Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked? Does it please YouThis phrase reflects Job's deep anguish and confusion. The Hebrew root for "please" is "רָצָה" (ratsah), which means to be pleased or delighted. Job is questioning God's intentions, wondering if God finds satisfaction in his suffering. This reflects a common human struggle to understand divine will, especially when faced with inexplicable hardship. It highlights the tension between God's sovereignty and human suffering, a theme that resonates throughout the book of Job. to oppress me
The Hebrew word for "oppress" is "עָשַׁק" (ashaq), which means to wrong or to exploit. Job feels as though he is being unjustly treated by God, which is a significant accusation given the cultural and religious context of the time. In ancient Near Eastern thought, gods were often seen as just and fair, so Job's accusation is both bold and desperate. This phrase underscores Job's feeling of being overwhelmed by his circumstances, a sentiment that many believers can relate to when facing trials. to reject the work of Your hands
Here, Job is referring to himself as the "work of Your hands," acknowledging that he is God's creation. The Hebrew word "מָאַס" (ma'as) means to reject or despise. Job is grappling with the idea that God, who lovingly created him, would now turn away from him. This phrase evokes the biblical theme of God's intimate involvement in creation, as seen in Genesis, where God forms man from the dust. Job's lament is a poignant reminder of the personal relationship between the Creator and His creation. and favor the schemes of the wicked
The word "favor" comes from the Hebrew "פָּנָה" (panah), meaning to turn towards or regard. Job is perplexed by the apparent success of the wicked, which seems to contradict the justice of God. The "schemes of the wicked" refers to the plans and actions of those who do not follow God's ways. This phrase captures the age-old question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, a theme explored in other biblical texts such as Psalms and Ecclesiastes. It challenges believers to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when immediate circumstances seem unjust. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning God's justice. 2. GodThe Almighty Creator, whom Job addresses in his lament, questioning His justice and the apparent favoring of the wicked over the righteous. 3. The WickedThose who oppose God's ways and seem to prosper despite their unrighteousness, creating a contrast with Job's suffering. 4. The Work of God's HandsRefers to Job himself and humanity in general, as God's creation, which Job feels is being unjustly treated. 5. The Schemes of the WickedThe plans and actions of those who do not follow God's ways, which seem to succeed in contrast to Job's plight. Teaching Points Understanding SufferingSuffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. Job's experience challenges the simplistic view that good is always rewarded and evil is always punished in this life. God's SovereigntyTrust in God's ultimate plan, even when His ways are beyond our understanding. Job's questioning reflects a deep struggle with this truth. The Prosperity of the WickedThe apparent success of the wicked is temporary. Scripture assures us that God's justice will prevail in His timing. Faith in TrialsJob's lament teaches us to bring our honest questions and struggles to God, maintaining faith even when answers are not immediate. Value of CreationRecognize the inherent value in being the work of God's hands, and trust that He has a purpose for each life, even amidst suffering. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Job's questioning of God in Job 10:3 reflect his understanding of God's justice, and how can this inform our own views on suffering? 2. In what ways can we relate to Job's feelings of being oppressed and rejected, and how can we find comfort in other parts of Scripture? 3. How does the theme of the prosperity of the wicked in Job 10:3 connect with similar themes in Psalm 73, and what lessons can we draw from both? 4. What does Job 10:3 teach us about the importance of bringing our honest emotions and questions to God in prayer? 5. How can we apply the understanding of being "the work of God's hands" to our daily lives, especially when facing challenges or feeling undervalued? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 73This Psalm reflects a similar theme where the psalmist struggles with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, ultimately finding solace in God's ultimate justice. Isaiah 45:9This verse speaks to the futility of questioning God's purposes, similar to Job's struggle with understanding his suffering. Romans 9:20-21Paul discusses God's sovereignty over creation, echoing the theme of questioning the Creator's intentions. People JobPlaces UzTopics Counsel, Cruel, Design, Designs, Despise, Despisest, Evil-doers, Favor, Favorably, Hands, Hast, Indeed, Kindly, Labor, Labour, Oppress, Please, Profit, Reject, Schemes, Seem, Shine, Shone, Shouldest, Shouldst, Smile, Spurn, WickedDictionary of Bible Themes Job 10:3 1265 hand of God Job 10:2-22 8615 prayer, doubts Library The Sweet Uses of Adversity
Now, I propose to address myself to the two classes of persons who are making use of this question. First, I shall speak to the tried saint; and then I shall speak to the seeking sinner, who has been seeking peace and pardon through Christ, but who has not as yet found it, but, on the contrary, has been buffeted by the law, and driven away from the mercy-seat in despair. I. First, then, to THE CHILD OF GOD. I have--I know I have--in this great assembly, some who have come to Job's position. They …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859St Gregory the Great (Ad 540-604)
PART I Gregory was born at Rome, of a noble and wealthy family, in the year 540. In his youth he engaged in public business, and he rose to be proctor of Rome, which was one of the chief offices under the government. In this office he was much beloved and respected by the people. But about the age of thirty-five, a great change took place in his life. He resolved to forsake the pursuit of worldly honours, and spent all his wealth in founding seven monasteries. He gave up his family house at Rome …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation Whether God Works in Every Agent?
Objection 1: It would seem that God does not work in every agent. For we must not attribute any insufficiency to God. If therefore God works in every agent, He works sufficiently in each one. Hence it would be superfluous for the created agent to work at all. Objection 2: Further, the same work cannot proceed at the same time from two sources; as neither can one and the same movement belong to two movable things. Therefore if the creature's operation is from God operating in the creature, it cannot …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Damned are in Material Darkness?
Objection 1: It would seem that the damned are not in material darkness. For commenting on Job 10:22, "But everlasting horror dwelleth," Gregory says (Moral. ix): "Although that fire will give no light for comfort, yet, that it may torment the more it does give light for a purpose, for by the light of its flame the wicked will see their followers whom they have drawn thither from the world." Therefore the darkness there is not material. Objection 2: Further, the damned see their own punishment, for …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Fire of Hell is of the Same Species as Ours?
Objection 1: It would seem that this fire is not of the same species as the corporeal fire which we see. For Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx, 16): "In my opinion no man knows of what kind is the everlasting fire, unless the Spirit of God has revealed it to anyone." But all or nearly all know the nature of this fire of ours. Therefore that fire is not of the same species as this. Objection 2: Further, Gregory commenting on Job 10:26, "A fire that is not kindled shall devour him," says (Moral. xv): …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica That a Man Ought not to Reckon Himself Worthy of Consolation, but More Worthy of Chastisement
O Lord, I am not worthy of Thy consolation, nor of any spiritual visitation; and therefore Thou dealest justly with me, when Thou leavest me poor and desolate. For if I were able to pour forth tears like the sea, still should I not be worthy of Thy consolation. Therefore am I nothing worthy save to be scourged and punished, because I have grievously and many a time offended Thee, and in many things have greatly sinned. Therefore, true account being taken, I am not worthy even of the least of Thy …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The Sad Case of a Relapse into Known and Deliberate Sin, after Solemn Acts Op Dedication to God and Some Progress Made in Religion.
1. Unthought of relapses may happen.--2. And bring the soul into a miserable case.--3. Yet the case is not desperate.--4. The backslider urged immediately to return, by deep humiliation before God for so aggravated an offence.--5. By renewed regards to the divine mercy in Christ.--6. By an open profession of repentance, where the crime hath given public offence.--7. Falls to be reviewed for future caution.--8. The chapter concludes with a prayer for the use of one who hath fallen into gross sins, …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Fourth Continental Journey.
1842-3. In the journey which now lay before them, John and Martha Yeardley were about to explore a part of Europe hitherto untried,--the province of Languedoc, conspicuous in past ages for its superior enlightenment, but now, owing to the temporary mastery of error, wrapt in ignorance and gloom. In this mission, the opportunities which they found for reviving and gathering together the scattered embers of truth, were nearly confined to social intercourse; in seeking occasions for which, they availed …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel Whether Christ Went Down into the Hell of the Lost?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ went down into the hell of the lost, because it is said by the mouth of Divine Wisdom (Ecclus. 24:45): "I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth." But the hell of the lost is computed among the lower parts of the earth according to Ps. 62:10: "They shall go into the lower parts of the earth." Therefore Christ who is the Wisdom of God, went down even into the hell of the lost. Objection 2: Further, Peter says (Acts 2:24) that "God hath raised up Christ, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica In the Work of the Redemption of Man, not Only the Mercy, but Also the Justice, of God is Displayed.
In the work of the Redemption of man, not only the mercy, but also the justice, of God is displayed. 15. Man therefore was lawfully delivered up, but mercifully set free. Yet mercy was shown in such a way that a kind of justice was not lacking even in his liberation, since, as was most fitting for man's recovery, it was part of the mercy of the liberator to employ justice rather than power against man's enemy. For what could man, the slave of sin, fast bound by the devil, do of himself to recover …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life The Beginning of Justification. In what Sense Progressive.
1. Men either idolatrous, profane, hypocritical, or regenerate. 1. Idolaters void of righteousness, full of unrighteousness, and hence in the sight of God altogether wretched and undone. 2. Still a great difference in the characters of men. This difference manifested. 1. In the gifts of God. 2. In the distinction between honorable and base. 3. In the blessings of he present life. 3. All human virtue, how praiseworthy soever it may appear, is corrupted. 1. By impurity of heart. 2. By the absence of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Job 10:3 NIVJob 10:3 NLTJob 10:3 ESVJob 10:3 NASBJob 10:3 KJV
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