Hello everyone! Today’s Bible study is on the Chapter of Job 14 – Job Speaks Of Life’s Woes. According to Bible scholars, the events of the book of Job took place approximately before 2100 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Job 14 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Job 14 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you wanted to know. All the scriptures highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Job 13, we read how Job defended himself in front of his friends. Well, in this Bible study on Job 14, we will read about Job’s discourse on life’s woes. Job 14 is a continuation of Job 12 and 13. Job answers his friends in these three chapters.
Without any further delay, let us begin the Bible Study on Job 14, shall we?
A Man’s Days Are Short
1 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
In Verses 1-2 of Job 14, Job says that a man’s life is short and full of troubles. He compares man’s life to that of a flower that fades away. He also likens man’s life span to a shadow that flees.
Job Desires Rest
3 And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And bring me to judgment with Yourself?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
5 Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
6 Look away from him that he may rest,
Till like a hired man he finishes his day.
In Verses 3-6 of Job 14, Job asks God how He could bring judgment on a frail man whose life is like a short-lived flower and a shadow. He further says that no one can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing. The days of man’s life and limits are determined and set by God. He asks God to look away from him for a little while so that he can rest before he passes away into eternity.
There Is Hope For A Dead Tree
7 “For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
In Verses 7-9 of Job 14, Job says there is hope for a tree. If a man cuts down a tree, it will grow again, and its tender shoots will continue to come forth without ceasing. Even when the roots of the tree (the foundation) grow old and even when its stump dies, it shall grow again and bring forth branches and buds when water touches it. Hence, a dying or a dead tree has hope of being revived and living again. Unfortunately, it is not so with a dead man.
A Dead Man Has No Hope
10 But man dies and is laid away;
Indeed he breathes his last
And where is he?
11 As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
12 So man lies down and does not rise.
Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.
In Verses 10-12 of Job 14, Job says when a man dies, he has no hope of living again in his physical body. He disappears from the face of the earth. He likens the death of a man to the parched sea and the parched river. A dead man lies down and does not get up again for all eternity. No one can awaken a dead man.
According to Job, a tree has a better chance of living again after it dies when compared to a man. However, a man once dead is dead. He has no chance of waking up again or living again.
Note
Thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, everyone who accepts Him has eternal life. They live again after they die – not on earth but in Heaven. A man’s body might sleep, but his spirit doesn’t die. It must go to either Heaven or Hell.
Job Wants To Hide From God’s Wrath
13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
In Verse 13 of Job 14, Job asks God to hide him in the grave and conceal him until his anger subsides. He wants God to appoint him a set time and remember him and his integrity and loyalty to God.
Observation
Job’s illness, by that point in time, was too much for him to bear. He wanted to die to have relief from his illness. Since death couldn’t come soon enough for him, he wanted some relief, at least until he died.
Job Waits For His End
14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
15 You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
In Verses 14-15 of Job 14, Job asks if a man shall live again after dying. He says that he will wait for his end, for he has toiled hard in his life and has undergone hardships and torment. Job compares his life’s troubles to the hard service of a labourer. He tells God to call him when He desires him and when his end has come, and he would gladly answer Him. After all, he (and every creation) is the work of His hands and He can desire him (and any of His creations) anytime.
Job Wants God To Overlook His Sin
16 For now You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You cover my iniquity.
In Verses 16-17 of Job 14, Job asks God to look away from his sin. He says God has sealed up his transgressions (sins) in a bag and numbers his steps to bring judgment on him. Job feels that God is punishing him.
The Hope Of Man Is Destroyed
18 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
And as a rock is moved from its place;
19 As water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
So You destroy the hope of man.
In Verses 18-19 of Job 14, Job says God destroys the hope of man. He compared a man’s destroyed hope to a few things:
1) To a mountain that falls and crumbles;
2) To a dislodged rock;
3) To stones wearied by water;
4) And to the soil of the earth washed away by torrents.
A mountain is big. Yet, when it falls, it crumbles and becomes nothing more than rubble. A stable rock, when moved away, leaves no trace of its presence. Running water destroys a stone, that seems sturdy and unbreakable, by touching it constantly and wearing it away. The earth’s soil seems steady from where trees and plants grow and life thrives. Yet, when gushing torrents flow, they take it away with them.
Job compares a man’s unfailing hope to steady and mighty things such as a mountain, a rock, a stone, and the soil. They seem to be stable and immovable. However, they, too, can be destroyed and disappear without a trace.
Man’s Soul Will Mourn Over Destroyed Hope
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his countenance and send him away.
21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,
And his soul will mourn over it.”
In Verses 20-22 of Job 14, Job says God will always prevail against man. When a man dies, God changes his countenance and sends him away from the face of the earth. A dead man does not see nor perceive his sons who come to honour him. His sons (a dead man’s sons) are trampled upon and looked down upon. Yet, he does not know it because he is dead and does not see or hear. However, the flesh of a dead man (his body) will be in pain and grieve over its dead inhabitant by decaying. And, a man’s soul (mind, will, and emotions) will mourn for him because he was once alive, and now he is dead and cannot perceive anything.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of the Bible Study on Job 14. It is a sobering and sad chapter to study, especially the last few Verses from 18 to 22. We can see Job’s physical and mental torment expressed through each Verse in Job 14. His discourse of hope deferred was profound and heart-stirring. What are your thoughts?
If you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below.
Until Next Time!