Tuesday, September 15, 2014

Tuesday, September 15, 2014

Job 40:1-24

“Anyone who argues with God must respond.” (40:2)

Here Job, who has been wrestling with the terrible events that have fallen upon him, is referred to as a “faultfinder.” God gives him a chance to speak frankly. And Job’s reply, like most people confronted by the living God, is one of meekness: “See, I am of little account... I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further” (40:4-5). 

Does God nod approvingly at Job’s humility? No! “Gird up your loins like a man,” is the response that Job gets. 

Here is where things get interesting. Some believe that 40:8-14 are -- or in some stage in the development of the story/poem, was -- the words of Job. The word for “God” used in 40:9 is a more generic term, so if it is Job speaking, it works as a sort of insult. Throughout most of the book, God's proper name YHWH is used (though not in the prologue, which reads very differently than the rest of the book, kind of like comparing the writing style of The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings).

So take a moment to read the passage a couple more times; first with verses 8-14 as God speaking, and then a second time with Job as the speaker. It totally changes the dynamic of the dialogue. If it’s all God, then Job is being steamrolled throughout the whole chapter. His humble reply to God earlier on didn’t have any effect, and God is provoked to a verbal rampage. But if it’s Job speaking, then in verse 8 he’s very quickly changing his tone, and taking up God’s challenge. 

For me, this speaks not just to the complexity of translation, but to the richness of the text. There is much to discover and discuss in our scriptures!

- Matthew Kieswetter