Job's Final Words

Job, not God, gets the final say in the book's poetry section. Hear these words:

“I know that you can do all things
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me that I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
    I will question you, and you declare to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6, NRSVUE)

His words quote God's earlier speech twice, demonstrating that Job acknowledges God's power and knowledge. Job admits that God is powerful and that Job's words and ponderings do not compare.

Note the two "therefore" phrases in his speech.

"Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand" – Job admits to talking about matters that he does not fully comprehend. God's speech about all of creation has potentially reminded Job of his limitations as a human. Some parts of creation and life are too wonderful, that is, full of wonder. Only God knows.

"Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" – The final phrase of Job's short speech here, unsurprisingly, contains a multitude of interpretive issues. What does Job repent of? There is no object. Christians may try to interject sin as the object, but that's not at all clear. Some have suggested he repents of his earlier arguments/laments against God (as captured in the earlier parts of this poetry section), while others suggest he repents of or rejects God. Two vastly different options to frame the ambiguity of these words.

What's your reading of this last speech? How do you hear his words?

Summer Reading – Steinbeck's East of Eden

We are reading a classic piece of literature: John Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden. The novel reflects on human nature and retells the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis. Consider this quote from the work:

“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.” (413)

We will kick off the 8-week series (it's a long book!) next Monday, June 1, with an introduction to the book and the series. No need to read ahead before June. The weekly newsletter will include notes and theological ponderings throughout June and July.

Here's the reading schedule:

Week of June 1-7: read chapters 1-8
Week of June 8-14: read chapters 9-14
Week of June 15-21: read chapters 15-19
Week of June 22-28: read chapters 20-24
Week of June 29-July 5: read chapters 25-30
Week of July 6-12: read chapters 31-39
Week of July 13-19: read chapters 40-48
Week of July 20-26: read chapters 49-55

A Benediction (Or Miscellaneous Thoughts)

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