A Righteous Plea for Death

Job 4-7; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:25-26

 

Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off! Then I would still have this consolation--my joy in unrelenting pain--that I had not denied the words of the Holy One. What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? – Job 6:8-11

 

Do believers ever want to die? This one did. Job had been wealthy, and his wealth had been taken away. He had been healthy, and now his body was covered with sores. He had been the loving father of ten children—seven sons and three daughters—and they had all died in one giant calamity. His wife was urging him to give up on his integrity, to “curse God and die.”

 

He’d had enough.

 

Even so, Job’s hope was that he could manage to cling to “the words of the Holy One.” If everything else turned out wrong, Job did not want that to turn out wrong—he did not want to end his life rejecting the LORD’s words.

 

But Job recognized his weakness. He was overwhelmed. He really did not feel that he had any strength at all. He could not hold on. He could not walk in God’s words, and he could barely even overcome the temptation to stop listening to them entirely. He was discouraged. In pain. Grieving. Destroyed . . . almost.

 

And so he pleaded for death. Not because he was ashamed of his life. Not because he had given up on God. Not because he had been destroyed. Not because he had lost his integrity. Job pleaded for death because he felt that he was almost there. Almost ashamed. Almost giving up on God. Almost destroyed. Almost without integrity. Job pleaded, “God, take my life before the almost fades into shame and disgrace, before I have the chance to dishonor You.”

 

Job’s burning desire was to honor God, but he didn’t know how he could keep it up. So rather than fail to honor God, Job wanted to die.

 

Father, may I prefer death over a life that dishonors You, too. Throughout my life, keep me faithful to You no matter what. Please, may my family have such a deep commitment to Your Word, too. May we all know that Your Word is our life and depend fully on You.