The form of the book is that of a long dialogue poem with a prose prologue and epilogue. In the course of the dialogue, Job's friends offer him all the answers that piety and wisdom can suggest; Job is not reconciled and the final word is with Yahweh whose speeches assert a majesty that may not be questioned.
Job protests against this rigorous theory of cause and effect with the vigour of conscious innocence. He does not deny the principle of earthly recompense indeed he lives in hope of it and God gives it in the end (cf. the epilogue). But the recompense is, here and now, withheld; this is Job's problem and he seeks in vain for the meaning of it all. In the anguish he reaches out for God; God eludes him but Job still trusts to his goodness. When God does appear it is to tell how inscrutable are his person and his designs and Job falls to silence.
JOB - (1) Prologue - Satan tests Job - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) The Dialogue - First series of Speeches - Job curses the day of his birth - Confidence in God - Only the sufferer knows his own grief - The unswerving course of God's justice - God's justice is above all law - Job must acknowledge God's wisdom - God's wisdom is best seen in the dreadful works of his omnipotence - Chapter 3 to 14 - (3) Second series of Speeches - Job's own words condemn him - The injustice of man and the justice of God - Anger is powerless against the course of justice - The course of justice admits of no exception - Facts give the lie - God punishes only to vindicate justice - God is far off and evil is victorious - A hymn to God's omnipotence - Bildad's words are empty - Job reaffirms his innocence while acknowledging God's power - The speech of Zophar : the accursed - Chapter 15 to 27 - (4) A Hymn in praise of Wisdom - Wisdom is beyond man's reach - Chapter 28 - (5) Conclusion of the Dialogue - Job's lament and final defence (a) His former happiness (b) His present misery and Job's apologia - Chapter 29 to 31 - (6) The speeches of Elihu - Chapter 32 to 37 - (7) The speeches of Yahweh - First Speech, Job must bow to the creator's wisdom - Second Speech, God is master of the forces of evil - Behemoth and Leviathan - Job's final answer - Chapter 32 to 42 - (8) Epilogue - Yahweh rebukes the three Sages and Yahweh restores Job's fortunes - Chapter 42 -
In summary : This is the book's lesson: faith must remain even when understanding fails. Two texts of Saint Paul give Job his answer: 'The sufferings of this present time cannot be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us'. - Roman 8:18 - and: In my flesh I make up what is lacking in Christ's trials, for the sake of his Body which is the Church'. - Col. 1:24 - An examination of the problems of evil and human sufferings.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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