CURSED BE THE DAY

Job 3:1-26

Saint Francis of Assisi addresses death saying: "You, very lovable and sweet death". Job would use the same language but for different reasons.

1. Job cursed the day of his birth (1-12)

Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth, because the pain of his illness was so large. He cursed the day of his birth by the womb of his mother. He cursed the day when he was born and breastfed. He didn't want that day to appear in the calendar as his birthday. He wanted the joy to fade in this day. He felt cursed even by the wizards (8), who could even rouse up Leviathan. To feel cursed by pagans is painful to God's people. This night was completely gloomy, without light. He would rather die at his birth than endure this pain.

2. I would have lain down and been quiet (13-26)

The sorrows of his life are compared with the quiet sleep of death, andthe  more he thought about death (13), the more he was fascinated by it. Here, the wicked stopped their trouble, the slaves quietly sleep, and also Job rests. Here it seems a heaven where there isn't discrimination of oppression. A little daily joy doen't have any sense because death comes. Instead of bread Job breathes sighs. He fears the next day. Life is without rest, nor quietness, but only trouble. Then, death is desirable, because God seems to have hedged in his life. Why is living necessary ?

Prayer: Lord, you are the sovereign. Job, a righteous man cursed the day of his birth. In his insurmountable calamity he cursed the day but not God.

Bottom line: cursed be the day of birth