Job's extreme expressions of lament or suffering were reflected in some of the Psalms of Individual Lament. Following Job's testing in chapters 1--2, ...."he opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth." (Job 3:1) Job asked "the why question" five (5) times in that chapter.
Job asked a series of rhetorical questions as to why he had even been born (3:11, 12, 16); why those in misery are not allowed to die (3:20); "Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?" (3:23) In response to Job's comments and why questions, his friend Eliphaz starts out by asking if anyone might get a word through with Job. (Job 4--5) He essentially called Job a sinner, a fool.......and gave the catch all solution of......"But if it were I, I would.......I would......" (5:8) He told Job that he could call out but no one in heaven was going to answer him. (Job 5:1) Eliphaz summed up his assessment of Job's predicament with ......."We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself." (Job 5:27)
While Job received no compassion from his friend, he was not alone in asking "the why question". Psalms 42 and 43 are Prayers of Lament by an Individual. These two Psalms were originally a single prayer. The psalter asked "the why question" six times in Psalm 42; and in Psalm 43 the question "why" was asked four (4) times.
The psalter in Psalm 43:1 cried out, "Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause....." Job also had asked for God to vindicate him. Aside from the Genre of Lament, the Genre of Law or the lawsuit featured prominently throughout Job's speeches. Job actually demands a hearing with God, for the purpose of vindication.
The prayer of lament found in Psalms differs, in that the cry for vindication was a prayer, a petition , a request addressed to God. The "why" of Psalm 42:5, 11; and Psalm 43:5 are actually being asked to himself; and the psalter actually encourages himself. This is called "faith encouraging faith".
"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (NIV)
However, "the why question" of Psalm 42:9 "I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me?' 'Why......' " Also "the why question" of Psalm 43:2 "You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why......" These expressions of questioning God sound alot like Job's questioning.
Jesus cried out on the cross......" Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" -- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Throughout the ages and during contemporary times, the troubling question has been asked "Why do bad things happen to good people?" (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:33-34)
I also ponder this question, and always feel inadequate to fully explain it. Comfort is available in God's word for many troubling circumstances. Ultimately God is in control no matter what the circumstances look like.