Job

I began reading the Book of Job under the assumption that  Job was a virtuous soul who refused to blame God for his misfortunes and that he remained steadfastly faithful to the Lord despite the fact that his friends tried to convince him that his loyalty to God was in vain.  Not quite. 

I consulted Garrison who breaks the Book of Job into four-chapter segments and provides explication.  I did a second reading and afterwards felt on firmer ground.  Following is a mix of themes highlighted by Garrison and my own take-aways after the second reading. 

Job, though a believer, has a touch of the rebel in him.  He's a bit of a cynic. A fatalist.  It's all for naught so why bother.   He's good so why has life gone bad?  Though he remains faithful to God, his understanding of the ways of the Lord fall short of the mark.   He seems to feel God has deserted him and perhaps fails to understand that God is not responsible for the misfortune that has befallen him.

A central theme of the book is expressed in Ch.4, 17 and again in Ch. 25.  Can mortals be righteous before God?  Do we achieve righteousness through striving or is it an unearned gift from God?

Why does God bother about us?

The Deuteronomistic notion that evil is punished and virtue is rewarded is too simplistic.  Job is correct in this view unlike his friends who persist in this belief.

If it's impossible for man to be perfect, why bother trying to be good?  We all just end up on the dust heap regardless. What's the meaning of life anyway?  "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and come to their end without hope." (Ch 7,6)

Job is angry at God (Ch 21-25).

Job says God is persecuting him (Ch 26-28).  Doesn't he know about Satan?

While it is true that Job doesn't denounce God, he really does think that God is responsible for his misery.  He just can't figure out why God has let this happen given that he, Job, is such a great guy (Ch 29-31).

Finally Elihu appears (Ch 32-38) and sheds some light on the controversy between Job and his friends.  Elihu more or less denounces Job as without faith in or understanding of God and accuses Job of blabbering endlessly without making any sense.  Elihu points out (finally someone does) that God can't do wrong.  In Ch 36, 11-13, Elihu seems to be saying that obedience to God is what matters, not whether one is good or evil.   Might he also be saying that Job is too concerned with revenge on evil-doers and their judgment rather than with making sure that he is right before God (Ch 36, 17).

One part that wasn't difficult to understand was the conclusion of the book when God addresses Job.  This language was quite dramatic with vivid and graphic imagery. 

A couple hazy areas remain.  Why does God scold Job and then praise him?  And, how in the world does Elihu come to know all that he knows?