The Fellowship Residency Program has introduced me to the idea of reading commentaries alongside scripture. By next August, I will have read through the entire Bible as well as The King in His Beauty, our selected commentary. As I am reading, I am writing a little bit about each of the books of the Bible so you and I can have a more thorough understanding of the scriptures. I invite you to follow along with me as we learn the Bible in its entirety from Genesis to Revelation. This summary does NOT encompass the entire book, but it is a good place to start. I encourage you to read for yourself and begin your own Biblical journal along the way. To read any of my other Residency related posts, click here.
Introduction – Job is an introduction to the Old Testament wisdom writings. It does not necessarily carry the OT story line, but it emphasizes the necessary fear of the Lord and describes what it looks like specifically to live under Yahweh’s lordship. The book recognizes that “life is complex and defies simplistic answers as to why there is suffering in the world.” However, we are still called to fear and obey the Lord without all of the answers.
Prologue & Epilogue – The prologue opens by emphasizing that Job’s righteousness had brought him great reward. However, we also see what is happening in the heavenly realm. “If readers are to acquire wisdom about life, they must not limit themselves to what happens in the earthly sphere.” God and Satan discuss Job. The Lord believes Job to be a faithful man, but Satan argues that Job is only faithful due to his blessings. He asks to take them away and watch Job curse God. God allows him to test him, but not to touch his person. Immediately, Job suffers a great deal and immediately grieves by response through worship. Satan then asks to inflict his body with disease, God agrees as long as Job’s life is spared. Job’s wife even encourages Job to “curse God and die.” However, he rebukes her and says he must remain faithful in spite of his suffering. Job is to remind us that all of us either worship God in suffering or prove to Satan that humans only live for themselves and their own pleasures. Job’s faith in the midst of his suffering brings glory to God as he trusts in Him. Job is unaware of Satan’s role in the suffering, and he attributes his suffering to God. He is not wrong in doing so as the author affirms, he was not sinful in his statements. The Lord willed the evil to occur. However, the Lord’s motives were pure. Satan desired Job to fail, but God desired to highlight the beauty of Job’s faith in the midst of agony.
The epilogue ends by recognizing that Job was fundamentally right and his friends had not spoken accurately of the Lord. His suffering was not a result of his own sin, but rather to display his devotion to God. It also addresses that the Lord was sovereign over the evil that Job endured. When Job’s family is restored, it is a reminder that suffering is not the “end” for those who remain faithful. They will be vindicated and have a future life with their God.
The Dialogues – The dialogues are a beautiful back and forth depiction between Job and his friends. Job opens with a cry of agony that asks “why.” Eliphaz responds saying that Job should trust God, because those who trust will prosper and those who sin will reap it. He is suggesting that God is disciplining Job and waiting for Job to seek Him so that Job may be delivered from suffering. Job responds by saying that Eliphaz does not begin to understand the depth of his suffering and insists that his suffering is not a result of his own sin. Rather than responding to Job with empathy, it appears that his friends have turned the dialogue into a debate regarding the purpose of suffering. Bilad begins to attack Job’s integrity and encourages him to repent. Job responds by seeking God almost as if he is before Him in court to present his case. Job is not saying that he has never sinned but is arguing that he has not committed a sin that would match the level of suffering he has experienced. Zophar jumps in and states that he believes that Job is receiving less than he deserves. Again, he urges Job to repent. At this point, Job is exhausted by his friend’s words as he recognizes and agrees that the wicked will be ultimately punished. However, there are also some who are wicked that prosper in the world. Eliphaz jumps in again and repeats the same ideas with more vigor and authority. Job again says that he desires to speak with God. Though he is angry, he has not forsaken God. He simply wishes for death so that he may speak with God. Bildad responds as he feels insulted and repeats that punishment is for those who are evil. Just when it seems that he is about to collapse, we see a declaration of faith in future vindication coming after death (Chapter 19). However, Zophar responds giving no indication that he has listened to Job whatsoever. Job continues to ignore their arguments and speaks to God. Eliphaz and Bildad respond briefly. Bildad almost loses track of the conversation and insists that no humans can be right before God.
However, Job responds and only questions God. Chapters 26-31 is a summary of his case before God. He argues that his friends are not wise counsel, and that God is the sovereign creator. Chapter 27 is difficult to interpret. Some believe that it is the last words of Zophar, and some believe Job is quoting the ideas that he dismisses. However, TKIHB argues that Job is discussing the ultimate and future judgment that the wicked will endure. Chapter 28 is a reflection on wisdom and reminds us that the wise rightly fear and are in awe of the Lord. In response, we obey and carry out His will even when we do not understand the “why” of our suffering. Job reflects on his life before suffering and describes how the tables have turned. Now, he needs help yet feels utterly alone. Finally, he once again affirms his argument of righteousness before the Lord and cries out for God to hear his plea. Ultimately, this section reminds us that suffering is not always in response to personal sin, and that we may never fully discern God’s rule or will for the world.
Elihu’s Contribution – Elihu is ultimately viewed as partially right and partially wrong. He is angered at Job’s continual justification of himself over God, a valuable argument. He is rightly pointing out Job has made God the enemy. However, he veers into repeating that Job’s suffering is a discipline of his sins and even places Job as one among the wicked men. He concludes by highlighting God’s sovereignty and goodness and reminds Job that we cannot fully understand God’s justice and ways as God is great in power and worthy of all praise. Elihu provides a confusing argument that argues both in favor of God and in favor of the friends. This begs a response that provides clarity, which Job will receive.
God’s Response to Job – The climax of the story is God’s response to Job. He rebuke’s Job for questioning God’s authority and all-knowing power. He throws down question after question to highlight Job’s smallness in comparison to God’s infinite knowledge. God challenges Job to provide his own dissertation on what he thinks would be just. Job respond by confessing his smallness. “In effect, Job has made himself lord of the world by telling God what is wrong with its government.” He reminds Job that if he believes that he is smarter, then he should use his power to save himself. Through metaphoric animals, God reminds Job that NO ONE can question or defeat God’s power, strength, and independence and even the demonic forces in the world are under his sovereign hand. Upon the rebuke, Job repents and acknowledges his faults. He is restored by God’s gracious gifts.
Conclusion – Though his friends believe Job suffers due to sin, we recognize that Job suffers despite his righteousness. Wisdom involves fear of the Lord and obedience despite our lack of understanding. Job also pulls back the curtain to remind us that the battle between the Lord and the serpent has not seized. Humans are no match for Satan’s evil, but God is. The book explains that God is sovereign over all, including evil. However, it does not give satisfying answers as to why God would allow such evil into the world. Ultimately, we are left with the truth that God is the creator and all powerful. We are not to question His will or His way. Finally, the commentary ends with a beautiful statement. “From a canonical perspective, the evil unleashed by Satan and humanity in the world will be conquered by one who overcomes evil not through warfare but through suffering. He conquers the power and mystery of evil by letting it do its worst to him and then triumphing over it. What sustains through suffering is a relationship with a loving, just, and mysterious God. This God has taken on flesh and evil has done its best to destroy him, but He has conquered demons and death. (p. 249)”
Themes: God rules the entire world, and the rule is not necessarily what everyone may expect. Humans will reap what they sow, and those who live righteously will be rewarded. Righteous are not sparred from immense suffering. Devotion to God in the midst of suffering is one of the greatest glorifications of God Himself. Yahweh is sovereign over evil. Vindication will happen after our earthly lives. The wise rightly fear and are in awe of the Lord and should respond in obedience even when they do not understand the “why” behind suffering. Nothing, not even the demonic forces, are separate from God’s sovereign plan.
Комментарии