An Appointed Time

Sometimes the transliteration from the original writings to a modern-day text aren’t the best. Sometimes a word or phrase just isn’t given a proper or complete treatment. Sometimes it’s all a matter of objectivity or subjectivity of the scribe or translator. Or, as in the case that often happens with the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the words and phrases that the original text were translated into, have changed their meanings from when first written. For example, the word “conversation” in the KJV has nothing to do with talking and everything to do with how we live our lives.

When this occurs multiple times within a verse or phrase, a little bit off with this word here and a little bit off with that word there, it can create a lot off in the overall meaning and context of the complete statement. This first verse of Job Chapter 7 is such a case. This is a very important verse. We really need to know what is being communicated here.

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

From a cursory reading of the verse, one would understand that each of us has an appointed time here on earth and that time spent here is like that of someone who has been hired. I’ve never thought of my self as an employee here on earth although I do understand that my time here is finite. But that’s not what is being said here.

Let’s break this verse down to its components and take it back to the original language. Let’s also see what some of the theologians and manuscripts from the past have to say about it.

The phrase, “Is there not an appointed time” is transliterated from the Hebrew, “tsaba”. Strong’s Concordance defines this to mean a mass of persons, especially organized for war. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has it as an army, a host that is going forth to war.

John Gill, the 18th century English Baptist minister and theologian writes that the word, "Enosh", here used for man, “signifies, as is commonly observed, a frail, feeble, mortal man; Mr. Broughton renders it "sorrowful man".”

“Hireling” from the Hebrew, “sakiyr” means hired laborer and sometimes mercenary.

I have rendered this verse from Job as, “Is there not a war for mortal man here on earth? Is not his time here like the time of a mercenary?”

Transliterating hireling to be mercenary doesn’t seem to be a very popular choice among the great scholars and expositors. But it does relate better to the battle of a Christian soldier.

Adam Clarke, the 19th century theologian shows us how this verse was written in some of the original manuscripts.

The Septuagint: "Is not the life of man a place of trial upon earth?"

The Vulgate: "The life of man is a warfare upon earth?"

The Chaldee: "Is there not a continual campaign ordained for mortals upon the earth?"

Clarke goes on to add, “I believe the simple sentiment which the writer wished to convey is this: Human life is a state of probation; and every day and place is a time and place of exercise, to train us up for eternal life. Here is the exercise, and here the warfare: we are enlisted in the bands of the Church militant, and must accomplish our time of service, and be honorably dismissed from the warfare, having conquered through the blood of the Lamb; and then receive the reward of the heavenly inheritance.”

This image of warfare, of being a soldier, and fighting a spiritual battle is common all throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul writes to this theme frequently. For example, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

To the Ephesians he writes to, “Put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11)

In Timothy Paul writes, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4).

If Paul isn’t writing in context of an athletic competition, then he is usually putting it in perspective of war.

What better way to demonstrate the idea of man as a soldier in a war here on earth than a couple of stanzas from the song, “Onward Christian Soldier”?

“Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See his banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, On to victory.

Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the Saints have trod.

We are not divided; All one body we: One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.”

This leaves no question that we are in a battle, a spiritual battle that is every bit as severe and significant as any earthly battle could possibly be. In fact, spiritual battles often manifest as a physical battle, be they between nations or the spiritual battle we all fight within our self. Paul writes extensively about this inner war in Romans 7.

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:22-23)

Our time here on earth is merely the period at the end of a sentence of the never-ending story of our existence. But the brevity of our time on earth in comparison to eternity shouldn’t diminish its importance, quite the opposite! What we do and more importantly, who we are now will determine our eternity. This is why the devil has waged war with us here. John Gill was right, we are frail and feeble mortals at war with the adversary the devil. That’s why we need the miracle of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus Christ. We have victory through Christ our Lord. This is such an amazing thing, that we as earthen vessels and being filled with the Holy Spirit of Christ and defeating the foe the devil, that the “principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”. (See Ephesians Chapter 3:10).

We must war to have victory. If we all had our “rathers”, we certainly would rather not to. But the devil is attacking. Please understand that “is attacking”, is very much in the present tense. The victory is peace and salvation through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The victory is life eternal in the presence of God. The victory is a love beyond the scope of this mortal coil’s comprehension. We must fight to attain it!

Bill Hitchcock