After the devastating events of chapters 1 and 2 Job goes into silent mourning for seven days. After those seven days Job breaks his silence with this lament. In this chapter Job wishes he was never born, he wishes for release from his troubles, he feels a kindred spirit with others who are suffering. Indeed, although I’m not sure many of us reading this have gotten to the point of legitimately wishing we were not born, but I’m sure we can all relate to verse 26 which closes this chapter:

26 I cannot relax or be calm;

I have no rest, for turmoil has come.

Job 3:1-26 (CSB)

3 After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. 2 He said:

3 May the day I was born perish,

and the night that said,

“A boy is conceived.”

4 If only that day had turned to darkness!

May God above not care about it,

or light shine on it.

5 May darkness and gloom reclaim it,

and a cloud settle over it.

May what darkens the day terrify it.

6 If only darkness had taken that night away!

May it not appear among the days of the year

or be listed in the calendar.

7 Yes, may that night be barren;

may no joyful shout be heard in it.

8 Let those who curse days

condemn it,

those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

9 May its morning stars grow dark.

May it wait for daylight but have none;

may it not see the breaking of dawn.

10 For that night did not shut

the doors of my mother’s womb,

and hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 Why was I not stillborn;

why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

12 Why did the knees receive me,

and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.

Then I would be at rest

14 with the kings and counselors of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

15 or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

16 Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child,

like infants who never see daylight?

17 There the wicked cease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

18 The captives are completely at rest;

they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.

19 Both small and great are there,

and the slave is set free from his master.

20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter,

21 who wait for death, but it does not come,

and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

22 who are filled with much joy

and are glad when they reach the grave?

23 Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden,

whom God has hedged in?

24 I sigh when food is put before me,

and my groans pour out like water.

25 For the thing I feared has overtaken me,

and what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I cannot relax or be calm;

I have no rest, for turmoil has come.

Questions for Contemplation and Discussion

1. Does Job going so far as wishing he had not been born, possibly wishing for his own death get him into the realm of sinning against God? Why or why not? Does it matter that its under extreme circumstances that result in extreme emotions?

2. What does it mean for you as a Christian today that thoughts like these are included in the Bible, that thoughts like these are in the realm of what God has considered that we may feel?

3. Have you ever felt that things were hopeless? How did you react? Have you ever tried to comfort anyone who felt hopeless? What worked and what didn’t?

4. We have discussed how Job’s life is in some ways a reflection of Christ’s suffering. How does Jesus’ reaction to the sufferings He endured compare to Job’s? Is it a fair comparison?

5. I haven’t touched too much on the details of this chapter, trying not to lose the forest for the trees. Are there any specifics you would like to call out for discussion?