Verses 1-22

Job"s challenge to God ch10

This whole chapter, another prayer (cf. Job 7:7-21), is a cry to God for answers: "Let me know why ..." ( Job 10:2). God"s silence intensifies sufferings. Notice the legal setting again, especially in Job 10:2. Job again claimed to be not guilty ( Job 10:7).

"It is a remarkable fact, apparently unobserved by commentators, but very revealing of Job"s mind, that in none of his petitions does he make the obvious request for his sickness to be cured. As if everything will be all right when he is well again! That would not answer the question which is more urgent than every other concern: "Why?"" [Note: Andersen, p152.]

Job marveled that God would expend such care on him from the womb to the tomb only to destroy him ( Job 10:8-17; cf. Job 10:11 with Psalm 139:13). Again Job expressed a desire to die ( Job 10:18-22; cf. ch3; Job 6:8-9). He evidently had little revelation concerning life after death. For him death opened the door to a land of shadows, gloom, and darkness ( Job 10:21-22), but he welcomed it as better than life as he was experiencing it. Each of Job"s speeches so far concluded with some reference to death and gloom ( Job 3:21-22; Job 7:21; Job 10:21-22). He was a broken man.

"If we are tempted to criticize [Job], we should ever remember that in the whole Book God lays no charge against His child. Terrible things were these which Job uttered about God, but at least they were honest." [Note: Morgan, p206.]