Historically people have turned to Job when suffering. They are asking a question which begs for a theodicy. Is God just? In Job's intricate structure and series of arguments we eventually see that God is in fact the one who kindly and sovereignly governs all of life, in ease and hardship.
The book claims no author and is difficult to date. The person of Job is clearly more akin to the time of the patriarchs. Yet the structure suggests relatively late authorship. In absence of evidence it is probably best to leave it undated.
One of the compelling and interesting aspects of Job is the way it is set in poetry. Obviously people in real life don't speak to one another in poetic constructions. So we see it is more of an elaborate and intricate piece of artwork than a report of historical events. This reader is reminded of the type of give and take that happens in the Homerica. This is not a mere retelling of a struggle in someone's life. It is a reflection on the way people struggle and the kind of answers people suggest.
In the final analysis, all the interpretations of the suffering proposed by people, including Job and his total of five comforters (his wife, Eliphaz, Zophar, Elihu, and Bildad) are wrong. We don't see life from God's perspective. We don't understand the nature of relationships with God or the influence that Satan has in this world. Only God does. We also see that God works all things for good to those who love him. As we look to the New Testament we see that the book of Job shows that God indeed understands our suffering. He even takes it on himself in the person of his Son.
--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment