Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

In this chapter Job first bewails his miserable fate, of which he expects no alleviation (verses 1-10). No, he does not expect his suffering to go away or to lessen. Therefore, he claims an unlimited right to complain (verse 11). At the close, he admits his sin (verse 20), but asks why God does not pardon it instead of visiting it with such extreme vengeance (verse 21).

How did Job view life? He said: “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1). The ASV translates it as: “Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?”

The picture is of a soldier in warfare, who is exposed to hardship. Hence, man’s life is like a warfare. We are constantly fighting and struggling. Job also used the term “hireling”. A hireling is one who is engaged to do a work. He works until his service is no longer needed. And, as hired soldiers, we must serve until our warfare is accomplished and then we can go home.

Job has been fighting for so long. He wishes that the fight is soon over and he can return home and collect his reward: “As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work” (Job 7:2). Job is still wishing that he could die.

Life is the same for us too. We are constantly engaging in warfare. At times, we too wish that our tired bodies could just take that eternal rest. The fighting stops only when life ends; that’s when our services are no longer needed and we collect our reward.

The brevity of life is taught in the bible: "For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14b). Seventy to eighty, that’s the years of our hireling according to Psalms 90:10. The scriptures say we are soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). How much of these seventy-years are engaged as a soldier of Christ?  

Everything on this earth belongs to God – our life, talents, possessions, and time. We are just stewards of those things that God has given to us. A steward is a person who manages and administrates what has been entrusted to him by another. God has entrusted us with time. Hence, it behoves us to use time wisely: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

The Psalmist wants us to consider the shortness of life and the certainty of death. If you had known you will die today, how would you spend your time? The prayer, therefore, is that we live each day as if we will meet God today. We will be like King Hezekiah and set our house in order (2 Kings 20:1).

The idea of a hireling also means he will be paid for his labour. Job looked forward to his reward (Job 7:2). All workers look forward to pay day. Likewise, when our struggles on this earth is over, it will be pay day time. Paul looked forward to pay day: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Our time on earth is limited and short. But heaven cannot be measured, nor the days of heaven numbered. Therefore, let us consider the shortness of life and the certainty and speediness of death so that we may heartily devote ourselves to serving God. And, as good soldiers of Christ, we will receive our reward (Revelations 14:13). Are you looking forward to the reward?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.