Bible Commentaries
Job 10

Verses 1-22

Notwithstanding all this, Job appealed to God. Turning from his answer to Bildad, he poured out his agony as in the presence of the Most High. It was by no means a hopeful appeal, but it was an appeal. He asked why God can contend with him, and with a terrible and yet sincere daring, born of affliction, he suggested questions:

Does God delight in what He is doing? Is God's vision faulty as man's that He cannot see? Are God's days and years brief that He is afraid Job may escape Him?

Following these questions, came his great appeal, which is also in the form of a question. God has made him. Why does He destroy him? This thought he carried out in detail on both sides, describing first his creation, and the graciousness of God's past dealing with him; and then the affliction, and his own inability to plead his cause. Once again he asked why he had been born, and in terrible anguish cried for God to let him alone a little that he might have brief respite ere he passed into death. The deepening of his sorrow is seen in this dark description of death. On a previous occasion it had been a land of rest and cessation, but now it is a place of darkness devoid of order. If we are tempted to criticize, 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.