Bible Study - Job's Friend reply

Job’s Bible Study
July 8, 2008
Session V

Opening Prayer

Gracious God who has the power to create the whirlwind and the wisdom to speak to us in the still, small voice, we ask that you bring your love to us today. We are in need of the strength of your spirit. We live in the hope of your call. We depend on you; there is no other who gives us such and hope and life. Be with us, care for us, comfort and confront us with your love and grace. Through the power of the Spirit we pray. Amen.



Review Chapter 3 (Taken from Job and the life of faith – Carol Bechtel)
Job’s Candor
The first part of Job 3 is an extended curse, the last part (vv. 11-26) has much in common with the lament psalms. Here are some points of comparison and contrast:
Like the laments: Job 3:11-26 lists many vivid complaints.
Unlike the laments: Job 3:11-26
• may not be addressed to God at all (though God surely “overhears”).
• has no invocation, expressions of trust, petitions, or expressions of
praise.

Reread Chapter 3 silently. Take several minutes to write a “no holds barred” prayer
to God about a specific situation in your life. These prayers will not be shared with the group.


Introduction to Chapter 4 – Retributive Justice (Taken from Job and the life of faith – Carol Bechtel)


Retributive Justice is the heart of the debate between Job and his friends.

Retributive Justice is the idea that obedience is rewarded with blessing and disobedience is punished with suffering. The doctrine itself (though not necessarily the friends’ interpretation of it) has its roots in the book of Deuteronomy. The classic statements of this doctrine usually have an “if…then” pattern built into them. This highlights the conditional nature of the terms of the covenant. In the book of Deuteronomy we can see this most clearly in chapter 28. There the “if you obey” clause is followed by a long and alluring list of all the blessing that will follow in the wake of the people’s obedience (vv. 1-14). The list is even longer for the curses that will follow disobedience (vv. 15-68).

This interpretation of the covenant agreement between God and the people is by no means confined to Deuteronomy. We find many statements of it throughout the Old Testatment. Perhaps the most prominent example is in the books of 1st and 2nd Kings. There, each King and Queen is evaluated in terms of how he or she measure up to the Deuteronomic measuring stick. (1Kings 22:51-53) The nation’s fall is attributed to the people’s disobedience.

So does suffering follow disobedience? If so, why are there so many criminal driving around in nice cars?

Also problematic is people’s tendency to try and read the deuteronomic equation backwards. It is one thing to say, “Obey and be blessed,” but quite another to say, “I am enjoying blessing, therefore I must be obedient.” In Job’s case, the negative part of the equation is read backwards: Job is suffering, therefore he must have sinned.

As we enter the debate, be careful not to oversimplify the various positions. There are not simple issues and we cannot expect to find simple answers.

The debate between Job and his friends unfolds in three cycles. Within each cycle, the friends take turns and Job responds after each of their speeches. Thus, each cycle contains six speeches, and together the three cycles contain eighteen. The pattern deteriorates somewhat in the third cycle, making it difficult to identify the full eighteen.

1) Cycle One (Job 4-14)
Round A: Eliphaz (Job 4-5)
Job (Job 6-7)
Round B: Bildad (Job 8)
Job (Job 9-10)
Round C: Zophar (Job 11)
Job (Job 12-14)

2) Cycle Two (Job 15-21)
Round A: Eliphaz (Job 15)
Job (Job 16-17)
Round B: Bildad (Job 18)
Job (Job 19)
Round C: Zophar (Job 20)
Job (Job 21)

3) Cycle Three (Job 22-27)
Round A: Eliphaz (Job 22)
Job (Job 23-24)
Round B: Bildad (Job 25)
Job (Job 26-27)