¶ … Job
The religious texts of the ancient Near East share core themes in common related to the theme of personal piety. Personal piety becomes a powerful, poignant theme in the Hebrew Bible, especially in the Book of Job. The story of Job is laden with lessons related to the nature of human suffering and the role it plays in the development of personal piety. Moreover, the nature of human suffering is also linked with the spiritual, cosmological, and metaphysical relationship between the human being and God. God is established as paradoxically personal and impersonal; God's will is existentially beyond that of the human being, who can never presume to understand God's motives. It is not up to the human being to speculate, as Job's friends do, but it is up to the human being to continually praise God.
Background: Character Analysis of Job
In the New International Version of the Hebrew Bible, Job is introduced as a "blameless and upright" man who fears God and thus understands his place in the cosmological hierarchy outlined by religious authority (Job 1:1). Job is a hard-working but wealthy family man who has seven sons, three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three hundred camels, five hundred oxen, and five hundred donkeys (Job 1:2-3). Because of, or in spite of, his material success, Job is referred to as being "greatest among all the people of the East," (Job 1:3). In addition to his familial and work-related duties, Job piously conducts his religious affairs and looks out for the spiritual welfare of his sons and daughters. He performs religious sacrifices, especially after overt displays of material wealth such as feasts. Such religious customs were "regular" habits for Job, who provides burnt offerings (Job 1:5).
The unassailable character of Job is challenged by external circumstances beyond the man's control. First, Satan colludes with God. God submits to Satan's temptation to test Job, as God describes the man as his model human being. According to Satan, human beings are more fallible than God presumes. Job will be the human guinea pig to prove that God's creation will, in Satan's words, "surely curse you to your face," (Job 1:11). Thus, Satan and God make a deal to interfere with the affairs of Job and cause him great suffering in order to test his loyalty.
Before long, Job's fortune vanishes. His livestock disappears, as the Chaldeans and Sabeans attack, loot, and plunder. To top it all off, Job's entire family -- all his ten children -- are struck dead in a freak accident at the house of the eldest son. Job's initial reaction is shocking: he "fell to the ground in worship," and utters a prayer. He states, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, / and naked I will depart. / The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; / may the name of the Lord be praised," (Job 1:21). Satan has been foiled, at least temporarily.
God agrees to test Job more vigorously, as Satan is challenging God's power again. This time, God agrees to let Satan impact Job's physical health and well-being so long as Job can remain alive. When Job comes down with a serious illness with "painful sores" all over his body, his wife is the only one to react (Job 2:7). In typical misogynistic format, the wife is the one who tries to coax Job away from God but Job suffers with dignity. His suffering attracts the attention of three of Job's dearest friends: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. Their first reaction to seeing the suffering of their friend...
How the Personal Qualities of George Washington and His Particular Circumstances Facilitated His Rise to the Become the First President of the United StatesThe recent nationwide e racial strife that has rocked the United States has galvanized public attention on the nation�s Founding Fathers whose lives have been subjected to increasingly close scrutiny to determine if they are worthy of continued adoration and respect. Indeed, even formerly sacrosanct figures in
Amalia A brief look into Argentinian literature Countries in recent history have sought independence from their mother country to create a country and government for the people and by the people. This was seen in the United States, to some extent in China, and most recently in the last century in various parts of South America. Argentina, a land of constant political instability, racial discrimination, and gender issues, as seen conflict arise
Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life "He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was
The manner in which she coped with the travails of traveling overseas in a time far before airplanes underscores the strength of character of this remarkable woman. The trip also marked the first time she had been away from her children for any length of time, solidifying her independence and contributing to her overall psychological development. Furthermore, Akers notes how Abigail was able to analyze, criticize, and incorporate ideas,
Middlemarch apply Mill's theory to Lydgate's decision in chapter 18 on how to vote Middlemarch: Lydgate's decision In George Eliot's novel Middlemarch, Dr. Lydgate is an ambitious young physician who wants to reform medicine. When contemplating whom he should vote for in an election between two clergy members, Lydgate is faced with a difficult choice. Mr. Farebrother is a kind, likeable man whom Lydgate finds more personable than the popular, safe choice of
James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man It can be said that throughout his entire novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce does not believe that a lot of his revelations actually came from the spiritual realm, or at least to not be swayed by the divine, especially because being that he does not have any real connections to the Catholic Church,
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now