The Debate of Job

Monday, August 25, 2008 -- Week of Proper 16
Louis, King of France, 1270

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 981)
Psalms 1, 2, 3 (morning) 4, 7 (evening)
Job 4:1; 5:1-11, 17-21, 26-27
Acts 9:19b-31
John 6:52-59

There are several quotes from this section of Job which show up from time to time as wise sayings from the Bible: "human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward."
"He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he set on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."
"How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal."

The words are from Eliphaz the Temanite. Eliphaz is one of the friends who comes to comfort Job. Teman is in Edom, East of Israel, a place with a reputation for it's wisdom traditions. These words are similar to many sentiments that are present in other parts of scripture, especially Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. This is the conventional wisdom of the age. It has a certain weight and dignity.

The book of Job is intended as an extended debate between Job, the innocent sufferer, and the various schools of religious wisdom thought. The argument of the book of Job is that none of these traditional, conventional theologies is adequate in the face of injustice.

So it is ironic if we hear a contemporary person quote from the speech of Eliphaz, "The Bible says, 'human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward.'" Well... Yes and no. We find that proverb in the Bible, in the book of Job. But it comes from the mouth of Eliphaz, whom the book of Job is intent on discrediting.

And yes, the wisdom of Eliphaz sounds a lot like what we read in the other parts of Biblical Wisdom literature, especially Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. But that is exactly the theology and world view that the book of Job intends to confront and challenge. Later we will hear speeches from others of Job's friends who will articulate the theology of the Deuteronomic historian -- God rewards the good and punishes the wicked, they will assert. "No!" says Job. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the good suffer unjustly, and your pieties are mere rationalizations.

Job is a Bible vs. Bible argument. Job is a passionate reflection on the ancient question, Is God's governance of the earth just? Job suffers horribly. Job asserts his innocence. This is personal injustice. If God is supremely wise and powerful, as well as just and good, why does this happen and what, if anything, is God doing about it?

Job's friends will offer every argument in defense of God. Job, you must have done something sinful, even without knowing it. Everyone is sinful. We are all fragile sinners, mere shadows of short lives. Job, you can't even know the rules; just trust God with your heart without having to have some intellectual solution. God is right and good; you must have failed.

From the book of Job's perspective, it is the arguments of Job's friends that fail. Ultimately God will declare Job the victor in the disputation.

The book of Job raises the question -- How do we read the Bible? Certainly not as though it were a single voice from a single source. "The Bible says..." The Bible is a conversation, sometimes an argument. It presents conflicting and sometimes irreconcilable viewpoints. The author of Job will never agree with those who wrote Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. In some sense, Job is protest literature against Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

Yet, we treasure all of these as sacred scripture. We receive them as God's Word, part of our heritage of our encounter with the revelation of God. We enter the great stream of conversation and debate in our day. It is rich and alive, challenging and ambiguous.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas