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If that night never existed, no babys life could begin then. And Job would not be born. Jobs parents would not be glad about his birth. But Job thought that their happiness was stupid. He thought that their happiness caused his pain. Verse 8 Job was angry about the day when he was born. He wanted people to curse that day. He did not care if they woke a crocodile! A crocodile is a strong animal. If you wake a crocodile, it will attack you! God spoke about the crocodile in Job chapter 41. The crocodile is like a terrible enemy. The crocodile is like Satan (the devil). Satan always accuses the people who trust God. Satan wants to attack us. Satan is very evil. Verses 9-10 People are glad to see light in the early morning. Then, they know that daylight is beginning. Then, their troubles in the night will not continue. Perhaps they were afraid during the night. But they would be safe during the daytime. But Job was not glad that he saw the light. He wished that he was dead. Jobs original ideas about death v11 I would be happier: if I died at birth; v12 if my mother never looked after me; if my mothers breasts had no milk. v13 (If I had died,) I would not suffer now. Instead, I would be lying down. And I would be like someone who sleeps. v14 I would rest, with the worlds great kings and advisers. Their great buildings are now heaps of stone. v15 Or, I would rest with the rulers who collected gold and silver. v16 My mother should have buried my body in the earth. I would be like a child who was born dead. v17 In their graves, wicked men do not cause trouble. And tired people rest. v18 Slaves are free. They hear no commands from their masters. v19 Everyone is there, whether that person was important or not. And nobody serves anyone else. Verses 11-12 Job imagined that he had died as a child. Job thought that death was beautiful because of his terrible troubles. He thought about dead bodies. Dead bodies seem to be asleep. And Job wished that he could sleep too. Jobs ideas about death were not wholly right. Later in the Book of Job, Job would learn many more things about death. For example, Job learned that he will live after his death (Job 19:26). But Job did not yet know about heaven and hell. Verse 13 Job thought that his body would sleep after his death. He would not suffer then, he thought. Verses 14-15 These men worked hard. They built palaces. They led great armies. They achieved many things. But now, they must sleep. Their palaces are heaps of stone. Someone else owns their gold and silver now. And their bodies lie near the body of a child whom nobody knew. If we do not trust God, we waste our lives. Our greatest possessions will be worth nothing when we die. We will lose all our wealth on this earth. So we should live our lives to prepare for heaven. See Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33-34; Luke 12:16-21.
Verses 17-19 In this world, some people are important. And other people are not important. But when they die, God will be the judge of everyone. And God will be fair to everyone (Revelation 20:12). Nobody can enter heaven because that person was rich. Nobody can enter heaven because that person was famous. Nobody can enter heaven because that person was important. Nobody can enter heaven unless that person is born again (John 3:3). This means that we must invite God into our lives. God will change us if we trust him. People whose lives are terrible v20 I do not know how sad people continue to live. Their spirits suffer such bitter pain. v21 They want to die. But they are still alive. They would prefer to die, than to discover gold. v22 When, at last, they are dying, they are glad. v23 I do not know what will happen to me. It is as if God has placed a hedge round me. v24 Food and water do not help me. Instead, I cry because of my pain. v25 I have suffered the most terrible troubles. The things that made me afraid have happened. v26 Instead of rest and quiet, I have trouble. Verses 20-22 Job was able to sympathise with other people because of his own troubles. Job always cared about other people (Job 29:12-17). But now Job knew how they suffered. Verse 23 The devil complained that God was protecting Job. The devil said that God was like a hedge round Job (Job 1:10). Job was also aware of this. But Job did not realise that God was protecting him. Job was saying that his troubles were like a hedge round him. So Job could not escape from his troubles. Verses 24-26 Job wanted rest and quiet. He even wanted to be dead, so that he could sleep. But instead, he was always suffering. Nothing seemed to help him. And nothing comforted him. Jobs friends were sad when they heard Jobs speech. They did not want Job to suffer. And they did not think that Job deserved to suffer. Eliphaz spoke first. He was sure that God would help Job. So, Eliphaz tried to encourage Job. Eliphaz wanted to give hope to Job.