Saturday 11 April 2009

Background

The book of Job consists of two types of writings. The first isnarrative (which can be found at the beginning and the end of thebook), the other is speeches between Job and three friends (foundfrom chapters 3 to 42). In the first cycle of speeches the friendsurge God's moral governance of the world - which brings up thequestion of justice.

The second cycle begins in chapter 12 and continues to chapter 14,which is where we pick up the story. Job enlarges on the conditionof man, addressing God directly, claiming that every man of Adam'sfallen race is short-lived. He asks how a person can be sinless,when a heart, by its nature, is unclean. Here it appears that Jobhad grasped the understanding of 'original sin' (the innatetendency, in human beings, to sin - caused by 'The Fall' - Genesis 3). Hegives us the message that our time here on earth is in God's handsand not our own, and therefore we must look at our lives and turnaway from our wrongdoings.

In verses 7-15 Job proclaims the doctrine of the resurrection: thateven when a tree is cut down, in the right environment the shootsregrow and the tree is brought back to life.

We should therefore humble ourselves before God and cast awayanything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. Job'sfriends, who were miserable comforters, please themselves with thethought of the new life which is to come, for it is in heaven whenour hearts will be renewed to holiness, and in that place, it willbe rest for our souls.

To Ponder

What is your understanding of 'sin'?

When you think about the afterlife how do youimagine it?

What things in your life do you need to getsorted out with God?