Christian/Religion Studies

The Book of Job:

The name "Job" could mean "object of enmity" or "he who turns", maybe "he who turns to God" but these are guesses. While nobody knows who Job was some Biblical commentaries have claimed that he could have been other people mentioned in the Bible such as " Moses, Solomon, Isaiah, Hezekiah, Jeremiah...". This is mere guesswork and as people like to identify with who they read about people will keep guessing. Many feel that this is the earliest book of the Bible. Job is a human and that is something that we can relate to us being of the same species, and I see no rabbits reading this text so I guess we are safe with that statement. When reading the Bible we must think "people" and not "stories". If we try to relate one-to-one with the person that we are reading about we can gain so much from the written text. If we think "story" then we  distance ourself from the written text and may not grasp the meaning of the text with any true life feeling. As we read through the book of Job we can put ourselves in his position to get a better idea of what he was going through, and we can also put ourself in the place of his friends and understand why it is that they reacted so. His name does appear elsewhere in the Bible:  Ezekiel chapter 14, verse 14  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.  Job chapter 1, verse 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.  This Hebrew poem of wisdom is an interesting book of the Old Testament. The author is not known and the date the book was written has never been fixed. Besides that this book is very interesting and worth more than one reading. The impression we get is that the author is well educated and we know that the Book of Job is written in a style of the educated of his time. We don't know where Uz (eastern part of Arabia) is. When you read the book of Job you will find that it is a book that requires some thought. As you read the book of Job, think about: the dialog between God and Satan,  the loss to Job,  the reaction of Job's wife and what she wants Job to do,  Job's reaction to his wife's demands,  the suffering that Job goes through,  the reaction of Job because of his suffering, Job's friends and what they have to say about Job, God and Job's suffering, Job's reaction to his friends comments, And pay attention to the end where God comes into the story. A theme of this book is "Why do the righteous suffer?"  And Job wants to know why God allows this to happen.  In the beginning Job suffers mentally for the sins of his children. Something that many good people today feel when their children grow up and misbehave and won't listen to reason. Job chapter 1, verse 4-5 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.  There came a day when God and Satan have a conversation about Job: Job chapter 1, verse 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD...  By chapter 1, verse 20 much misery had come upon poor Job. The shock and horror at his sudden misfortune must have amazed him and he would have been dazed and not thinking straight at the horror of it all.  Job 1:20  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  Job chapter 1, verse 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.  Job has lost his wealth, his family and now his health was suffering. Clearly by the end of this book we have a changed Job. He has learnt much and through his debates with his friends and finally with God he becomes a new man. Being such a good person Job struggles with his suffering. He abides by the laws, he is moral and upright and yet all this calamity falls upon him, his family, his wealth - is this justified? Satan was saying that Job is only a good man of God because of his blessing and material wealth. Job chapter 1:, verse 10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  In Job chapter 2, verse 1 Satan once again comes in contact with the Lord:  "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. " Job chapter 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.  Here poor surprised Job is handled more suffering and Satan "smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.  And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. "One can almost feel Job's startled amazement, anguish, and wonder as to why he has this new affliction which has attacked his flesh. At chapter 2, verse 11 Job's friends come to visit him. They are religious and they must also wonder at sudden change of life. Before they came to see Job they may have debated for a while about what had happened and why. You and I can sympathise with Job and his friends. We are also friends to people and we know what it is like to look from the outside and try to help, try not to judge, but after sometime come across our own conclusions about our friends situations. And we have friends who come to see us and offer us advice and we find that we are the one to be spoken to about our life.  Job chapter 19, verse 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.  From here on there is much debate which is worth reading. God challenges Job in chapter 38, verse 1. And Job speaks in chapter 40, verse 3. If you have not read Job then I suggest you do as it is a worthwhile book to read, I won't tell you the end of the book of Job and you can find it out yourself.