The book of job is one of the most magnificent documents of literary history. While it is true that suffering is a major theme in the book of job, suffering is not the real meaning of job. The theme of the book of job is nothing less than human suffering and the transcendence of it. Brief explanations of the technical resources used in this commentary. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. Today we dive into the book of job the story about a humble man who had everything violently ripped away from him by god, who was testing.
The point of the book of job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a mystery of a wartorn and unfathomably complex creation, not the mystery of gods allcontrolling will. Some bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet ezekial ezekial 14. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. What the book of job teaches us about unexplainable suffering. The book of job, book of hebrew scripture that is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Much of what jobs friends told him exactly what we hear to today while eliphaz, bildad, and zophar did not condemn god, they did accuse and condemn. But the basic lesson is that tough times dont last, tough people. In the book of job, the character is described as a righteous man, indeed the most righteous man to be found on the earth, but one whom satan claims is righteous only to receive blessings from the hand of god. There is a dark way and secret way to explain this book. Please consider supporting my work through patreon here. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading understanding the book of job separating what is true from what is truth. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of.
God has put a hedge around him and has blessed him beyond all mortals, and as a result the devil accuses job of serving god only because. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Understanding the book of job separating what is true. In this post, we look at the deeply profound book of job. One way puts you to sleep and breeds false humility and the other wakes you up to. The makers of the bible project have made an animated video that explains the theme behind one of the most complex books of the bible. The purpose of the present study is to cultivate an interest in the study and use of the book of job by pastors, teachers, and laypersons in ministry. More specifically, why should a christian make a careful and thoughtful study of the whole of the book of job, rather than being satisfied with a rough idea of the storyline and a few of the highlights. In the following video, the book of job is examined and the theme is presented that even though we dont understand why some suffering and hardship exist, god is still wise and just. And job had said rash and presumptuous things about god in order to justify himself.
I found job to be one of the most interesting accounts in the bible, especially because it attempts to rationalize human suffering and the ways of the lord. Watch our overview video on the book of job, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Its subject matter is the allimportant question, why, in a world over which yahweh has jurisdiction, should innocent persons have to suffer when at the same time the wicked escape suffering and are permitted to have comfort and security. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job 395 resource is available that summarizes specific guidelines for preaching and teaching the book. The book of job explained essaysthe book of job is not simply a story, but a fable, rich with meaning and lessons to be learned. Job explores the difficult question of gods relationship to human suffering. Hes blameless and upright, and he has kids, a wife, land, and a bunch of sheep. The book of job explained key pieces to the puzzle. Job s story invites us to consider what it means that god runs the world by wisdom, and how this truth can bring peace in dark times. Introduction to the book of job society of gilbert keith. Elihus point of view is that job is a righteous man, though not perfect, and that he is loved by god. Job 3 niv bible after this, job opened his mouth and.
Previous book previous chapter read the full chapter next chapter next book. As humans we tend to think we know a little bit of everything. The three friends of job had not been able to account for the suffering of this good man with their theology. Job is the last of the three books that explore these themes. The book of job, named after its protagonist apparently not an israelite. It should be kept in mind that job is not the author. It is what job learns about god through his suffering. Up in the heavens, god brags to the divine assembly about job. The book of job is about a high school student who has trouble separating reality from fiction.
It broke down the book of job and explained things so well. In his introduction to his commentary on the book, john walton explains that its purpose is not only to explore how god works in regards to the suffering in the world, but to transform how we think about it. Job lived southeast of israel, perhaps east of edom and north of arabia see lamentations 4. The book of job biblical stories explained youtube. We are a small team who want to make science look beautiful. 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 hahns online crivoice bible study and the excerpts from john c. The book of job is a very tough book of the bible to understand using just the reasoning found within your human mind.
If you have not read this series from the beginning, i would highly recommend that you. The book of job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the new testament book of james. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The book of job is among the other old testament books both a philosophical riddle and a historical riddle. Given how christians are yet inclined to look for a divine reason behind catastrophes and personal tragedies. Job went through one of the most difficult seasons i think recorded in the bible. In this months feature, wayne jackson explores some of these queries. But the story isnt about what job had and what he lost. Why read the whole book rather than just watch the movie highlights. A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. In my own unique style i teach the book of job chapter by chapter, verse by verse and explain everything i have learned about it. The book of job is the first document in history to take seriously the question of why really bad things happen to really good people.
The book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on this book of scripture. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so. In this video, pastor allen begins exploring the key pieces of. Read job interpretation a bible commentary for teaching and preaching ebooks online. Finally, job should be studied because it gives tremendous hope and. Conclusion, job 3742 this entry is part 5 of 5 in the series jobs story the lord said to job, would you discredit my justice. Brief definitions of hebrew verbal forms that impact exegesis. The hebrew exclamation ekah how, which expresses dismay, used in 1. The book of job is often referred to as one of the great classics of world literature. The purpose of the book of job is to explore gods policies with regard to suffering in. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job. Rather, the focus is on what job learns from his suffering. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries.
After this, job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. Part 25 reese chronological bible job 19 caroline gregory. It is found in the third section of the biblical canon known as the ketuvim writings. The books theme is the eternal problem of unmerited suffering, and it is named after its central. I also had no idea that tom tompkins was writing a little gem entitled understanding the book of job. Jobs story invites us to consider what it means that god runs. This overview and outline of job is intended to assist you as you seek god by studying his word. The book of job is one of the most misunderstood books in. Frazzledrip and youtubes conspiracy crisis, explained vox. How do you trust god even when life isnt fair and you suffer for no good reason.
This treatise may be studied from several vantage points. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job. Lamentations was derived from a translation of the title as found in the latin vulgate translation of the greek old testament, the septuagint lxx, and conveys the idea of loud cries. This name might have been derived from the hebrew word for persecution, thus meaning persecuted one. As with other books of the bible, job bears the name of the narratives primary character. Understanding the book of job separating what is true from what is truth kindle edition by tompkins, tom, ketchum, randy, maynard, joshua. In the midst of his conforming to what he believes to be her idealized standards, he realizes his life is about so much more than simply himself. Bob utley, retired professor of hermeneutics biblical interpretation table of contents. The book of job explained key pieces to the puzzle part 3 duration. Rabbi breitowitz responds to these fundamental issues based on the book of job. Understanding the book of job by tom tompkins escape. It is the philosophical riddle that concerns us in such an introduction as this.
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