Job is a commentary of the problem of suffering. The answer to this problem is resolved in chapters 38- 42 when God finally answers.
**In the Old Testament Job suffers tremendously. He insists that he is innocent. However, his “friends” insist that Job admit that his sins led to his suffering. God addresses Job at the end of the book. He rebukes Job’s false friends for blaming Job. They were wrong to claim that it was his sin that caused his suffering. God is happy that Job was seeking an answer, but he invites Job to grow in humility before God. God says that some things are beyond are ability to understand. We can know some things about suffering, yet it is still a mystery in that we cannot understand it completely. **
Job 38:1-4
“Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:
Who (1) is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?
Gird up your loins now, like a man;
I will question you, and you tell me the answers!
Where were you when I founded the earth?”
1. “Who” is a reference to Elihu ( or Eliud ) who had just finished speaking in the previous two chapters. See Aquinas
Job 42:7-9
“… the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ’ I am angry with you and with your two friends; for you have not spoken rightly concerning me, as has my servant Job. Now, therefore, take seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up a holocaust for yourselves; and let my servant Job pray for you; for his prayer I will accept, not to punish you severely. For you have not spoken rightly concerning me, as has my servant Job.’
Then Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did as the LORD had commanded them. And the LORD accepted the intercession of Job. Also, the LORD restored the prosperity of Job, after he had prayed for his friends; the LORD even gave to Job twice as much as he had before.”
For more context of the Book of Job see Dave Armstrong’s comments below
- The Case Of Job
The book of Job, rightly understood and interpreted, reads almost like a parable of the “faith movement”, and its refutation, for we find much here that cannot be explained by “faith” proponents. Some of the worst arguments in the “faith” literature are put forth in attempts to explain away Job and his sufferings. Lets look at some key verses of Job:
In verse 1:1, Job is described as blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. In verse 1:8, the Lord Himself repeats these same words, in conversation with Satan, adding the phrase, there is no one like him on the Earth. After Job is afflicted with all the calamities described in 1:13-22, God still says the same thing about him that He said in 1:8, in verse 2:3 (adding, And he *still * holds fast his integrity). Note how God says in the same verse, You incited me against him, to ruin him without cause. … Note also, how God proclaims that even though Satan cited Him against Job, there was *no cause *for it. This wasn’t allowed to come upon Job because of some secret sin, or lack of faith, etc. …
But the Bible tells us otherwise. Job *was * righteous because
God said so (1:8 and 2:3) in no uncertain terms. … James even commends Job for his endurance (James 5:11; see also #28). This is strange indeed if we are to regard Job as an example of a
lack of faith!
Job shows his understanding of God’s ways in verse 2:10: Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? Now we will look at Job’s ‘comforters.’ We will see how they asserted that the righteous do not suffer, and that therefore, Job must have some sin which is causing his problems. They are exactly, uncannily, like “faith” followers today, who exude a decided lack of
compassion toward the suffering …
God severely rebukes these “friends” at the end of the book, and asserts His sovereignty (i.e., “trust Me even though you may not understand some things such as adversity befalling the righteous.”).
Bildad says in verse 8:6: If you are pure and upright, surely now He would rouse Himself for you and restore your righteous estate, implying that Job was
not righteous because God didn’t move immediately. Job, however, although the most righteous man on the earth,recognizes mans inherently sinful nature by saying: How can a man be in the right before God? (9:2). He is arguing that since no man is righteous, God’s dealings with men are based totally on His mercy, and not *our *supposed faith or righteousness. …
Job’s comforters continue to make insinuations about Job’s supposed great sinfulness as the book goes on, getting worse as they go. Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end? (22:5) And so it goes throughout the book.
Of course we know that these “friends” are dead wrong …
Sorry… I guess I didn’t realize there was a time limit on ‘truth’. Next time I correct you, I’ll make sure I do it more promptly…