Job on the Ash Heap

Job on the Ash Heap

Job on the ash heap

Reflective Questioning. Job sometimes bluntly challenges conventional wisdom. Compare Job 21:17–19 to Ecclesiastes 9:2–3.

Apocalyptic. Job has some features in common with books like Daniel and Revelation. The earthly struggle is part of a heavenly conflict between God and Satan (Job 1–2). Human foes tempt the believer to abandon his perseverance (Job’s wife and three friends). But faithful endurance leads to triumph and blessings (Job 42).

The Book of Job draws on many types of literature to set forth its message, but it does not belong to any one of these categories. It must be interpreted as unique both in literary type and message. Job is not a conventional book.

Date and Authorship

No one knows when or by whom Job was written. Some have suggested it was written in the Babylonian exile, but the book does not allude to that or any event from Israel’s history. It does often allude to other biblical passages, especially Genesis 1–3 and certain psalms of David (compare Job 7:17–21 to Ps 8). This implies it was written after David. A good possibility is that the book appeared in the reign of Solomon or Hezekiah, both of whom encouraged the study of wisdom literature.

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          I      Prologue (Job 1:1–2:13)

          II.      Dialogue with Three Friends (Job 3:1–31:40)

          III.      Elihu’s Speeches (Job 32:1–37:24)

          IV.      God’s Speeches (Job 38:1–42:6)

          V.      Epilogue: Job Restored (Job 42:7–17)

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 EVIL AND SUFFERING

 Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed in Eden, the ground has been cursed (Gen 3:17–18). Weeds and thorns, literal and otherwise, have plagued humanity. Evil has been rampant, and people have suffered. The diversity of evil and suffering can be seen best in seven categories.

 1. Judgment. Some people suffer punishment because of their own disobedience or hostility toward God. Cain suffered for the murder of his brother Abel (Gen 4:13–14). God repaid Adoni-Bezek for his inhumane treatment of conquered kings (Judg 1:7). Solomon executed Joab for killing two innocent men (1 Kgs 2:32). Such retribution warns others to avoid violence.

 2. Discipline. The purpose of discipline is correction and repentance. When Nathan the prophet announced God’s judgment on David for his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah (2 Sam 11–12), David repented (Ps 51).

 3. Training. Here what believers suffer is in no way connected to their failures. It is undeserved. God sends such suffering for their own growth and maturity. Sometimes it comes through the agency of Satan or wicked people. Job 1–2 indicates that “blameless” Job was really in this category. He was unknowingly and unwillingly the subject of a test.

 4. Persecution. By persecution Satan or the enemies of God strive to destroy God’s people or their faith. Saul’s pursuit of David (1 Sam 23) and Haman’s attempt to annihilate the Jews (Esth 3:5–6) are OT examples. Persecution involves suffering for one’s faithfulness to God. Daniel and his three friends suffered under these circumstances (Dan 3; Dan 6).

 5. Purposeful Suffering. Sometimes suffering finds meaning in God’s wider purposes. Joseph understood that what his brothers intended for his harm God intended for good, that his family might be saved from the famine (Gen 50:20). The Servant of Isaiah 53 suffers in place of God’s people. His suffering results in their forgiveness, peace, and healing (Isa. 53:5).

 6. Natural consequences. Some suffering is the natural consequence of foolishness or stupidity. Whoever builds a house upon the sand finds the winds and the water will wash it away (Matt 7:26–27). Proverbs is filled with advice to avoid the natural consequences of sinful life-styles.

 7. Catastrophe. Sometimes earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, plane wrecks, and plagues produce enormous suffering. Death indiscriminately comes to the good and the bad. In specific ways this suffering is undeserved. The victims of the collapse of the Siloam tower or the Galilean victims of Pilate’s death squad were no worse than their neighbors (Luke 13:1–4). Such suffering underscores how uncertain life is and challenges us to repentance while there is yet time.

Dockery, David S. et al. Holman Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992. Print.