PRESENT BITTERNESS

Job 30 PRESENT BITTERNESS Chapter 30 is in sharp contrast to chapter 29 in which Job had recounted his past with a calm, dignified account of his personal and family life, and also his public life in society. In this chapter we read the bitter lament of a suffering man in the terrible condition of his present state. This chapter goes beyond the effects of painful suffering and the emotional upset of one nearing death. In this part of his discourse, Job lashes out at the humiliating treatment he is receiving from the basest of men, and even more startling, at what he considers cruelty from God.

Who can know or describe the extreme pain and hurt of body, soul and spirit another person goes through unless they have passed through a similar calamity? Usually people try to hide the thoughts of bitter anguish and antagonism they have against those who afflict them. But in this part of Job's monologue he lets everything hang out in his bitterness toward man and God.

There is a dark side to human nature that seems to enjoy seeing those who are successful being brought down in shame and disgrace. If one who had been a strong leader is found out in some sinful matter, there is a sense of vindication in those whose own sin has given them a bad conscience. If one who has a godly reputation as a spiritual preacher and/or teacher falls in some way, there may be an unspoken thought of self- justification for some personal guilt.

People often rally together in their attacks against an unfortunate soul who has been brought down from the heights of popularity to a place of quivering helplessness. They soon are made an outcast for no known guilt, but supposition makes people think the worst of people when gossip. "Aha, he has been hiding something and now he is getting his comeuppance!" That seems like it was the state of mind of Job. He had suffered the loss of everything and was experiencing the awful pains of some terrible sickness that affected his bones, his skin and his whole physical being until even his face seemed to be disfigured and he considered himself no more than dust and ashes.

"Now" there was even more suffering caused by the taunting of young people. There were the children of those who were moral and social outcasts who formed gangs that preyed on the sick and afflicted. For some reason those young people seemed to find a sick satisfaction in tormenting, mocking and bringing further humiliation on Job. Unfortunately, there are those today who pick on old people and those who are down and out as targets. Job was their target of choice as far as he was concerned.

Scavenger dogs are commonly seen in may countries of the world and are despised animals that people do not want to be near. As far as Job was concerned, he didn't want those people even near his flocks of sheep. Job compares those who were antagonistic toward him like those animals in their character. The fact that a man who had been dignified and respected, well known for his kindness to the poor and wise in his counsel, did not make any difference to those outcast gangs of young people who taunted and ridiculed him, and made up songs against him.

Instead of being shown any respect, he was despised. Instead of being honored he was humiliated by the lowest people in society. In their disrespect of him they did not hesitate to push and poke at him, casting off any restraint as they tried to add to the suffering he was already going through. This same characteristic is increasing among young people today who seem to think they are entitled to what other people have earned without taking any responsibility for their meeting their own needs. Those who came after Job were the kind of people who apparently wanted to be the outcasts of society as long as they could make people afraid of them. Without moral and personal restraints, they were a rabble crowd of dissolute people who chose to oppose accepted normal and ordered behavior in a community.

They were not described as disadvantaged people, but rather those who were against that which was honorable and right for their own evil intents and purposes. They focused on Job like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. As far as Job could see, their aim was to bring him down to a painful humiliating death. To him "terrors" engulfed him as he cried out to God and got no answer.

"Days of affliction" and nights of pain took their toll on Job's whole being. It was then he cried out in desperation to God but even in his frustration, he did not name Him. At the first reading of the text, it seems like he has stepped over the boundary of propriety toward God in his use of words. With words of extreme agitation Job expresses his despair at all he was going through. He didn't hold back from opening up his emotions to full exposure before God. It seemed to Job like he was a God of cruelty. Poetic usage of language sometimes takes a person's thoughts and words beyond normal speech in seeking to express that which defies common words. Taking liberties in the use of words does happen in some cases.

Job was concerned he was going to die without the truth behind his suffering being known. His cries and prayers for help had received no answer. He had listened to other people in distress when they had called out to him and he helped them. But when he called, no help nor mercy came. There is a certain degree of desperation we can come to in which about all we can do is fall on our face and howl like and injured beast. We just can't take any more. It is in times like that we think thoughts and use words that would have been better not said. When all we have worked for, struggled for and hoped for, disintegrates before our eyes, what can we do to alleviate our desperation?

Job's physical appearance because of the sickness that was on him, had not only estranged him from society, but it turned his skin dark and his very bones ached with terrible pain. his voice was fading and he was getting to the place where he could barely articulate words. He did not curse God, but in his mind, and the words he spoke declared that as far as he was concerned, God was responsible for what happened to him.