God, but speaks of wrath instead of mercy. He sees only the dark side of the One whose steadfast love never ends.
- End — The complaint was not wasted. It drove Job to God, and when God answered, the mouth that would not stay shut had no arguments left.