So my quest to read the bible in a year has now brought me to the book of Job. Oh joy...well, I mean come on, not exactly most people's idea of a wonderful way to spend their afternoon, evening...or morning for that matter. I've heard people complain so much about Job and I have tried to read it once but it really is one of those books that is rather long winded like a J. R. R. Tolkien novel or something. Like, you feel the grass beneath your feet and describe the history of that particular patch of grass for the next whole chapter kind of book. Anyway, I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, as the reading schedule jumped from Abraham sacrificing and then not sacrificing Isaac, in the middle of Genesis, to reading the ENTIRE book of Job...but I am determined to get through it and actually get something from it this time and hopefully not fall asleep every time I sit down to read it, which happened today I'm not gonna lie.
So here are some thoughts on Job 1-8.
1. I didn't realize that Job's wife never dies, and that she at one point even tells Job he should curse God and die...not exactly an ideal marriage going on there...
2. Job's first friend to speak [Eliphaz] in Job 4:12-21 says a word was given to him from a spirit...is this an Angel? The Holy Spirit? I need to research this more.
3. All the action really takes place right in the beginning you know? Then it's basically 4 friends chilling together and arguing about how Job should react and move on from this tragedy. I really enjoy picturing this like a movie in my head because it's fun to imagine them arguing back and forth with Job who is a total mess.
Anyway, although I still fell asleep, I realized that there is a lot of good substance here, so you should read it! I'm trying to find a good commentary to go along with it, but not sure who is legit and who is just plain trippin. So if you have any advice on that please send it my way! Peace,
Liz
4 comments:
I finally found your blog, aren't you proud of me. Anyways, there is a new book by John Piper called The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God. You can find it online and have the author read it to you for free. I've listened to some of John Piper's sermons and feel he is pretty legit. I've wanted to listen to this, since I finally read and enjoyed the Book of Job for the first time Fall semester. I read it before for my Junior in high school English class before I was a Christian, and it kindof took the joy out of it to be forced to write essays etc. I would read through Job first before consulting any commentaries or books so that you can weigh them with your first reading of the book yourself.
Just so you know "UNT" is me, Jaime. wasn't sure how to change my blogger name?
I agree that John Piper is pretty legit. He's a really smart guy.
Also, I love the part when you say "like describing the history of the patch of grass for two chapters" Hilarious. You're great. How did your bars turn out?
Thanks Jaime! I don't know how to change your name...But from now on I know it's you! :) Kelly told me the same thing about reading it through first before reading a commentary and I think I will definitely do that and then find John Piper's book.
Ginger - haha, you know that is totally how the Lord of the Rings books are! Anyway, the bars I have not made yet, but I'm making them either tomorrow or Thursday so I'll let you know and tell you how the internationals felt about minnesotan food! Which reminds me, what sort of main dish do you think I should make that is actually good, and from Minnesota?
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