Day 5: Job Part 1

The story of Job is an ancient one, and it's a surprising thing to have survived from such antiquity. Not myth or legend, more philosophical musings from a very rich perspective. It feels modern, because we are a rich generation too. If it had been written by someone poor, it might have dealt with death; if it had been written by a ruler, it night have dealt with war. As it is, the themes of misfortune and suffering seem very contemporary.

Job's early history

Job 1:1-5

Satan and God discuss Job

Job 1:6-2:10

Job complains to his three friends

Job 2:11-13, 3:1-26

The first round of speeches

Eliphaz reproves Job

Job 4:1-21

Sinners are punished by God

Job 5:1-27

Job justifies his complaints and reproves his friends

Job 6:1-30


Chapter 1 emphasises that Job did not sin, either by cursing God or accusing God of wrongdoing. In chapter 3, Job curses the day he was born, but speaks no word against God. Eliphaz starts gently at first, but the thrust of his speech is that God protects the righteous. Job doesn't seem to be being protected, so... These words are no comfort to Job, who believes himself to be completely blameless. A classic case of not scratching where the poor man is itching.