The Theology and Philosophy of Death and Dying According to Job - Job 14

Job 14:5-6 (ESV)

Since his days are determined,

and the number of his months is with you,

and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,

look away from him and leave him alone,

that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.

When you are depressed and ready for your death you can become both philosophical and theological.   But, you might be off on your accuracy of both.   Job is in a bad spot.  His family is gone, is wife is fatalistic, his friends are condemning and his God, in his mind, has either abandoned him, or given him undue scrutiny.  In the above text Job is speaking to God about man (himself) and creates an argument in his head.   His first thought is the confession that God has “determined” his (man’s and subsequently Job’s) days and months of life.  If the word “determine” is an exact translation this would indicate that God has given man an exact expiration date.   There is some debate about the translation of the word to our English equivalent.   But, when you add the other words used:

“... number of months ...”. 

“... appointed his limits ...”. 

... you would be hard pressed to not see Job’s point.  Job is saying he has an termination date.   All mankind has.  It would appear by Job’s words that God has set a time for man to die and man should beware of that theological thought.  That is in keeping with other passages about age and dying (Psalms 90:9-12; Psalms 39:4-5).  But, Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-11) did pray for and received more time to live (15 years).  But, that would seem to be the exception based upon his prayer and not the general principle of God’s sovereignty.   God determines how and when we will die.   

Although Job’s theology is accurate, his philosophical conclusion was not.   He believes that since God has determined his days, God should, in return, just leave man alone and let him live out those days.  He wants God to “look away” from him.  He wants to just “enjoy” his days in his own comfort, if even as a “servant.”    Job has, in his depression, recognized God’s sovereignty over his days, but not God’s sovereignty over his life.   God does not create and ignore the creation.  God does not redeem us with His Son’s death, only to leave us on our own.  Like an old retried man, Job thinks he should have the privilege of dying in peace and quiet.   This passage in John sheds some light on God’s thoughts about dying as Jesus is speaking in front of the other disciples about John:

John 21:18-19 (ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

God may bring things into our lives (like Job) even after we have secured our position in life and are meant, in our mind, to have our end be full of kids, grandkids and golf.   But, God can have other ways for us to “glorify” Him in our end days.   Job was theologically correct (God determines our end) but philosophically wrong in what God wants for man in the end.   We can’t have God sovereign and still want freedom to do what we want.   God has both determined our end and the way it will end.  Out role is to walk in faith with that purpose in mind.