|
Index
|
Index
Job was a righteous man:
[12] The word of the Lord came to me: [13] “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, [14] even if these three men---Noah, Daniel and Job---were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 14:12-14 NIV)
[12] The word of the Lord came to me: [13] “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, [14] even if these three men---Noah, Daniel and Job---were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 14:12-14 NIV)
Should Job's righteousness help direct our analysis of the Book of Job? And does it?
It certainly should, because the narrative ends with the three friends in disgrace because they had not spoken the truth about the Lord, as had Job:
7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am incensed at you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about Me as did My servant Job. 8 Now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to My servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. And let Job, My servant, pray for you; for to him I will show favor and not treat you vilely, since you have not spoken the truth about Me as did My servant Job.”
9 Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them, and the LORD showed favor to Job. (Job 42:7-9 (Tanakh))
Later on in the narrative, Eliphaz uses the testimony of the church elders to support his case against Job:
[9] What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? [10] The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father. (Job 15:9-10 NIV)
In view of this, the theme of the book is 'Job versus the church elders'. To be told that no one else in the church believes what you are saying, is a devastating attack - I speak from personal experience.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. That man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1 (Tanakh))
What is the force of Job 1:1 for us today?
At that time, the Post-Eden Covenant was in operation. Hence Job 1:1 is stating that Job was obedient to the then version of the Covenant.
At that time, Job was the wealthiest person in the East (Job 1:3). Today, the church writes wealth off as a 'material' object which has no part of the Spiritual. How they love to seize the moral high ground!
Yet from Job's character - confirmed later by the total collapse of his business - we may infer that Job's wealth had been placed entirely at the Lord's disposal. Job's god was not money; Job's God was the Lord Almighty! So, when Job lost all his wealth - his children and all his stock - he acknowledges that everything he'd had came from God, and that it was His to give and His to take away:
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, cut off his hair, and threw himself on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:20-21 (Tanakh))
[Essay: Job's wealth.]
The Lord taunts the Adversary:
6 One day the divine beings presented themselves before the LORD,and the Adversary came along with them. 7 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Where have you been?" The Adversary answered the LORD, “I have been roaming all over the earth.” 8 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil!" 9 The Adversary answered the LORD, “Does Job not have good reason to fear God? 10 Why, it is You who have fenced him round, him and his household and all that he has. You have blessed his efforts so that his possessions spread out in the land. 11 But lay Your hand upon all that he has and he will surely blaspheme You to Your face.” 12 The LORD replied to the Adversary, “See, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” The Adversary departed from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:6-12 (Tanakh))
And again:
1 One day the divine beings presented themselves before the LORD. The Adversary came along with them to present himself before the LORD. 2 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Where have you been?" The Adversary answered the LORD, “I have been roaming all over the earth.” 3 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil. He still keeps his integrity; so you have incited Me against him to destroy him for no good reason.” (Job 2:1-3 (Tanakh))
What is the Lord's purpose in taunting the Adversary?
Is it to show the world how to suffer and persevere and keep the faith? Were that the case, then Jesus would have provided a better example! Or is there some hidden agenda behind His taunts?
Perhaps the first thing to note is the Lord's confidence in Job. He trusts Job to remain true through what is to follow.
The next thing to understand is the context and what is actually taking place.
The Lord is about to take a highly respected and godly man in the community, and reduce him to an abject state of nothingness in the eyes of his friends, business associates, and the whole community.
So, how will his wife, the community, and especially his friends, who also are committed to the Post-Eden Covenant, react when Job goes from hero to zero?
Furthermore, in order to carry out this investigation, the Lord knows that He must remain silent and not interfere in any way. The Lord must rely entirely on Job to do the 'right thing'.
As for the Adversary, he sees only the opportunity to attack Job. Little does he know that in attacking Job he is playing right into the hands of the Most High. The Adversary sees what he sees, not knowing that he has been outsmarted and manipulated by the Lord God.
The Lord's non-interference is made explicit in His handing over power to the Adversary:
6 One day the divine beings presented themselves before the LORD,and the Adversary came along with them.
7 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Where have you been?"
The Adversary answered the LORD, “I have been roaming all over the earth.”
8 The LORD said to the Adversary, “Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil!"
9 The Adversary answered the LORD, “Does Job not have good reason to fear God? 10 Why, it is You who have fenced him round, him and his household and all that he has. You have blessed his efforts so that his possessions spread out in the land. 11 But lay Your hand upon all that he has and he will surely blaspheme You to Your face.”
12 The LORD replied to the Adversary, “See, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.”
The Adversary departed from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:6-12 (Tanakh))
The shield which had protected Job -
10 Why, it is You who have fenced him round, him and his household and all that he has. You have blessed his efforts so that his possessions spread out in the land. (Job 1:10 (Tanakh))
- was now removed.
The Adversary was free to do whatever he wanted, but within the limits set by the Lord God.
[There is a danger that this discussion could descend into a 'he said, they said' battle, rather than looking for the lessons which are to be found in the narrative.]
The shock to Job's system had been immense.
Job is on the floor, fighting for survival and understanding ... then his wife attacks:
9 His wife said to him, “You still keep your integrity! Blaspheme God and die!"
10 But he said to her, “You talk as any shameless woman might talk! Should we accept only good from God and not accept evil?"
For all that, Job said nothing sinful. (Job 2:9-10 (Tanakh))
Wait!
Verse '10a' speaks of receiving evil from God. This, too, is found in one form or another in other translations. For example:
[10] He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:10 NIV)
These translations cannot stand, because the Lord vigorously denies sending evil to Job. The GNT captures this truth better than many of the other main-stream translations:
[3] "Did you notice my servant Job?" the LORD asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever." (Job 2:3 GNT)
What took place was that the Lord lifted the protection He'd placed around Job, leaving him in the hands of the Adversary. However the Lord did set limits to the Adversary's freedom. As the narrative shows, the Adversary ploughs straight ahead, not giving a thought as to why the Lord had placed those restrictions: he does not see that he is being used by the Lord.
Note the parallel with the permission Jesus gave to the lord Satan, concerning Simon Peter and the other disciples:
[31] “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 NIV)
As for Job 2:10, Young's Literal Translation echoes the truth of Job 2:3 GNT:
[10] And he saith unto her, "As one of the foolish women speaketh, thou speakest; yea, the good we receive from God, and the evil we do not receive."
In all this Job hath not sinned with his lips. (Job 2:10 YLT)
It took time for Job to adjust and to compose himself:
11 When Job's three friends heard about all these calamities that had befallen him, each came from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could not recognize him, and they broke into loud weeping; each one tore his robe and threw dust into the air onto his head. 13 They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights. None spoke a word to him for they saw how very great was his suffering. (Job 2:11-13 (Tanakh))
The total time was probably the time it took for his friends to hear about his plight, plus travelling time, plus the week that they sat alongside their friend in silence.
Only then does Job speak.
Job, chapter 3.
Job cursed the day he was born:
1 Afterward, Job began to speak and cursed the day of his birth. 2 Job spoke up and said:
3 Perish the day on which I was born,
And the night it was announced,
“A male has been conceived!" (Job 3:1-3 (Tanakh))
[Essay: Job's emotional outburst (Job 3:1-24 T).]
25 For what I feared has overtaken me; What I dreaded has come upon me.
26 I had no repose, no quiet, no rest,
And trouble came. (Job 3:25-26 (Tanakh))
What were the causes of Job's fear?
Had he done something wrong to warrant the trouble which had overtaken him? He searches for the Lord. But the Lord is out of reach:
2 Today again my complaint is bitter;
My strength is spent on account of my groaning.
3 Would that I knew how to reach Him,
How to get to His dwelling-place.
4 I would set out my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would learn what answers He had for me
And know how He would reply to me.
6 Would He contend with me overbearingly?
Surely He would not accuse me!
7 There the upright would be cleared by Him,
And I would escape forever from my judge.
8 But if I go East — He is not there;
West — I still do not perceive Him;
9 North — since He is concealed, I do not behold Him;
South — He is hidden, and I cannot see Him. (Job 23:2-9 (Tanakh))
[Assignment: Compare and contrast Job's homelessness† with that of God's dwelling-place today.]
† 3 Would that I knew how to reach Him,
How to get to His dwelling-place. (Job 23:3 (Tanakh))
Alone, seemingly abandoned by the Lord, Job reviews his conduct. Faced with God's silence, Job must cut through the background noise to go deep within himself to get at the truth. And, to the best of his knowledge and understanding, Job concludes that he would not have acted differently:
11 I have followed in His tracks,
Kept His way without swerving,
12 I have not deviated from what His lips commanded;
I have treasured His words more than my daily bread. (Job 23:11-12 (Tanakh))
And still the Lord remains silent!
Nevertheless, in spite of the silence, Job trusts that he will be vindicated by the Lord. Despite the attacks from his friends, Job fully expects his Vindicator to testify to the world:
25 But I know that my Vindicator lives;
In the end He will testify on earth — (Job 19:25 (Tanakh))
Later on in the narrative, Job explains his fear of the Lord to Eliphaz:
15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider, I dread Him.
16 God has made me fainthearted;
Shaddai has terrified me. (Job 23:15-16 (Tanakh))
1 Job said in reply to the LORD: 2 I know that You can do everything, That nothing you propose is impossible for You. 3 Who is this who obscures counsel without knowledge? Indeed, I spoke without understanding Of things beyond me, which I did not know. 4 Hear now, and I will speak; I will ask, and You will inform me. 5 I had heard You with my ears, (Job 42:1-5a (Tanakh))
By and large, most of us learn about the Lord academically. We assume or take on trust the existence of the Lord. We also trust that our teachers are painting a true picture of the Lord.
Listening to our teachers is necessary; but it is not sufficient, since we are not in a position to dispute the truth of what they are saying. Direct contact and dialogue with the Lord is vital if we are to get at the truth, and to discover how He wants us serve Him in the world.
[Assignment: What will be the outcome if our teachers sell us a false picture of the Lord God Almighty?]
Job hadn't, as yet met with the Lord face to face. His knowledge and education had come from the then church. Job was later to say to the Lord:
5 I had heard You with my ears,
But now I see You with my eyes;
6 Therefore, I recant and relent,
Being but dust and ashes. (Job 42:5-6 (Tanakh))
Job admits to having spoken without understanding:
1 Job said in reply to the LORD: 2 I know that You can do everything, That nothing you propose is impossible for You. 3 Who is this who obscures counsel without knowledge? Indeed, I spoke without understanding Of things beyond me, which I did not know. 4 Hear now, and I will speak; I will ask, and You will inform me. 5 I had heard You with my ears, (Job 42:1-5a (Tanakh))
And why had Job spoken without understanding?
5 I had heard You with my ears (Job 42:5a (Tanakh))
But now I see You with my eyes;
6 Therefore, I recant and relent,
Being but dust and ashes. (Job 42:5b-6 (Tanakh))
Job's words, contained in Job 42:5 T, are an axiom: Where knowledge of the Lord is academic, then it is imperative to make the jump to personal contact and dialogue with the Lord.
[Essay: Educators, leading by example, must direct and enable students to make that jump from academic to personal encounter.]
Later on, Job will encounter the Lord face to face:
1 Job said in reply to the LORD:
2 I know that You can do everything,
That nothing you propose is impossible for You.
3 Who is this who obscures counsel without knowledge?
Indeed, I spoke without understanding
Of things beyond me, which I did not know.
4 Hear now, and I will speak;
I will ask, and You will inform me.
5 I had heard You with my ears,
But now I see You with my eyes;
6 Therefore, I recant and relent,
Being but dust and ashes. (Job 42:1-6 (Tanakh))
Job 42:6 T is Job's confession to having spoken without understanding. The question now is, "Why had Job's education and upbringing been so lacking?"
The answer is to be found in the Lord's condemnation of the three friends:
[7] After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (Job 42:7 NRSV)
Without a Book of Teaching, without a shepherd having expert knowledge and experience, without personal access to the Lord, Job had defended himself as best as he could. Not only did the three friends represent themselves as elders in the church but, in so doing, they also brought the whole weight of the then church to bear on Job:
[9] There is nothing you know that we don't know. [10] We learned our wisdom from gray-haired people - those born before your father. (Job 15:9-10 GNT)
When the Lord's analysis of the Job Enquiry was complete, He set about designing amendments to the Post-Eden Covenant which would safeguard His flock and His Name. Timing, however, would be critical.
[Analysis: Your analysis of the Job Enquiry.]
25 For what I feared has overtaken me; What I dreaded has come upon me.
26 I had no repose, no quiet, no rest,
And trouble came. (Job 3:25-26 (Tanakh))
Job 3:25-26 T reveals that Job had been living in fear. But of what? Can the narrative offer us more than pure speculation? I believe it can!
Further analysis of Job's situation would have directed attention to such things as,
[† 61 Of the sons of the priests, the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai who had married a daughter of Barzillai and had taken his name—62 these searched for their genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified for the priesthood. 63 The Tirshatha ordered them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should appear. (Ezra 2:61-63 (Tanakh))]
[Analysis: The exchanges between the three friends and Job: they said, he said.]
Unable to take any more from his friends, Job shuts them down:
[40] The words of Job are ended. (Job 31:40b NIV)
The young Elihu then takes it to Job:
[1] So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. [2] Then Elihu 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 Job's three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong. [4] Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. [5] But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry. (Job 32:1-5 NRSV)
But Job's words are indeed at an end as. He totally ignores Elihu's rant. There is only one voice he needs to hear, that of the Lord Himself.
[Essay: The dialogue between God and Job.]
Elihu: student, stenographer, trained, thought friends' arguments lacking.
Elder led church:
[8] Do you listen in on God's council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself? [9] What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? [10] The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father. (Job 15:8-10 NIV)
Elihu, the student, had deferred to his elders:
[4] Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. (Job 32:4 NIV)
The young Elihu had followed in the footsteps of his elders. He held the same opinion that Job was in the wrong for justifying himself rather than God:
[1] So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. [2] But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. [3] He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. (Job 32:1-3 NIV)
Job wanted a transcript of the conversations with his friends:
[23] "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, [24] that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! (Job 19:23-24 NIV)
For a very good reason! Having a transcript, people could not deny what they'd said or what they'd 'really' meant - a tactic oft used in disputes!
With no other candidates in the narrative, it seems highly likely that Elihu was the stenographer. Did Elihu follow up, adding the prologue and epilogue to the transcript? Probably
Elihu had the same conviction as the three friends, that Job was wrong in his attempts to justify himself. So, when the Lord held the three friends to account, why was Elihu not included?
I think it was because the Lord deliberately used him as His stenographer. Elihu was bright, despite his education by elders lacking in knowledge and understanding. Perhaps the Lord reckoned that Elihu, having analysed the proceedings in full, would approach Him personally and ask his forgiveness. This seems highly likely in view of the prologue - someone had been discussing things with the Lord! I'm confidant that that someone had been Elihu. Elihu had the complete transcript, and would surely have wanted to publish the Job Enquiry in full. Elihu's enquiring mind would surely have demanded it.
10 The LORD restored Job's fortunes when he prayed on behalf of his friends, and the LORD gave Job twice what he had before.
11 All his brothers and sisters and all his former friends came to him and had a meal with him in his house. They consoled and comforted him for all the misfortune that the LORD had brought upon him. Each gave him one kesitah and each one gold ring. 12 Thus the LORD blessed the latter years of Job's life more than the former. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand she-asses. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first he named Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 Nowhere in the land were women as beautiful as Job's daughters to be found. Their father gave them estates together with their brothers. 16 Afterward, Job lived one hundred and forty years to see four generations of sons and grandsons. 17 So Job died old and contented. (Job 42:10-17 (Tanakh))
And so the Lord presents us with the raw data obtained from His investigation of the church at the time of Job.
[Essay: Learning through history.]
[Dissertation: A full and exhaustive analysis of the Book of Job.]
[Dissertation: The correlation between the Job investigation and the Mosaic Covenant.]
Version:30-Jan-2024