Pastor Steve Paulus

Old Testament Poetry and Wisdom Literature

Job

7. The Book of Job

7.1. Date of Events, Setting, and Authorship

Based on internal evidence, the events of Job are probably pre-Mosaic, taking place during the patriarchal era. There are several indicators of this early date:1) The existence of a clan family system; 2) Sacrifices offered by the head of household rather than the existence of the Levitical priesthood; 3) Mention of the qesitah an ancient name for a silver piece as a mode of monetary exchange.

Inasmuch as Job contains no references to historical events and reflects a non-Hebraic cultural background concerning which we possess little or no information, it is not easy to assign a probable date for the life time and career of Job. The district of Uz, in which the action took place, was located in Northern Arabia; the Septuagint refers to it as the land of the Aisitai, a people whom Ptolemy the geographer locates in the Arabian desert adjacent to the Edomites of Mount Seir. Job’s friend Eliphaz came from Teman, a well-known locality in Edom. Elihu came from the Buzites, who probably lived adjacent to the Chaldeans in northeast Arabia (Archer, p. 464).

The author of Job does not claim to be present at the time of the events and probably was a Hebrew who used ancient sources under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is especially evident through the use of the Hebrew covenant name for God, Yahweh. Many date the final form of the book from the time of Solomon onward.

7.2. Divisions

1. Prologue (1-2)

2. Dialogue (3-37)

Three speech cycles followed by Job’s closing discourse and monologues,

Elihu’s speeches.

3. Divine discourse (38:1-42:6)

4. Epilogue (42:7-17)

7.3. Theological Concerns

7.3.1. Theodicy: The question of the justice of God in light of human suffering, especially the suffering of the innocent. How can an almighty and just God permit or appear powerless in the face of human suffering? Theodicy (Job's plight) produces three questions a) Is God almighty? b) Is God evil, or does he have a demonic side? c) Is man is innocent? (NIV Study Bible, Introduction: Job, p. 733). These questions are addressed in Job.

Theodicy is often rooted in suffering, especially the suffering of the seemingly innocent.. Job continually asks the question “why?” 3:12, 16, 20, 23. Job’s plight: pain 3:26; wonders about God’s character, wants to die 6:8 ff.; can I overcome this temptation? Even friends are undependable, 6:14-15, insomnia, 7:4 ff. meaningless despair, 7:15; God is seen as an enemy 9:19; Mortality17:13-15; Anger 15:12-14 (Pastoral Counseling Insight re: grief); No posterity 18:17-19; Others are appalled 19:20-21; alienation from kin and friends 19:13-16; prosperity of the wicked 21:7-15, 29-31; 24:1 ff. A summary of Job’s affliction chapter 30

7.3.2. The Doctrine of Satan: The book of Job teaches against dualism which states that there are two equal but opposite forces at work in the world struggling for pre-eminence. One force is good, the other evil. Job teaches that Satan's power is limited (1:7; 2;2;). He acts by permission (1:12; 2:6). His name (Satan) means adversary or accuser. He attacks the sacred relationship between God and Job. This is a typical pattern of Satanic activity.

7.3.3. The Doctrine of Sovereignty and Creation; Chapters 1 and 2; 26:6-14; 38: 4 ff., 39:1 ff.

7.3.4. The Mediator, 9:33-35; 13:1-3, 15; 16:19-21; 17:3, 19:25-27; 27:1-6; 40:3-5; 42:1-6

7.3.5. The Resurrection; 14:14 ff.

7.3. 6. Wisdom and Ethics; Chapter 28; Chapter 31

7.4. Selected Passages

Outline of Contents: Prologue

Job’s wealth and character

Satan’s character: to accuse man to God and God to man (Gen.3; Zechariah 3; Gal. 3; Rev. 12)

God’s permission

Job’s trials

Comforters' speech on wisdom (5:19-25).

Job's faith in suffering (Advocate, 16:19; Ressurection, redeemer, 14:13-17, 19:25-27).

Elihu’s speeches (Ch. 32 ff.)

Sovereignty of God. (38:1ff.,40:1ff).

Job's vindication (42:1ff.)

7.5 Pastoral Concerns

Counselors approach; Anger, 15:12-14; Listening 21:2-3; Condemnation 22:4-11;

Sovereignty and Human responsibility

Theodicy

Testing (Luke 22:31; 11:4; I Cor. 10:13 ff., I Peter 5: 8 ff.; James 5:10-11)

Prayer: 42:7 ff.

Sources For Section 7:

NIV Study Bible, Introduction to Job, p.731-2

Gleason Archer. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Chicago: Moody Press, 1964.

A. Hassel Bullock. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books, Chicago: Moody Press, 1979.

David J.A. Clines. Job 1-20 in Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word Books

Publishers, 1989.

Gary R. Collins. Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. W Publishing Group, 1988.

Keil and Delitsch. Old Testament Commentaries. Vols. IV. Grand Rapids: Associated Authors and Publishers.

John E. Hartley. The Book of Job in The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, R.K. Harrison, ed. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988.

Marvin Pope. Job in The Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co., 1965.

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