# Job Chapter 3
---
## Summarrium
After seven days of silent mourning, Job finally breaks his silence and pours out his anguish. He curses the day of his birth, wishing it had never existed and longing for death to release him from his suffering. He laments that those who die find rest and peace, while the living—especially those in misery like him—must endure pain and despair. Job questions why life is given at all to those who suffer deeply.

## Lectio
The full chapter is available [here](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%202&version=ESV)

## Meditatio
The concept of a 'curse' stood out to me in this passage. There appears to be various different kinds of curses that occur within scripture and this is one extended example that takes up the entire chapter. Cursing in general entails making a spoken declaration that calls down harm, misfortune, or divine judgment upon someone or something. When God curses others it is a form of judgement upon them such as the curse placed upon the serpent, the woman and the man following the fall[^1]. 

There are also covenantal curses that an individual or community can bring upon themselves through disobedience. This is distinct from what we find in the passage given they are not brought about through an utterance but rather through acts or omissions of the Law of God. Many such curses are outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut%2028%3A15-58&version=ESV). So cursing in scripture is a withdrawal of favour or the presence of judgment and suffering.

For me the lament between verses 11 and 19 resonate most strongly. There are times when I wish that I wasn't. There are times when I question what value I bring, and what value the suffering I experience brings to the world. Its a sure sign that I have lost perspective and here after seven days of silence we see a stark contrast to the Job who in verse 10 makes the argument *'Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?'*. Now it has eaten at Job and he has reached an all time low.

## Oratio
Lord thank you for the mercy and grace shown to me and my family. Thank you that you have not treated me as I deserved. Help me to see with the eye that sees me. Help me to see what you see.

---
[^1]: See [Genesis 3:14–19](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A14%E2%80%9319&version=ESV)