Job 19:7

Commentary on Job 19:7 (KJV)

Job 19:7 captures the raw anguish of a man in profound despair, feeling utterly abandoned and unheard by God. In this verse, Job articulates his deep sense of injustice, crying out for vindication that never seems to come. It's a poignant expression of the human experience of suffering and the perplexing silence of the divine during trials.

Context

This verse is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically in his response to Bildad. By this point in the narrative, Job has lost his children, his wealth, and his health, and is enduring the relentless accusations of his three friends, who insist his suffering must be a direct result of his sin. Job vehemently denies their premise, maintaining his integrity and longing for a fair hearing from God Himself. His cries here are not just a complaint, but a desperate plea for justice from the very one he believes is afflicting him. This period of intense suffering and perceived divine neglect is a central theme in the Book of Job, exploring the complexities of faith amidst inexplicable pain.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Cry for Justice: Job's primary lament is his overwhelming sense of injustice. He feels wronged ("cry out of wrong"), not merely by circumstances or his friends, but by God, who he perceives as refusing to acknowledge his innocence or intervene on his behalf.
• Unheard Pleas: The phrase "I am not heard" highlights Job's spiritual isolation and the terrifying feeling that his prayers and desperate shouts are falling on deaf ears. This sense of divine silence is often more agonizing than the suffering itself.
• Absence of Judgment/Vindication: Job longs for "judgment" (mishpat), which in this context means a just ruling or vindication. He seeks a divine courtroom where his case can be heard fairly, and his righteousness affirmed, but finds no such intervention.
• The Problem of Suffering: This verse encapsulates a core theological problem of the Book of Job: how can a righteous person suffer so intensely without apparent cause, and why does God seem silent in the face of such agony?

Linguistic Insights

• "Wrong" (Chamas - חָמָס): The Hebrew word used here, chamas, is strong. It doesn't just mean a mistake or misfortune, but often implies violence, injustice, or oppression. Job feels he has been subjected to a profound, violent injustice. This word is also used to describe the wickedness that led to the flood in Genesis 6:11.
• "Heard" (Shama - שָׁמַע): The verb shama means more than just to perceive sound; it implies listening with attention, understanding, and often, responding or obeying. Job's complaint is that God is not actively listening or responding to his plight.
• "Judgment" (Mishpat - מִשְׁפָּט): This term refers to justice, a legal decision, or a fair ruling. Job is crying out for God to execute justice on his behalf, to set things right, and to vindicate him. His expectation is that a just God would provide this.

Related Scriptures

• Job's lament echoes throughout the book, particularly in passages where he yearns for a hearing with God, such as in Job 23:3-4, where he expresses a desire to "come even to his seat."
• Similar cries of feeling unheard or forsaken are found in the Psalms, a common theme in the laments of David, for example, in Psalm 22:2, where the psalmist cries, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not."
• Despite Job's immediate experience, the Bible consistently affirms that God does hear the cries of His people, even if His response or timing is not what we expect (1 John 5:14).
• Ultimately, the Book of Job culminates in God's direct response to Job, not always providing the answers Job sought, but revealing His sovereignty and wisdom, leading Job to a deeper understanding and renewed faith.

Practical Application

Job 19:7 resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced prolonged suffering, injustice, or a period of perceived divine silence. It validates the human emotion of feeling unheard by God.

• Honest Lament: This verse gives permission to honestly express our pain, confusion, and even anger to God when we feel wronged or ignored. The Bible encourages such raw honesty in prayer.
• Perseverance in Prayer: Despite feeling unheard, Job continues to cry out. This models perseverance in prayer, even when answers are delayed or unclear. Our faith is often tested in the waiting.
• Trust in God's Sovereignty: While God's judgment may not come in our timing or in the way we expect, the full narrative of Job reminds us that God is ultimately just and sovereign. Our limited perspective cannot always grasp His infinite plan or His ultimate vindication.
• Empathy for the Suffering: This verse fosters empathy for those undergoing severe trials, reminding us not to quickly attribute their suffering to sin, but to listen and lament with them.