Why the Book of Job is Different from the Other Books
The book of Job is one of the most prolific and unique books of the bible. It is a mix of narrative and poetry, and is distinctive in the fact that it deals with the individual's (Job's) relationship to God, as oppose to that of the group's. It is these differences along with the somewhat radical picture of God that is presented which makes Job quite different than the rest of the bible, and often so interesting. One of the fundamental themes that arises in Job is the different imago-deis, or images of the Godhead that are presented throughout the book. Job is subjected to terrible trials of faith that force him to question the traditional image of God that had been so familiar to his culture and to himself. It is through these trials and this journey that Job is eventually able to break through to a new imago dei.
When the book of Job begins, Job couldn't ask for anything more, or be any happier. He was living a pious life with a generous collection of material possessions and a large loving family. God saw Job as an ideal servant. It was only when Satan hypothesized to God that the sole reason why Job was so obedient to God was because he was living so well that He allowed Satan to test this theory; under the condition that he didn't kill Job. Satan destroyed all that Job owned, and even killed his sons and daughters. Job was quite distraught over this, but didn't curse God as Satan had predicted. Satan then said that if Job's personal health were put at risk, then Job would certainly blaspheme against God. God again conceded to a test, making the same condition of not killing Job. Satan then covered Job's body with sores and blisters. Job was overwhe...
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...im. His inflation was countered with the prolonged alienation that he suffered at the hands of God.
The journey that Job underwent was clearly indicative of the same realization that many humans have to go through. It is a common fallacy to believe that God can be equated and judged as humans are; that the same scale used by humanity is appropriate for our divine creator. And as erroneous as this may be, it is an honest mistake. Humans possess such a painfully limited breadth of knowledge; compared to an omniscient, omnipotent creator, we know absolutely nothing. It was this notion that God wanted Job to realize, and for this reason that God was so vindictive with the pompous. More than anything, God wanted his creation to be humble and to respect His authority.
Bibliography:
The Bible
The Portable Jung, Harcourt and Associates, New York, 1973.
Second, the story line. Although Archibald MacLeish wrote the play based on the story of Job in The Bible, there are many differences in the story line. In The Bible, Job’s misfortune was spawned by Satan trying to show God that Job was not as holy as God had thought. God gave Satan the power to destroy everything Job had, including his health. Job’s children all died together when the roof of the house collapsed on them while they were all dining at the house of the oldest brother. His wife died also, and all of his possessions was taken from him. Furthermore, he contracted painful sores all over his body. As for J.B., his children died separately, one after the other. The oldest had died in the army. Two were involved in a car accident. One daughter was killed by an explosion that also took out J.B.’s millions. And the youngest was raped. However, J.B.’s wife, Sarah, was not killed, but instead she left him. In The Bible, Job is confronted by his three friends. His friends encourages him to turn against God and to curse him, but he refused to do so. On the other hand, J.B. was confronted with four friends, the first three encouraging him to turn against God but the fourth telling him to pray to God and to praise Him.
...ade to choose him for the spiritual task. Job realized he had to experience loss and suffering in the name of God to pass the test God bestowed upon him. God stated “Who is that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me... Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth” (p.667) God notified Job he was in no position to question the loss he must undertake in order to complete his mission. Job realized the meaning of his life, when he realized the magnitude God went to convince him of his calling. Job forgave himself for his sacrifices, because he realized it was instructed by God.
There is one significant difference that stands out between Job and Odysseus. That is the reason for their loss of agency and suffering. The reason in for Odysseus’ torment is obvious: he blinded Poseidon’s son. How anyone could not expect some form of vengeance, and sometimes I get the feeling Odysseus is caught unaware by Poseidon, is a mystery to me. The rationale behind Job’s reduction in agency is much less clear and is never addressed by God, who was an accessory to the whole affair by knowingly allowing it to take place. The comforters suggest possible explanations, unhidden sin or a lesson from God, but neither suggestions are confirmed or denied. The reason God accepted Satan’s wager remains a playground for speculation.
The Book of Job is a book about a wealthy man Job who lived in a land called Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He was “blameless” and “upright,” and was always careful to avoid doing evil. One day, Satan (“the Adversary”) ap...
The first commentator under consideration is Martin Buber in an excerpt from his Darko shel miqra'4. Buber draws an apt parallel between the Book of Job and the proceedings in a court of law, casting God as judge and Job as prosecution. In Buber's legal parallel, Job demands what in an earthly court of law would amount to due process, or a fair trial. And yet, even as Buber confers the legitimacy of a court of law on Job's complaints, Buber suggests that Job knew his appeal was "suppressed from the start."5 Buber cites Job: "Though I am right, my mouth will condemn me!"6 By highlighting the justness of Job's claims and the non-existent chance of a divine finding in Job's favour, Buber stresses how human justice and divine justice diverge. This difference is highlighted further by discussion of how Job is made to suffer hinnam, or gratuitously, from both God and Job's perspective.7
In the story of Job, Job is a pious man, devoted to his faith, who is also wealthy and blessed. “That man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen. and a very large household” (Kethuvim 1.10 Lines 1-4). Job had everything he could ever need, and was extremely faithful to God. One day God and Ha-Satan were talking and God began to boast about Job.
The difference between a superhero, as we know from movies and comics, and a traditional hero is rather unclear for many people.. In modern times, a superhero is often a being with supernatural abilities. For example, the movies depict them as individuals with super strength, night vision, the ability to climb walls, and so on. The majority of audiences have been spoiled with these unrealistic depictions and are unable to recall the real or “traditional” hero. In the texts, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Book of Job, and Bhagavad Gita, heroes are not “as seen on television”, but something more. The heroes in these stories carry great strengths such as wisdom, patience, and pride. To illustrate these characteristics, the protagonists themselves
began to question his faith. He thought, how could God destroy a civilization if he loved it so
...n the world. Job questions what god is really doing for him. Then god talks to job in question form about the creation of the earth. This shows that jobs is very small compared to god, so small that he cannot even being to understand some of the the things god is telling him. Chapter 38 proves to job that humans are far below the power of god then in chapter 42 job quickly shames himself for the previous things he said.
Job was a man of the purest faith. When the world shunned God, Job's faith never declined. Job was a wealthy, handsome man with a beautiful wife and a vast amount of property. At some point in time, Satan made a bet with God that if Job situation was changed, his faith would quickly falter. On this note, God took Job's wealth, his property, his family, and his wife. When times were at their worst, God gave Job pus welts on Job's face, taking his looks. Job's faith, however, did not falter, instead it becamestronger. Job passed the test. God then healed Job, gave him more land, greater wealth , and a better wife. Job was baffled, he wondered the purpose behind his fall and rise. When he asked God this, God replied: "...Because I'm God." That was answer enough.
He wants to find a way to justify God’s actions, but he cannot understand why there are evil people who “harm the childless woman, / and do no good to the widow,” only to be rewarded with long, successful lives (Job 24:21). Job’s friends, say that God distributes outcomes to each person as his or her actions deserve. As a result of this belief, they insist that Job has committed some wrongdoing to merit his punishment. God himself declines to present a rational explanation for the unfair distribution of blessings and curses. He still suggests that people should not discuss divine justice since God’s power is so great that humans cannot possibly justify his
His whole mind was focused on earthly things. He wasn’t aware of what the Scriptures mentioned: “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV). Everyman’s whole life was consecrated to perishable things. For example, his goods were the most cherished of all. Instead of worshiping God, he worshiped mammon. He was deceived thinking money could do everything for him. Certainly, it could solve some problems, but it couldn’t bribe death or delay it for him. In addition to that, Everyman didn’t choose the right friends. His friend “Fellowship”, another allegorical character, was depicted as ungodly. They both had fun and entertainment together. Instead of rebuking Everyman or giving him good counsel, Fellowship approved and encouraged his sinful actions. Indeed Everyman had to face death unprepared and alone because he was ungodly and his earthly treasures could not accompany
from the very outset - to wit, Job was faithful to God because of what God did for him. We have our
The Book of Job is the perfect portrayal of what faith should be. It starts with a man who is extremely successful, wealthy, and has a beautiful family. The only person that Job thanks for all his fortunes is God. One day the Devil points out to God that Job only praises his name, because of all the good fortune he has brought Job. So for no other reason but to prove a point, God killed all of Job’s livestock, destroyed his beautiful home, and killed all of his children. Job was completely unmoved by the tragedy that stuck him and said, “The lord gives and the lord takes away” (Book of Job). Prior to this instance, Job had never spoken to God
In The Book of Job, one of the main themes is desire, more specifically the desire to know the actuality. Job is a wealthy man living in a land of Uz with his family minding his own business. He is a very religious man and usually strives to do what he believes is morally right. Satan one day challenges God that Job will lose his faith in him if he allows Satan to torture Job. God accepts the challenge and Job greatly suffers. Job at the beginning of the story had no desires or intentions at all, but as his condition gets worse and worse. Job mindset about God and his belief begins to shift. At this point in the story desire starts to play a key role in Job’s life. Desire is shown in Job when he demands answers from God and why God is putting him through all of this. The idea of questioning God terrifies Job but his desire for an answer ultimately overshadows his fear of questioning God, “Here is my desire...