This semester I have been taking a course in Psalms and Wisdom Literature. I decided to take this class, because the Psalms are really something that interest me. Today I was far from disappointed in class discussion.
My professor asked, "If Job does not explain suffering, what is the point of the book?"
All the students looked at him, perplexed. Wasn't the point of the book that Job went under intense suffering, but never sinned? However, what is it that made him righteous. What is it that made it so he never sinned? If we read the rebukes of his friends, they are all arguments that we use to rationalize suffering in our own day and age. We believe people suffer, because they sin. I mean, after all, if someone ends up poor and on the streets, that's obviously the result of poor decision making, says the logic of the modern philosopher. We also believe that God is God and we are not, so why question him? He is sovereign. Again, we say that there is a higher order to everything, so all leads to a greater good. These are all the arguments of Job's friends, but Job is the only one who does not sin, and in the end is told to pray for his friends that they may be washed of their wickedness.
In light of all that, what made Job righteous? The answer is simple: relationship. While Job's friends were debating the cause and effect of disaster, Job merely sought an audience with the most high.
If we look at the ancient format for a covenant, we see that there is always a high king, who offers protection for the lesser king who obeys. They follow the commands laid out in the covenant by laws. However, above all other laws, and interwoven with all the laws prescribed is the call for faithfulness. There is a call for loyalty, for relationship, and this covers a multitude of sins.
Such is found in the righteousness of Job. Job was righteous. What made him righteous? While his friends were seeking out to answer for and defend the most high, Job sought to tell the Lord what he thought to his face. He got his wish, and though the Lord's answer was less than sufficient, he was given an answer. Job desired relationship of reasoning. He desired faithfulness over false explanation. Job was righteous in all his ways, because he remained faithful to relationship with the most high.
This is my prayer, that through trials and storms, rather than trying to reason my way to explanation, may I seek the Lord's face. May I not need to know all the answers, but only know my Lord.
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