Book of Job / 2

Last Sunday, I launched a series of posts related to the Book of Job. The initial post is here. As a bit of review, this historical character lived in the “land of Uz,” a stretch of land that lies east of Egypt, south of current day Israel and Jordan, and is roughly bisected by the Jordan River as that river flows south into the Gulf of Aqaba. The book named for Job makes this statement in chapter 1, verse 3:  … that man was the greatest of all men of the east.” Indeed, Job’s wealth alone was impressive, but he had character to boot. He was … blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from Evil.

FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake
FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake

But in the blink of an eye, Job’s circumstances changed! His livestock, his servants, dead and gone, his children dead, and it seemed as though every time the door opened, he received another round of bad news. (I’m reminded of that line from the Hee Haw song Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me that says “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” That’s the kind of week Job was having.)

So here’s Job having the equivalent of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day … but what he’s not aware of is the dialogue occurring in God’s dwelling place and how that dialogue will result in Job’s slide even farther down the tunnel of misery.

The second chapter begins by noting the sons of God (angels) were presenting themselves before the Lord and Satan joined them there. Thus begins another dialogue between Almighty God and the Deceiver in which God reiterates his assessment:  “… there is no one like [Job] on the earth, a blameless and upright man … turning away from evil … holding fast his integrity.

In their discussion, Satan levels another charge against Job. Why wouldn’t Job remain upright? His animals, servants and children have suffered, not him! Satan claims all that’s required for Job to curse God is to bring suffering to his body! In response, God grants Satan permission to put Job through the wringer once more, this time inflicting physical pain, but God issues a single caveat … don’t kill Job.

My sonnet below presents this dialogue in poetic form.

Job, Chapter 2, poetry, sonnet, poem, Satan, God
Job Chapter 2

As the chapter tells us, Satan immediately smote Job’s body with boils … “from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” I can’t even imagine the agony Job experienced. But I think the passage has an even more memorable application for me personally. Just read the words of Job’s wife (who remains nameless):  “Curse God and die!

In the margin of my Bible, I made this notation many years ago with a red pencil:  Be Alert To This Attitude! I’ve considered that Job suffered less from his physical wounds than from the stake-to-the-heart stab delivered by his wife. Every time I read through this part of Job, I’m reminded how damaging a wife’s comments can be. When Job most needed his wife to be his primary cheerleader (which wouldn’t have made his pain disappear but perhaps be easier to bear), all she could do was react hatefully.

The chapter ends with a snapshot of Job’s three friends who’ve heard about his disaster and they gather to offer him sympathy and comfort. As I read the book, my sense is these three men have been with Job through the good times and now that things have turned bad, they’re a bit nervous that the same thing could happen to them! But I will let their words speak for them as we explore another chapter of the Book of Job next week, beginning with Job’s expression of extreme sorrow. I hope you’ll stay tuned.

4 thoughts on “Book of Job / 2

  1. That was really good, thanks. The book of Job is simply my favorite. I love the poetry and the prose and the artistry of how it is written. There is a lot of sub texting going on, the conversation between God and Satan and also a storm brewing throughout the story, so by the time God comes to speak to Job, He actually appears out of the whirlwind.

    LOL, I too took note of Job’s wife long ago and have tried very hard not to have her attitude. The bible really provides some fascinating insights into the character of men. They really do equate a contemptuous wife with like, experiencing boils and complete financial ruin. Given a choice, they’d probably just prefer to go with the boils.

    1. Thanks for reading. There is SO MUCH to absorb from the Book of Job! One thing I’ve learned over almost 45 years of marriage, my man has indicated a definite preference of boils over a contentious woman!

  2. I also love Job – especially Chapter 28.
    The whirlwind theme is powerful; I agree with InsanityBytes22 above.
    The last few chapters, where God sarcastically mocks the mortals as he extolls Leviathan and Behemoth are fantastic.

    I have heard it said that Job may be an older text than the Torah (?)

    It makes one wonder –
    who was there recording the action at the beginning when the Sons of God came before the Lord and Satan was among them ?
    In the same way – who was observing the conflict between Christ and Satan during the 40-day fast in the wilderness? It takes faith to believe this stuff.

    1. Totally agree! Job is amazing. I also have heard of its age, being older than the Torah. To me, that simply makes it more of a miracle, how God superintended having it written down and certainly, He desired for us to have some (though obviously limited) understanding of the Heavenlies. How great is our God!

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