Christian Formation for Sunday October 14, 2012 - Job 23:1-17; Job Replies: My Complaint is Bitter

Oct 14, 2012, 20 Pentecost

Job 23:1-17

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter

 

Background: Job is considered the first of the Wisdom books. It has been argued to be the climax of Hebrew Scripture. A central theme of the book is the possibility of “disinterested righteousness” and a secondary theme is innocent suffering. This book of Job does not refer to anything outside itself, thus has no definitive composition date but has patriarchal overtones.

 

Theme: In this passage Job replies to his friend Eliphaz. This section is part of a cycle where Job presents an argument and his three friends in turn respond to his argument. Today’s passage falls in the third of three cycles of argument and response.

 

Questions to Ponder

* Identify the setting for (1) the entire book of Job and (2) the section for today. Who are the principles in the story and what has happened to arrive at the conversation in today’s passage?

* Who do you think the “person” is who caused Job’s difficulties?

* Who are Job’s three friends who are in conversation with him?

* In this passage, who do you think the person referred to as “he” or “his” might be?

* Some have said that Job feels that God is absent from his plight even though Job has been an upright person all along. Do you think that is the case given the language in this passage? Why or why not?

* Where do you think Job believes God might be (assuming that God is he/his)?

* Do you think that Job believes he will be able to comprehend God? If so, how might Job understand God? When might Job finally grasp the nature of God?

* Verse 6 might imply that Job believes that God listens to humans, yet this argument does not seem to be consistent with Job’s argument. Do you think that Job thinks that God listens to humans? Why would he believe that God would or would not listen to humans?

* Verses 8 and 9 seem to imply that Job is unable to find God by looking for him. Yet Job seems to continue to look for God. Does it make sense that Job would continue to look for someone that he doesn’t believe is there?

* To whom do you think Job’s statement in verse 12 is made? Is his statement for his benefit? His friend’s benefit? or God’s benefit?

* Do you feel there is irony in Job’s statement in verse 16? Previously, Job seemed to want to see God but this verse seems to imply that if Job were to see God, God’s presence would be completely overwhelming. Do you think this is Job’s point? Why or why not?

* Do you think that Job really wants to see God?

* What would be the importance of Job’s statements in his time (pre-Christ)? What might be the message of Job for our generation?

* How do we apply the message of Job to our situation at St. John’s, individually and as a community?