Job 7:17

Job says this in a complaining, badly-behaved spirit: Why does the LORD take such notice of me, and make such a trouble about me? Why does He not depart from me, or let me alone until I swallow down my spittle? Why should the LORD think so much of me, and not cut me off?

Here it is man under the discipline of God; under the moral government of God. "Oh," he says, "what is man, to be under such a tremendous government as this? If I were a sea I would not feel it. If I were a big whale, I might endure more than I can now. But what is man?" — poor, sensitive man, full of his nerves and his feelings, his mind embittered by his outward trial. "Oh!" he said, "end it! end it!"

Scripture asks three times, "What is man?" Job asks it (chapter 7), the remnant asks it in Psalm 144, and the Spirit of Christ asks it in Psalm 8. Job asks it because of God's care over such an insignificant thing as he was. He exclaims, "What is man?" He says, in effect, "Why should You think of me, consider me, a poor worm?" That is what man is. Then the remnant, smarting at the hands of their enemies, ask, "What is man?" ... But in Psalm 8 it is the Spirit of Christ who asks, "What is man?" And the answer is JESUS, the Man according to the whole counsel of God.

If things had stopped there, the experience would probably have harmed Job. He might have said with self-satisfaction that he had stood true to God in good times and in suffering. Chapter 29 makes it plain that a weed of self-satisfaction was already growing in him. He himself probably did not see it, but it was plain enough to the holy eye of God. So God went on with the work at the point where the enemy had to give it up.

The interest of God in the individual soul, though so hard for Job to explain at that moment, is most precious. What greater proof could we have of its reality than the book we are speaking about? Think of it: one of the largest books of the Bible is taken up entirely with the story of God's dealings with one soul — and a man who was not even of Abraham's line! Such was God's interest in His servant that He did not "look away" from him, nor "let him alone," despite his prayer. He went forward with His gracious work until it was finished, and the full blessing of it had been reaped.

Job, with all his outward perfection, had not yet seen God as he was to see Him... How blessed, then, when we have seen Him indeed, to know that every step we take in the way is a matter of concern to Him! — that there is not an hour of the day but He has some thought as to how we should spend it!

Not until chapter 40 does Job discover he is vile, and stop speaking. It is then he begins to enter into what man is... In good times his goodness gave him a basis for self-satisfaction. Now in trouble — sent to remove this — he complains! Such is man under instruction. Not until he says, "My eye sees You," does he say, "Therefore I despise myself."