I’ve been reading the Bible chronologically this year. Right now I’m in the middle of Job.
The book is mystifying and frankly hard to comprehend having grown up with Western conceptions of justice. In the book, Job, who is called “blameless and upright” by God is caused to suffer much pain and heartache. His wealth is destroyed, his children are killed, and his health is taken from him by God, who says to Satan, the instigator of this tragedy, “[Job] still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
Throughout the book, Job searches for answers for the tragedies that befall him. He longs to plead his case to God. Job clings to his righteousness. During his suffering, Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to comfort him, but end up rebuking him.
Their logic goes like this: God only afflicts the wicked. You are afflicted. Therefore you must be wicked.
Job defends his conduct and maintains that he is righteous. He compares himself to other wicked men and contrasts his character and actions with them.
Much of the book is made up of the various exchanges between Job and his friends on this topic.
But then steps in Elihu, the youngest and wisest of Job’s friends, who listened to the exchanges silently and “burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although, they had declared Job to be in the wrong” (32:2-3).
Elihu says something very profound in chapter 36, “But you are full of the judgement on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you. Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?” (17-19).
Job may have been righteous and blameless, but when affliction came upon him, it was that righteousness and blamelessness in which he found justification. And he justified himself in comparison to other men, rather than in the eyes of God. Therefore, in the same way he judged, he was judged (17).
Today, Pat Robertson would be wise to read the book of Job and rethink these words of his:
Pat, to you I say, “You are full of the judgement on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.” We have all made a pact with the devil, and we are ransomed by a loving God regardless. Tragedy happens to all, and I pray that when it happens to you that you will find more grace than you failed to give to others in their time of suffering. So, stop calling the kettle black and shut the hell up unless you have something helpful to say.
It is a shame with his platform that he so misses the point of it all. Pat needs to read some more of Jesus as do we all. http://willadair.com/2010/01/05/rabbi-who-sinned/
Agreed, Will. Folks if you haven’t read Will’s post on this you should. Peace.
[...] ADDITION: Some words from Patrick McConnell on Merciful Contentment on his blog. Worth a click through. Some good words on Job from The Jakers. [...]
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