Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ

(Catechism of the Catholic Church #133)

1. Introduction
2. Chapters 1-3
3. Chapters 4-10
4. Chapters 11-18
5. Chapters 19-25
6. Chapters 26-31
7. Chapters 32-37
8. Chapters 38-42

The Book of Job is one of the Wisdom books of the Old Testament. Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Wisdom, and Song of Songs are the other books of wisdom. All the wisdom books have several things in common:

• The are secular in nature, and not terribly concerned with God's miraculous works in our world.
• They do not concentrate on the history of Israel.
• They ask questions about the problems of life that affect all people, not just the chosen people (why the innocent suffer, why the wicked prosper, why there is evil in the world, etc.).
• They express joy in coming to know God.

The wisdom books developed during a golden age of Israel. No longer were the people concerned simply with survival. They began to evaluate how humans live, and came to realize that humans have inherent dignity.

The Book of Job

This book of the Bible deals with universal questions:

• Why does evil exist if God is good?
• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• Why do evil people prosper?
• Why do suffering and death exist?

We claim we would like logical explanations; however, even when we have those explanations, the pain remains within us. It may be very logical that a person who smoked cigarettes for 50 years dies of lung cancer, yet the pain of the loss does not go away.

We recognize two basic types of evil:

1. Moral evil - for example, innocent people killed by terrorists
2. Natural evil - for example, natural disasters and horrible diseases

The Book of Proverbs suggests human suffering is a result of human sin. The victim is to blame. Defeat and suffering are signs of sin and warning to repent.

The Book of Job questions the idea that good things happen to good people, and that evil is a punishment for bad behavior. Job is from Uz, not a city of Israel, which means he is not a Jew. The author makes a point to deal with a perfectly just man who is not one of the chosen people. The ideas in this book are intended to be universal.

Job's friends see his afflictions and tell him to repent, assuming Job is guilty of some offense. Job is aware of his innocence and that he does not deserve his punishment. God Himself, is aware that Job is a perfect, upright man. Job is the best of the best. (Job1:8) The rest of the book explores evil and suffering and the awareness that it is not a result of sin. Job questions why humans suffer unjustly.

Chapters 1-3

Several points we considered:

1. We tend to question evil but not good. When we question good, we inevitably acknowledge the author of that good.
    
2. Life begins and ends in nakedness. Everything else is a gift.
    
3. Pleasure is God's whisper, pain is God's megaphone.

Chapters 4-10

In the first speech Job's friends simply tell him to admit he's wrong and get on with life. Insensitive friends were unwilling to listen to another side of the story. They took it for granted that Job was guilty. They also presumed God would forgive Job in an expected way. The first speech gives us a glimpse of not only their shallow faith, but also their shallow understanding of friendship.

The friends give their advice freely. Often advice received is considered criticism, which is how Job felt. How often do we offer advice unthinkingly. Do we reassure those in need? Do we offer them support, kindness, and understanding free from recriminations? Do we truly believe that the person who is suffering is innocent? In Job 5:15 we are reminded of the beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." How do we live this beatitude?

Sin and suffering - what is their relationship? The books of Proverbs and Job give us different aspects of this discussion. Proverbs tells us the consequence of sin is suffering. There is a definite cause-effect relationship. Job, on the other hand, recognizes bad things happen for no apparent reason. We see illness, natural disasters, unexpected death, etc. as suffering. This suffering, eyond our understanding, may be a result of disorder (according to Thomas Aquinas), the consequence of original sin.

The Old Testament teaches us the early part of salvation history, and shows how we've never quite figured things out. Jesus, the great arbitrator, had to come and show us how to suffer. Fortunately, Christianity glorifies the Resurrection, not suffering.

We are all called to be saints, also known as separated ones, those set apart from unholiness, and set apart within our covenant group. Technically, we can call each other St., because it is also an abbreviation for sent. The next time you greet a friend, try calling him "St. (fill in name)." That should raise a few eyebrows!

We also noticed Job suggests God is just not letting up on him! God is always judging and keeps punishing despite innocence! Each response from Job gets stronger and stronger as Job figures things out. We wondered - is Job a teenager?????????

To sum up this section we concluded we need to understand that through all our struggles God is always present. Our job as Christians is to recognize and share God's comforting presence in suffering, and not fall victim to bitterness and despair.

Chapters 11-18

• Job's friends are exaggerated characters; nevertheless, they show little sympathy for Job and prefer to scold him harshly for not accepting their advice.
• Job's friends also show a stagnation in their faith. They are so convinced they are right, and so set in their ways, that they refuse to consider other options.
• How often are we those friends, the ones who avoid listening, and prefer to convince others our way is the only way? How often do we console and avoid moral judgment?

Prayer

• Sometimes we just need to "be" with God in prayer, not do prayer. After all, we are human beings, not human doings! (thanks again, John M!)
• We also considered the types of prayer (ACTS of prayer)

Evolution of an after life

• Throughout much of the Old Testament we do not hear of an afterlife. In Genesis it is extremely important to have children because they carry on the family line.
• In chapter 14 we hear Job questioning that theology. If a tree can have hope, why can't man? Nature has rebirth, why can't we? Job 14:14 states, "When a man has died, were he to live again all the days of my drudgery I would wait, until my relief should come." If only there were an afterlife, Job would see a purpose in the suffering. If there were no afterlife, suffering would only be the sign of a cruel, unloving God.
• The friends see religion as an ebb and a flow. Man does his duty, God responds accordingly. Job does not understand why things are not working according to plan. Could there be another explanation?
• This may be the turning point, with the culture transforming from a bargaining culture to a relationship culture. The archaic religion is growing in understanding of the almighty being. They had not previously gotten it wrong, they just did not yet have it complete.

Typology

• Job is a type of Jesus, the suffering servant, blameless sufferer, social outcast

Grieving

• Job has lost everything and is grieving his losses
• His so-called friends talk to much, neglect his needs, and base their judgments on their own ignorance. That is definitely not the way to help anyone who is grieving.

Chapters 19-25

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