James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

     Job spoke as one who was bitter over living months filled with suffering from a body covered with boils; confused about why God will not allow him to die.

     In Chapter 14 it appears Job leaves talking to the three men to speaking in a personal way to the LORD. Is it a direct prayer, maybe?  Or is Job speaking again as he did in Chapter 10 for the benefit of his three friends, hoping they will learn the truth?

When Job used he (V2), his (V5), him (V6) he is spoke about mere man in general, but he also spoke in the third person testifying that he knew he was jusy a mere man, nothing when compared to the LORD.

V14:1-2 with 5:7; 8:9; James 4:14. Job stresses how short our physical life on this earth really is. Job learned first hand just how temporary treasures accumulated can be. The book of Job is a cross reference to what Jesus said in Mat 6:19-25.

V14:3-4 Questions not statements

·       Do you (The LORD look upon or consider mere man? (7:17; Ps 8:4)

·       Are you (The LORD) judging me? With this question Job makes it personal, he is the mere man he asked God about. (speaking in the third person)

·       V4 Who can make an unclean man clean? Notice how Job answers this question: No one: Not his friends or himself (But God Ps 51:2,10) – No man, even Job, can make himself clean enough to stand clean before God in judgment (9:32-33)

V14:5 with 7:1 and Acts 17:26 Job knew just how little control of man has over his life he. God numbers man’s days and his bounds.

V6, 13a Knowing God was in control Job wonders why God would not allow him rest (die). Again as in 7:1-2 Job likens the reward of his being allowed to die as hireling being able to rest when his daily work is accomplished.

 V7-12, 16-22 In these verses Job, in his confused and mentally exhausted state, summed up man’s (his) true life and death. 

·       These verses with Ecc 1:1-8 helps us understand why Job would consider his death as his time of rest and reward.

Conflict within Job’s heart is seen. Job knew the trouble came upon him without cause and he would be be justified concerning the iniquity his friends accused him of (Job 13:8).

But here in Chapter 14 Job makes it clear that even though he fears God and eschewed evil he still could not stand clean before God on his own. Job 13:16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him

V13b-14, 15 In These verses along with V19:25-26 Job explained why he considered death as rest and reward.

·       Job puts forth a question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Of course the answer is you will not come out of the grave to start your life over again. But Job knew life did not end with death.

·       V14-15a Job said he would wait until the time came for him to die and his change would come.

• James 5:11b Ye have heard of the patience of Job .  .  .  
• PS 37:9, 123:2
• Job never hinted that he would take his own life. We would wait until God’s appointed time for him to die and than his change would come. But in Job’s heart he asked, “God can’t you hurry this up a little bit?”

V15b God’s desire to “the work of His hand.

·       God’s desire to the work of His hands: James 5:11b  .  .  . Ye have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

·       Ps 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Job 13:3,8

·       1Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.