A in the Bible - Book Report/Review Example

Job Job is a book in the Bible about a rich, prosperous, blessed man of God. The book Job is about the man Job who lived righteously, being Gods faithful servant. At the beginning of Job, the man Jobs character is described. Job has a flawless character. He is rich man who lives righteously. When Satan sees this righteousness, he challenges God to test Job. Satan thought that Job lived righteously due to the prosperity that God had bestowed on him. God takes up Satans challenge, allowing Satan to test Job in anyway, except for taking his life. Job and three friends discuss throughout the book about why God is punishing him. Job stays a true servant of God. As a result the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning and he lived 140 years more (Job 42:10,17 RSV), the book of Job takes place for about 9 months. Job proved that his heart would always be turned to God, whether in prosperity or devastation. Opening Narrative/Closing Narrative The opening and closing narrative are similar and different. The similarities start with the description of Job. The opening narrative tells of Job and his faithfulness to God. The opening narrative states: [1] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil. (Job 1:1) The opening narrative sets the scene for the rest of Job. No matter what happens Job remains faithful to God. The closing narrative comes full circle when God speaks to Job, saying: [8] Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." (Job 42:8) Because of Jobs faithfulness, God does not turn his back upon him. In fact, part of the closing narrative discloses: [10] And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10) Another similarity was the number of children God blessed Job with. The opening narrative states, “There were born to him seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:2). Likewise the closing narrative also states “He had also seven sons and three daughters” (Job 42:13). Both narratives show that whatever God allowed Satan to take from Job, He restored equally or more. The narrator of both the opening and closing narrative is not known (Fyall, 2). Some have speculated that the author was Moses, but there is no direct proof. Of course, the book of Job was divinely inspired. Otherwise, the conversations that took place in heaven would not have been known. Some have expressed: The style forbids its being attributed to Moses, to whom its composition is by some attributed, "whilst he was among the Midianites, about 1520 B.C." But the fact, that it, though not a Jewish book, appears among the Hebrew sacred writings, makes it likely that it came to the knowledge of Moses during the forty years which he passed in parts of Arabia, chiefly near Horeb; and that he, by divine guidance, introduced it as a sacred writing to the Israelites, to whom, in their affliction, the patience and restoration of Job were calculated to be a lesson of especial utility. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) What can be determined about the narrator of Job, is the opening and closing narrative have enough similarities to be possibly be written by the same narrator. Major Themes The first major theme in Job is Jobs faithfulness. No matter what tragedy befell him, Job stilled praised God. Job did get frustrated. He did not understand what he had done to sin against God. Job then begged God to let him know how he had failed. Even though his friends and wife tell Job to curse God, Job stays faithful. One author suggests: friends of Job come, but do not really console him: they say he must have sinned or the affliction would not have come. Job insists on his innocence. The fact that God could afflict an innocent man disturbs Job, he almost becomes angry with God at some points. Finally he asks the Almighty to answer him. God does speak from a storm: Would Job condemn God so he, Job could seem just? Job confesses he has not reacted well, he has tried to deal with things above him, he repents in dust and ashes. God directs Jobs friends to ask Job to pray for them, so their fault may be pardoned. In the prose conclusion Job gets back much more than what he had lost. (Most) Jobs faithfulness was rewarded by God in the end. No matter the temptation to curse God, Job stayed loyal to God. Another major theme is the conversation between Satan and God. Some interpret that Satan was the Devil. However, upon looking at the Hebrew word used, Satan is defined as an opponent. William Most explains: At the start,Job is fabulously wealthy and blessed in sons and daughters. But then we are taken to the court of God. The sons of God are there,seemingly,angels. But the satan is also there - the Hebrew word is just a general term for the opponent. In Numbers 22.22 (cf.22.32) an angel who blocks the way for Balaam is called angel and also is called the satan, the one who opposes. Satan was Gods opponent. This could mean Satan, the prince of Hell, or one of the fallen angels. Another opinion on the definition of Satan is: Satan--The tradition was widely spread that he had been the agent in Adams temptation. Hence his name is given without comment. The feeling with which he looks on Job is similar to that with which he looked on Adam in Paradise: emboldened by his success in the case of one not yet fallen, he is confident that the piety of Job, one of a fallen race, will not stand the test. He had fallen himself (@Job 4:19 15:15 Jude 1:6). In the Book of Job, Satan is first designated by name: "Satan," Hebrew, "one who lies in wait"; an "adversary" in a court of justice (@1Ch 21:1 Ps 109:6 Zec 3:1); "accuser" (@Re 12:10). (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) Whatever the meaning of Satan, this Satan was definitely testing God. Some think that Satan cannot test the Almighty God. However, the test of Job proved how righteous God is over Satan. God allowed Satan to tempt Job, but did not take action against Job himself. God allows Satan and man leverage to prove his righteousness. If God lectured man, without punishing them or testing them, then man and Satan would never learn lessons. Satans testing of Job, does not in anyway prove God is weak, with no control. This proves that God allows lessons to be taught, because of mans stubbornness. Another point to consider is Jobs heart. God knew Jobs heart. He knew that Job believed in Him unconditionally and faithfully. It did not matter what God had bestowed upon him, Job would love God no matter what. Satan cannot understand Jobs love for God. He believes that the love is derived from all of the material things given by God to Job. Satan does not understand loyalty to God, since he was cast from heaven for not showing loyalty to God. Job also shows that friends, family, and confidants can try and make the faithful stray from the path of God. Jobs wife pleads “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). However, Job returns: [10] But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10) Job does what God commands. God instructed “and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). This means one should love God above all others. Job does not just disregard the advice of his wife. When Jobs three friends Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite to engage in a discussion about how God has forsaken him, Job does not sway in his faith of God. Jobs friends do not waver from their belief that God is right. However, they believe that Job must have done something to deserve Gods displeasure. Jobs friends increasingly berate him for refusing to confess his sins, although they themselves are at a loss as to what sort of sins he has committed. The three friends continue to assume that Job was a sinner and therefore deserves all the punishments. They also assume, in their view of theology, that God always rewards good and punishes evil, with no apparent exceptions allowed. This is mans view, not Gods view. There seems to be no room in their understanding of God for divine discretion. God must be arranging suffering for purposes other than retribution. Job returns that he has not wavered in his faith in God. He denies that he has sinned against God. His friends believe then he should curse God for the unjust punishments. Job refuses to curse God, only praising God. Not all of Jobs acquaintances tried to lead him a stray. Elihu, a younger man, became angry at the discourse between Job and his friends. [2] Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; [3] he was angry also at Jobs three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. (Job 32;2-3) Elihu believed in the sovereignty, righteousness, and gracious mercy of God. Elihu strongly condemns the approach taken by the three friends. Elihu believed that Job is misrepresenting Gods righteousness, thus discrediting His loving character. Although Elihu is younger than Job and his friends, he argues that wisdom has no age. Gods power, redemptive salvation and absolute rightness in all His conduct is what Elihu wants Job and his friends to understand. His point was God is mighty, but just. Elihu believes that some kind of repentance is required by Job. Jobs three friends claim that repentance requires Job to identify and renounce the sins that gave rise to his suffering. Elihu, on the other hand, believes that repentance inextricably entails renouncing any perceived power which is Gods alone. Elihu makes Job realize his inherent arrogance in a desire to plead a case before God. Materialism is another issue in Job. Man, Satan, Jobs wife, and Jobs friends believe that God only showers devote followers with good things, never trials or tribulations. Job was rich, not only with wealth, but with family. It appeared that his faithfulness was bought with wealth and favors, not by his belief in God. That is mans view of righteousness, not Gods. God works in mysterious ways. He does not have to explain why He gives, or why He takes away. Many successful men, today and in the Bible, that are not believers in God. The rich man was sent to hell, despite all of his wealth. Materialistic things do not measure a mans faith. Finally, Gods righteousness and perfect logic was proven, not only to Satan, but Jobs friends and wife. Job did not react like Satan thought he would. His wife and friends counseled him, save for Elihu, to turn away from God. Job did none of these things. God knew that Job would remain faithful, because God is perfect. He cannot be beaten by Satan or man. God is perfect. Retributive Justice Retributive justice is the concept that equal punishment should be meted out for equal wrong doing. Retributive justice also states that people should be reward for good deeds. An example of retributive justice would be if a child stole a candy bar, by making that child take back or pay for the candy bar and be grounded for a week would be retributive justice. Killing the child for the small theft would not be retributive justice. Another example would be a child that received straight As getting money from their parents. Receiving a punishment for good grades would not be retributive justice. Retributive justice would be perfect in a fair world. However, a fair world does not exist. The reason Job is hard for most people to understand is the absence of retributive justices. This is the argument that Jobs friends presented him. Retributive justice is Gods justice. Eliphaz the Temanite stated to Job: [7] "Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? [8] As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. [9] By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. (Job 4:7-9) Eliphaz is stating that God only consumes those who deserve it. In his opinion, Job deserved his misfortune. Bildad the Shuhite argued that if Job did not transgress against God, then maybe his children did. He told Job: [3] Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? [4] If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the power of their transgression. [5] If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty, [6] if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and reward you with a rightful habitation. (Job 8:3-6) Bildad believed that if Job had not sinned, or repented, God would grant him good things once more. Finally, Zophar the Naamathite argued that Job might think he was faithful to God, but might have offended God on a level Job could not understand. Zophar said: [4] For you say, `My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in Gods eyes. [5] But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips to you, [6] and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. (Job 11:4-6) Still Zophar believed that God used retributive justice. All of Jobs friends, his wife, and humans think that retributive justice is Gods justice. Many religions today think that only way to heaven is good behavior. Then humans deserve heaven. However, God has another plan. He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for sinners. Fyall explains: The Book of Job is concerned with the problem of suffering. Only part of the truth had been revealed at the time. Before, people tended to think suffering was a punishment of sin. It is sometimes that, but not always. Yet, that belief persisted even in the times of Christ. Being good and devoted to God has nothing to do with Gods justice. What Jobs friends did not understand was Gods justice is not mans justice. Retributive justice is mans justice. At the end of Job, God commands Jobs three friends to beg Job to offer sacrifices for them. This is a picture of Jesus interceding on sinners behalf. Finally the Lord spoke to the three counsellors, and rebuked them: they had not spoken right as Job had done. Therefore they must offer a sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams. But to gain acceptance, they must ask Job to pray for them. God will accept the prayer of Job. (Fyall) God only accepted Jobs prayer, because Job was a righteous man. It is scary to think about God using retributive justice. Gods justice is way more merciful. On source states: In accord with this method: First,we must notice one of two truths,expressed in verses 1-4: God is awesome justice,and no man can be just before God...But in splendid theological method he holds to both. Later,in the revelation of Jesus, we could see how to put these together:there is another life,and likeness to Jesus in suffering is of supreme worth. But even at that time, they could and did say: God disciplines His children - even Proverbs and Job knew this. (Fyall) If retributive justice was Gods justice, every sinner would receive hell. That is what sinners deserve. Since every human since Adam is a sinner, all of humanity would be damned to hell. Gods justice is much more merciful by sending a savior. Wisdom Literature Wisdom literature is literature meant to teach about virtue and God used by Ancient Middle East. Job is considered wisdom literature. The book of Job is used to teach about Gods nature. Jobs virtue is also taught in this passage of the Bible. This book in the Bible shows that Gods ways are not always mans ways. Some believe that as wisdom literature, Job is a myth or allegory. In fact, many scholars believe that Job was written to teach Gods lessons. For example: It has been supposed by some that the book of Job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of many of its statements. Thus the sacred numbers, three and seven, often occur. He had seven thousand sheep, seven sons, both before and after his trials; his three friends sit down with him seven days and seven nights; both before and after his trials he had three daughters. So also the number and form of the speeches of the several speakers seem to be artificial. The name of Job, too, is derived from an Arabic word signifying repentance. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) There are many symbolic themes in Job, but symbolic themes run throughout the Bible. Just because Job is wisdom literature does not prove it to be mythical. The Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastic are wisdom literature, but no one doubts that Solomon was a real man. On the other hand, the thought that Job is just a story must be examined. It is possible that Job was not a real man. However, once you go down that line of thought, does that mean the whole Bible is mythical? If you cannot absolutely prove a Biblical person exists through an outside source, that means they were a myth? Still some authors suggest: Is Job meant to be historical? Not likely. Just as Pope John Paul II said Genesis 1- 3 was myth - not meaning fairytale,but rather an ancient story put together to bring out some things true in themselves (Original Unity of Man and Woman. St.Paul Editions,1981 p.28 and note), so it is likely with the book of Job. Its real purpose is to explore the problem of suffering. (Fyall) The bottom line is there will never be one hundred percent surety either way. That is why Christianity is based on faith. The lessons taught in Job are enough, whether it is historically accurate or not. Another theme in the wisdom literature, especially Hebrew wisdom literature is the poetry. In Job, the opening and closing narratives are not poetry, but the rest of the passage is. Poetry in Job represents Hebrew poetry. One source suggests: In all countries poetry is the earliest form of composition as being best retained in the memory. In the East especially it was customary for sentiments to be preserved in a terse, proverbial, and poetic form (called maschal). Hebrew poetry is not constituted by the rhythm or meter, but in a form peculiar to itself: (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) This shows that Job was written by or retold by a Hebrew. The poetry was probably used to help the tale be retold. Conclusion Job is a good lesson for all Christians. After reading this passage of the Bible, Christians can take away lessons on faith, salvation, and mercy. Jobs faithfulness lasted throughout all trials and tribulations. Just like God never left Job throughout all of his trials and tribulations. God protected Job from a worse fate, death and hell. Without sending a savior, God would have condemned Job to hell. His mercy on Job and all of His people was tremendous. No matter if Job was real or mythical, the lessons learned from him are countless. Not many people would praise God, even after losing everything. The anguish and pain made Job want to die, before he would curse God. Job needs to be studied by all. References Fyall, Robert S. Now My Eyes Have Seen You: Images of Creation and Evil in the Book of Job. USA: Apollos, 2002. The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1952. Jamieson, Robert, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown. “Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. 1998. Christian Classic Electronic Library. Accessed 29 November 2007 from http://biblestudy.churches.net/CCEL/J/JFB/JFB/JFB18.HTM Most, William Fr. “The Book of Job.” 2007. Eternal Word Television Network Accessed 29 November 2007 from http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/JOBMOST.TXT Read More