The Book of Job Editor’s Note (a.k.a. Message from Tom): This is an adaptation from the CRI/Voice, Institute , “ The Book of Job Bible Study”, http://www.crivoice.org/biblestudy/bbjob.html . Indented excerpts are from The OT Daily Bible Study Series “Job” by John C.l. Gibson unless otherwise noted (an Old Testament adjunct to the NT Barclay books). The Book of Job is acclaimed as one of the great literary books of the Old Testament. One author says it is no less than eight types of literature rolled up in one book. One would then expect that there are many ways to look at and learn from Job. The CRI/Voice Bible Study focuses on what you personally might learn and apply in your life. However, the Book of Job is also called “the most theological book” of the entire Old Testament (Theology = study and commentary on the existence and attributes of a God.) The OT Daily Bible Study Series, “Job” looks at personal learning and the theology of late Old Testament Judaism. That book is, however, a horrible book to read. I was never able to read as many pages as I wanted in one sitting and Tim consistently fell asleep trying to read it. Understanding the theology and therefore the moral thinking and cultural mind set of late Old Testament Jews can add tremendous insight to your reading any of the New Testament Books, especially the Gospels. The indented excerpts will, it is hoped, allow us to discuss and learn about that theology without having to suffer through the dull scholarly book itself. You can find the entire text, if you have the fortitude, on our website: http://Gospel.ThruHere.net/BibleStudy/Downloads1/DailyBibleStudyJob.pdf . Forward : (Or perhaps this is an at least partially an afterward because I write this after I have completed half of the melding together of Roger Hahn’s online CRI/Voice Bible Study and the excerpts from John C.l. Gibson’s Job .) I have these thoughts to pass along: • Some people, and I will admit I am one, find it difficult to read poetry. The majority of the Book of Job is poetry and to make matters worse it is poetry that has been translated from another language, Hebrew. If you find this scriptural poetry nearly impossible to read, try this. Set this 8½ x 11 side by side with your Bible. First read the explanation of a verse in this commentary and then read the corresponding verse so you are going back and forth between the two documents. It is sometimes easier to read poetry when you know what it is supposed to be saying. • The story of Job is one of a pious man who falls on bad times and suffers. The cultural beliefs of the time said that everything was caused by something, if not caused by a fellow man then God was the cause, no in-between, no “stuff just happens.” Therefore, affliction and suffering where the result of having offended God through sin, no in-between, no “stuff just happens.” Job does not believe he has sinned and doesn’t understand why he is suffering. Job and three of his friends debate the cause of Job’s tremendous loss and illnesses. The debate is about God, his attributes and how he interacts with humankind. This is why the Book of Job is considered the most theological book of the Old Testament. • We have heard (from our Barclay readings) that the belief that illness was cause by sin was so deep-seated that Jesus was compelled to tell some people that their sins were forgiven before he could cure them. We have heard that prosperity was believed to be a sign of God’s favor, God’s grace. We have heard that the thought that there might be a life hereafter was relatively new in Jesus’ time and that the Sadducees totally rejected that thought. Yet we have not tried to understand how if we deeply held these beliefs it might affect us. We have not tried to see Jesus’ and his disciples’ teaching through the eyes of someone who had these deep cultural beliefs. Reading the whole of Gibson’s Daily Bible Study, Job gives the opportunity to see the New Testament through a set of glasses tinted by the above beliefs. I am concerned that excerpts I have added to Hahn’s Bible Study may result in just “hearing” about these beliefs again and fail in the tinted glasses department. So I am asking that when the Study Questions ask you to consider how one of these beliefs might affect you that you give due time and effort to that thought process. The time spent will be well worth the effort. 1 Table of Contents Lesson 1 Readings ................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction to the Book of Job ............................................................................... 3 Lesson 2 Readings ................................................................................................................. 13 Job 1:1-3:26 ...................................................................................................... 13 Lesson 3 Readings ................................................................................................................. 22 Job 4:1-8:22 ...................................................................................................... 22 Lesson 4 Readings .................................................................................................................30 Job 9:1-13:28 .................................................................................................... 30 Lesson 5 Readings ................................................................................................................. 38 Job 14:1-18:21 ................................................................................................... 38 Lesson 6 Readings ................................................................................................................. 46 Job 19:1-22:30 ................................................................................................... 46 Lesson 7 Readings ................................................................................................................. 54 Job 23:1-28:28 ................................................................................................... 54 Lesson 8 Readings ................................................................................................................. 62 Job 29:1-33:33 ................................................................................................... 62 Lesson 9 Readings ................................................................................................................. 70 Job 34:1-37:24 ................................................................................................... 70 Lesson 10 Readings ............................................................................................................... 77 Job 38:1-42:17 ................................................................................................... 77 2 Lesson 1 Readings No Bible Readings Introduction to the Book of Job Roger Hahn This introduction is Lesson 1 in the Voice Bible Studies on the Book of Job The book of Job is part of the Old Testament collection of Wisdom Literature, along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The Book of Job belongs to what we call the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament. The hakamim , or “wise men”, were a class of philosophers or teachers who believed that by studying the world of nature and the workings of human society, a man could discern the inner harmony of the universe and tease out the principles of behavior which would bring him into contact with that harmony and ensure his happiness and success in life. Religion was important to them and, in a real sense, the basis of all their study: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” is how their enduring memorial, the Book of Proverbs, puts it 3 Like the other Wisdom books Job is primarily composed of poetry and Job 28 consists of a hymn to Wisdom. Yet Job stands in strong contrast to Proverbs. Many scholars believe that Job was written to correct a possible misunderstanding of the message of Proverbs. Job is different from Proverbs in another important way. Most of Proverbs could be read in one or two verse segments and the full meaning would be clear. To understand the full impact of the book of Job the book must be read and understood as a whole. In fact, some scholars believe that Job requires and understanding of the book as a whole more than any other book of the Old Testament. Whole chapters of the book are devoted to speeches by Job’s counselors. Then Job rejects their claims and advice. One can be left wondering what is safe to believe in any given chapter or verse of the book. Not all that Job’s "friends" said was wrong, though some was. To understand the "message" of the book the whole book must be read and understood. Yet, each chapter and section contains important and true perspectives on life though they must be carefully evaluated. In that regard Job is quite representative of the Wisdom Literature. In some ways Job can be an upsetting book. James 5:11 holds Job up as an example of patience. Yet as we read the book itself Job frequently seems impatient and even angry. Most Christians have considered claims of sinlessness as dangerous and even sinful! First John 1:8 and 10 provide all the Scriptural backing needed for a strong sense of sin in one’s life. However, Job defends himself against those who suggest that it was his own sin that led to his troubles. In Job 7:20 he demands of God, "If I have sinned, what have I done