The Book Of Job

[julie]

I am trying to read some of the Bible. Ill totally admit my origional intent was to be able to know what I'm talking about in situations I have to defend myself. My friend who practices Native American spirituality pointed out to me that was not the only intent I should have. So, taking that as good advice,I am willing to open my mind, and I'm gonna need some help! The only help I can see getting is from a Christian Deist, since you read the Bible not as Gods dictation. Anyway, the Book of Job was one of my readings. I just can't see where the good lies in that story. I could use a spiritual interpretation/moral. As I can only see now- I thought it could mean don't blame your problems on God. But in the story God gave Satan permission to do nasty things to Job. So isn't God to blame in this story? It also says to me to blame ones ills on Satan. Or it could say to listen to your friends for advice, but don't let them make you believe God is mad at you. Or is it that one doesn't fall out of grace with God? I'm at a loss. I feel there must be some positive spiritual message here, I just can't see it. This is where you come in! Is this just a story with no real spiritual value?

[Lily]

The book of Job is one that interests me a lot. I've had the same questions you have, and I'm still working on it. I do have some ideas, but I'll have to organize them first. I look forward to hearing the ideas of others, it will help me.

I will say this, to me it reads like a stage play. When I read it, I actually envision each scene taking part on separate areas of the stage, lights fading in and out as the scene changes.

[julie]

Very interesting Lily! What a creative way to see it! It would make a great play! I look forward to you organizing your thoughts and elaborating! I actually took an interest to this story after my fundamentalist Christian friend friend told it to me ( even after I told her I knew the story. They can be persistant!) With such excitement over how beautiful it was. To her, it is a factual account and shows how wonderful Gods love is. I could only think whoa, how cruel a portrayal of God that is! What exactly is the moral? Do all stories in the Bible hold some spiritual lesson, no matter how cruel they may seem? When I get a chance to read more, ill post more questions!

[Lily]

It is a beautiful story, but I don't buy the typical Christian interpretation. One of my biggest peeves is when people say "God gives and He takes away." God didn't take anything away from Job. Satan did, and I'm coming to think of Satan as representing adversity, the basic challenges we face in life. That means these things happened to Job because that's the way life is. You keep your head up, press on, get through it, and things get better. What you do not do is let it make you think that you brought it on yourself, or that you deserve it, or that God's just mean.

It is confusing, because the majority of the text is the words of people who were just plain wrong, but a big part of it is God telling them they were wrong. It amazes me that people still interpret it the same wrong way.

[julie]

How about this?Say It is a story about standing strong in the face of adversity even while others try to talk you down. And, this may be reaching but, they opening where God is having a dialogue with Satan is out of order- a style we see much of now- and is Really one of the scenarios Jobs friends use to explain his ills? "Your such a loyal follower of God, maybe he is trying to test it by making a deal with Satan." Done this way one is forced to think differently about Gods nature. Ie, would God really lower himself to testing his people with such disregard? Maybe its ment for readers to rise above what's written and contemplate Gods nature more deeply. Therefor, we shouldn't blame God for the ills in our lives, they are just a natural occurance, which can sometimes even be brought on by onesself. Satan is nothing more than a metaphore for adversity as you said Lily. When we are in adverse situations, people are going to tell us all sorts of nonsense, and it is our job to keep ourselves above that and remember not to lay blame where it doesn't belong and work to change our situation and/or outlook so we can rise above???

[julie]

Dare I run that by my fundie friend? Or would she likely take offense to my loose intrepretation? Ill admit,I see the message in a much brighter light the way I've interpreted with the help of Lily. I have to admit, I've enjoyed the exercise. It may not be the intended interpretation, but is that the only way to read the Bible? I like to think not! I hope people chime in with their understanding of the story! Lily, maybe you and I can write the stage play- Job hits Broadway! Lol. But hey, its not a bad idea!

[driver]

I think Shakespeare did a play on the book of Job. It teaches us that when the crap hits the fan hold on with both hands and you will get through it. Satan really is our lower animal desires. I think in the OT Satan is only mentioned in the Book of Job. I could be wrong though. It was also the Jewish way of blaming God for the problems of their world. In the story Satan appears roaming about here and there. God allows Satan to have his time with Job. Job remains faithful to God. It still made the OT God the giver of good and evil.

[gnomon]

I will say this, to me it reads like a stage play. When I read it, I actually envision each scene taking part on separate areas of the stage, lights fading in and out as the scene changes.

Actually, someone did make a play of it. Check out Robert Frost's, A Masque of Reason, Chapter 43 of Job. Ironically, it's a comedy. Christians don't find it very funny, but Deists should enjoy it.

[julie]

Damn that Shakesphere and Robert Frost for being born before me and sweeping the rug from right beneath my feet! I would enjoy the Frost play for sure! That's basically how I viewed the story, but I was counseled to look for the good. That's the only way I could do it. Literally I see it as saying your problems are brought on by higher powers and you just have to believe somehow that this god knows what its doing. It also points to saying that no matter what, one must keep faith in this God, even when he's made petty bets on your life with the devil. I mean really, why would God need to prove he's right to anyone, much less than a fallen angel? But, I'm trying to use fresh eyes. Fresh eyes she mutters to herself...

[gainesvillecathy]

Maybe its ment for readers to rise above what's written and contemplate Gods nature more deeply. Therefor, we shouldn't blame God for the ills in our lives, they are just a natural occurance, which can sometimes even be brought on by onesself. Satan is nothing more than a metaphore for adversity as you said Lily. When we are in adverse situations, people are going to tell us all sorts of nonsense, and it is our job to keep ourselves above that and remember not to lay blame where it doesn't belong and work to change our situation and/or outlook so we can rise above???

To grow and learn and create we must have strife. Creation is perfect because of this.

Some people look at challenges as a blessing because they are being recognized by God. I believe this to be the reason why some of the stories in the Christian Bible seem to contradict each other. Is it a test of God, or is it Satan? So many different perspectives. Perhaps that's the point.