Job 6 ~ God would grant what I long for

The book of Job: When the Morning Stars Sang Together, painted by William Blake. 1825

Job 6 (American Standard Version)

1
Then Job answered and said:
2
Ah, could my anguish but be measured and my calamity laid with it in the scales,
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They would now outweigh the sands of the sea! Because of this I speak without restraint.
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For the arrows of the Almighty pierce me, and my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5
1 Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?
6
Can a thing insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white of an egg?
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I refuse to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
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Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for:
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Even that God would decide to crush me, that he would put forth his hand and cut me off!
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Then I should still have consolation and could exult through unremitting pain, because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One.
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What strength have I that I should endure, and what is my limit that I should be patient?
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Have I the strength of stones, or is my flesh of bronze?
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Have I no helper, and has advice deserted me?
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A friend owes kindness to one in despair, though he have forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
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My brethren are undependable as a brook, as watercourses that run dry in the wadies;
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Though they may be black with ice, and with snow heaped upon them,
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Yet once they flow, they cease to be; in the heat, they disappear from their place.
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Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the desert and perish.
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2 The caravans of Tema search, the companies of Sheba have hopes;
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They are disappointed, though they were confident; they come there and are frustrated.
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It is thus that you have now become for me; you see a terrifying thing and are afraid.
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Have I asked you to give me anything, to offer a gift for me from your possessions,
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Or to deliver me from the enemy, or to redeem me from oppressors?
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Teach me, and I will be silent; prove to me wherein I have erred.
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How agreeable are honest words; yet how unconvincing is your argument!
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Do you consider your words as proof, but the sayings of a desperate man as wind?
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You would even cast lots for the orphan, and would barter away your friend!
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Come, now, give me your attention; surely I will not lie to your face.
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Think it over; let there be no injustice. Think it over; I still am right.
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Is there insincerity on my tongue, or cannot my taste discern falsehood?


The Bible is a road map God has given us for life on earth. He has seen all of life for millenniums. One of my theories about the purpose of life, is for our souls to mature and allow us to grow up and go home. Job is a difficult book in the Scripture to read, no one really wants to know about deep suffering. But instead of being run over with extreme experience or grief, God gives us Job to understand what true grief is like. Job is hard, let's read a different book, but Job is hope as well.

My first experience with the permanence of death was the loss of a friend in 3rd grade, who really suffered with Leukemia. I really grieved for him and his family. I've had some depression in my life and understand sadness, but nothing prepared me for the death of my dad when I was thirty. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most painful, how bad was it? It was probably a 72. I had no idea the scale could go higher than 10. I experienced what Job felt too. Please, someone take the crushing weight of this sadness, just for a moment. A friend to carry it. But grief must be dealt with internally. Sometimes grief is like having to carry an elephant. I felt this again when my daughter died.

~ Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for

Job found something important, Father God does not forget us. In His way and in His time, God does grant the requests of our heart and soul. Just as Job learned to wait upon the Lord and trust Him, we will too. In His time, we will stand and rejoice in being part of His Victory!

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