I want to admit to a current addiction of mine, the Book of Job. I find it poetic, deep, beguiling, brave and ultimately damn fine literature.

Having found myself discussing and defending Job, admittedly rather off topic, in other forums on OLO I recognise that my addiction may well be becoming boorish thus this standalone post.

My frustration is the very shallow message many people appear to take from it, one that says Job, despite his afflictions, refused to curse God and ultimately was rewarded with new children and wealth.

What seems to be ignored is the exploration of things like the question of evil, of putting God on trial, of the limitations of God and of whether a man can be judged more righteous than God.

It is certainly very revealing of the psyche of the Hebrew God.

I am probably more interested in the literature and philosophical aspects rather than the religious and so would like to explore it as it stands without so much reflecting on its context.

I am curious what others think. Anyone care to play?

the book of job was the last book i read[in the bible]...i have noted its discussion on other topics...and thought the paNTHEUM THEORY RELITIVE[DAMM CAP LOC]

the elihu.32;1-37;24.that answers might be of intrest,a search for the meaning of the name gives two definitions...;''Elihu,..he is my God himself'' and ''Whose God is he.''......noting he was silently lisytening to the whole conversation

this becomes intresting when 'god' himself..replies later..38;1-41;34..[by god himself..i note..he is refered to as..god of this world]...but you know where im going with that one

its noteworthy that satan afflicted job..[not god]...and that god said he could exceed his bounds...noting job 1;12...all he HAS is in thy power[only upon himself..put NOT forth thy hand....

i find 32;1..revealing[as the 3 stopped answering job...because he was rightious IN HIS OWN EYES...at2 butze gets angry with job for justifying himself rather than god...pretty much my first impression of the book as well

anyhow i look forward to the topic getting explained/egsamined/disected...i enjoy that elihu speaks at 32;8..''but it is the spirit IN a man,THE BREATH of the allmighty,...that gives him understanding''...9..its not only the old who are wise,not only the aged who understannd..what is right

...14..but job has mareshalled his words against me...and i will not reply him with your arguements
18...for i an full of words...and the spirit within me comnpells me

33;3,4...14..[noting the refereances..[re swedenberg influxes from h and h]...23...29..31..33
[34;2,3,4...10,..12-...23..33]
35;6,7,10,11-15,16]
36;3,4,5..6..12,26
37;5

I feel that any notion that God was not responsible for what happen to Job despite Satan doing the afflicting unreasonably devalues the whole book. To let him off the hook misses the whole point. God is on trial for actions that offend human moral sensiblities.

Remember Satan here is not the later Christian creation but the 'Accuser'. I am reminded of the Pope's inquisitors, working with the express permission and urging of His Holiness.

At its crudest it is God's pride that is the driver of the capricious treatment of Job.

Job is often praised for not cursing God but in doing so he would have given some justification, however small, for his treatment so wisely he refrained. He did however challenge God forcefully.

I read the book as almost a coming of age for the human race, one apparently championed by God when he commands Job to "Gird his loins" and take him on. One gets the sense that God is proud of Job, not for his faith but for his willingness to challenge God. Job spells out the measures for which God should be judged and how he has fallen short.

Some writers are dismissive of the final chapter and see it as a later addition. That may be so but I find it refreshing in what it tells us about Job's human-ness and God's values.

God's address to Job in the three preceding chapters are exquisite and in an almost environmentalist diatribe deliver some vivid imagery. His pride in creation most fully expressed in the wild rather than the human tamed. I love it.

Who let the wild donkey go free?
Who untied his ropes?

I gave him the wasteland as his home,
the salt flats as his habitat.

He laughs at the commotion in the town;
he does not hear a driver's shout.

He ranges the hills for his pasture
and searches for any green thing

Dear csteele,

Can you explain to me why righteous people suffer
and why evil exists in a world that is governed
by an all-powerful God?

I have spent many years in the study of Job and written extensively in the defence of monotheism so will enjoy this topic. But later!

Csteele, I agree the Book Of Job is poetic, deep, beguiling, brave and ultimately damn fine literature. Yes, it's a damn fine piece of fiction that's very well written indeed.