Job 1-31: Wisdom - more about questions than answers?

All suffering, when you boil it down to its essence is the suffering of individuals. Yes, nations do suffer and so do churches but at the heart of it, it is the struggle of the individual, trying to make sense of it all that hurts. After the readings of pre-exilic prophets the past five weeks, we are now moving to the Wisdom writings, a genre of literature which attempts to "connect the dots of life" and derive meaning from observation and experience. It is intensely personal as we view life through the eyes of Job, Solomon, Qohelet the teacher, Agur, and Lemuel. "Where is God when it hurts?" ,"Where is God when I need Him the most?", "What is the meaning of life?" - These are all real questions which cannot be dismissed away with a few 'pet-memorized-verses", it requires a wrestling with matters of wisdom.

Our first "wisdom wrestler" is Job, a name synonymous with suffering, affliction, and endurance (Jam 5:11). I would encourage you to read the book of Job aloud and try to notice the tone of your voice as you do. Wisdom literature engages both your mind and your heart. One aspect of this genre is that the writer do get lyrical and poetic and you may be taken through a few hoops before landing to a certain conclusion or train of thought. In other words, savor the journey, inhale the process without being prematurely concerned about the endgame. The answers may still evade but the search will make you wiser.

Connecting the dots
Other than the prologue (Job 1-2) and the epilogue (Job 42:7-17), the rest of the content is lyrical and poetic in nature - it is meant to draw you into the emotions of the conversations, to engage both your mind and your heart as well. So, don't be just thinking but be "feeling" as well. Here's a structure to reading Job that I find personally helpful (inspired by Dr Belcher from RTS). 

• (1-2), Prologue = the heavenly context (of which Job is not aware of!).
• (3), Job's lament = note that he is honest without being rebellious.
• (4-27), The cycle of speeches from his three friends (with responses from Job) = what they say actually make logical sense (in the mind), but was completely oblivious to the paradigm that there could be such a situation in Job as an innocent sufferer.   
• Eliphaz (the counsellor who misses the mark)
• Bildad (claims to be the defender of God's justice)
• Zophar (claims to be the interpreter of God's ways).
• (28) The wisdom poem = an interlude of Job's reflection.
• (29-31) Job's final speech = summarizing his past, present, and final assertion of his integrity.
• (32-37) The appearance of a fourth "adviser", Elihu = who tries a different approach to discredit Job but basically ended up rehashing the same arguments as the other three friends. 
• (38-42:6) God's speeches and Job's responses = No direct answers but a change of perspective for Job leading to a change of mind.
• (42:7-17) Epilogue = Job vindicated, having twice the blessing that he started with.

Activity idea
In chapter 3, Job lamented even about his own existence, he was in despair but he did not rebel against God, His Creator. In fact, he started to ask real, authentic, deep questions and was not afraid to go into the "interrogative" mode of prayer. What about you? When was the last time, you bared your heart and asked God about the really, deep things in your life that really trouble you? People often link answers with prayers but Job shows us that questions can also be the theme of one's prayer. In fact, genuine questions often lead to wise wanderings.

Christ in Scripture

Job is presented in James 5:11 as a person who was steadfast under great trial. Just as his friends could not comprehend how someone who was blameless could endure such suffering, so those at the foot of the cross could not comprehend how one who was being crucified could be the Son of God: "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God." (Matt 27:43). Jesus' suffering is much greater that Job's suffering, for Jesus suffers for the sake of others, with the great hope that he "shall see his offspring" and "shall prolong his days" for "the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand" (Isa 53:10). 

We, as followers of Jesus Christ will also suffer for his sake but we see more clearly than Job because of the confident hope of vindication that comes from the resurrection of Christ. The coming restoration for the the followers of Christ will be so much greater that Job's restoration, for we will experience the fullness of the kingdom when Christ comes again in glory. We then will echo the words of the apostle Paul, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to  us." (Rom 8:18).

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