What is it about the book that prompts such praise? Most Christians I know don’t feel that way about the Book of Job. “The Book of Job taken as a mere work of literary genius, is one of the most wonderful productions of any age or of any language.” (Daniel Webster) “…the greatest poem, whether of ancient or modern literature.” (Tennyson) “Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, I should save Job.” (Victor Hugo) In the end, Job never completely gave up hope or faith in God as an inspiration to everyone enduring suffering of their own.The Book of Job has long been praised as a masterpiece of literature. God then restores Job’s health, granting him twice as much property as before, new children, and a remarkably long life. Job reconciles on their behalf, and God forgives them. This response pleases God, but he is upset with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for emitting lousy advice. Overcome by the appearance of God, Job recognizes God’s infinite power and accepts the constraints of his human understanding. God eventually intervenes, commanding Job to be brave, and explains various detailed features of his creation. He assumes that wisdom is concealed from humans, but he decides to persevere in seeking wisdom by fearing God and evading evil. Job wants to face God and protest, but cannot physically find God. He deplores the injustice that God lets evil people thrive while he and many other honest people suffer. The suffering shows too much for Job, and he turns bitter, anxious, and scared. Job believes that there is a “witness” or a “Redeemer” in heaven who will testify for his integrity ( Job 16:19, Job 19:25). Even worse, Zophar suggests that whatever wrongdoing Job has done he likely deserves more suffering than what he has experienced. Bildad supposes that Job’s children brought their deaths upon themselves. Bildad and Zophar agree that Job must have performed evil to provoke God’s justice and argue that he should attempt to manifest more innocent behavior. Eliphaz concludes that Job’s pain must be due to some sin Job has acted, and he recommends Job to seek God’s favor. Eliphaz replies that Job, who has comforted other people, now reveals that he never actually knew their pain. ![]() He hopes that his birth had been obscured in darkness and desires to have never been born, believing that life only increases his suffering. Job damns the day he was born, relating life and death to light and darkness. On the seventh day, Job talks, starting a discussion in which each of the four men shares his reflections on Job’s troubles in poetic descriptions. Three of Job’s companions, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, arrive to comfort him, sitting with Job in silence for seven days out of reverence for his grieving. His wife urges him to denounce God and to give up and die, but Job protests, trying to endure his inflictions. This time, Job is distressed with terrible skin sores. Satan arrives in heaven again, and God allows him another opportunity to test Job. Job rips his clothes and shaves his head in sorrow, yet he still praises God in his prayers. ![]() ![]() Over the time of one day, Job is given four reports, each informing him that his sheep, servants, and ten children have all died due to thieving intruders or natural disasters.
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