Job 7:20

In Job 7:20, we hear Job's anguished cry, a raw expression of his profound suffering and his desperate plea to God. This verse encapsulates his bewilderment at his afflictions, questioning God's actions even as he admits to sin.

Context

This verse comes amidst Job’s intense lamentation and his dialogue with his friends, particularly after Eliphaz and Bildad have offered their initial, unhelpful counsel. Job is grappling with immense physical pain, loss of family and fortune, and social ostracism, all without understanding why. He feels God has become his adversary rather than his protector. His earlier expressions of faith (e.g., Job 1:21, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.") are now overshadowed by a deep sense of abandonment and a desire for relief from his unbearable existence. He perceives God as actively targeting him, rather than remaining the "preserver of men" he knows Him to be.

Key Themes

• Profound Despair and Perceived Abandonment: Job feels utterly forsaken by God, seeing himself as a target rather than a recipient of divine care. He questions God's motives and wonders what action on his part could appease a seemingly hostile Deity.
• Confession of Sin (Ambiguous): Job admits, "I have sinned," but this isn't necessarily a confession of specific wrongdoing that warrants his suffering. It's more likely a general acknowledgment of human imperfection, or perhaps a desperate attempt to identify any reason for his plight, even if it means taking responsibility for unknown transgressions.
• God as "Preserver of Men": Job appeals to God's known character as the one who watches over and guards humanity. This title highlights the paradox Job perceives: how can the Preserver become the Destroyer in his own life?
• Feeling Targeted by God: The imagery of being "set as a mark against thee" suggests Job feels like an object for divine attack, a target for God's arrows, leading to the crushing weight of being "a burden to myself."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "preserver of men" translates the Hebrew nōṣēr hāʾādām (נוֹצֵר הָאָדָם), which literally means "one who guards," "watches over," or "keeps" mankind. Job uses this title to emphasize the perceived contradiction in his experience: the God who normally protects is now, in his view, actively afflicting him. The term "mark" (מִקְדָּע, miqdāʿ) signifies a target or butt, reinforcing Job's feeling of being singled out for divine affliction. His rhetorical question, "what shall I do unto thee?", reflects his utter helplessness and confusion in the face of what he believes is God's direct opposition.

Practical Application

Job's cry in Job 7:20 resonates with anyone experiencing deep suffering or inexplicable hardship. It reminds us that:

• It's Okay to Lament: The Bible gives voice to raw human emotion, including despair and questioning God during trials. Job's honest lament is a model for bringing our true feelings before God.
• Understanding God's Ways: Our limited human perspective often struggles to comprehend divine purposes, especially in suffering. Job's wrestling eventually leads to a deeper, though not fully explained, understanding of God's sovereignty (e.g., Job 42:5, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.").
• God's Character Remains: Even when we feel targeted or abandoned, God remains the "preserver of men." Our feelings, while valid, do not always reflect the full truth of God's unchanging nature and His ultimate plan, which includes working all things for good for those who love Him.