Reading the Bible as Great Literature: The Book of Job (Lecture Two) (Patreon)

If a benevolent God exists, why do bad things happen to good people? 

This question is at the heart of one of the most difficult works of wisdom literature, the sublime, poetic, and profound parable of the Book of Job.

We are once again reading from the King James Bible in a way that will hopefully illuminate our experience of great works of imaginative literature.

Do let us know your thoughts on the story of Job, and, if you haven't already, check out our video on the Book of Jonah. 

Lecture Timestamps:

• 0:00 why read the Book of Job?
• 1:00 what is wisdom literature?
• 2:24 what is theodicy?
• 3:20 Moses & fifty levels to understanding God
• 3:50 who was Job? 
• 5:30 my personal experience with Job
• 8:00 the problem of evil in the world
• 9:00  justifying the ways of God to man
• 9:30 the beginning of Job
• 11:00 Ha-Satan & the heavenly council
• 13:00 God gives Job to Satan 
• 14:00 "the Lord hath taken away"
• 15:00 the reaction of Job's wife 
• 16:00 Job's three friends 
• 16:50 Sitting Shiva
• 18:20 "Why died I not from the womb?"
• 18:45 Melville's Moby Dick 
• 21:00 "the chastening of the Almighty"
• 22:45 Job expresses his grief
• 24:00 Ecclesiastes and vanity 
• 24:40 "To every thing there is a season"
• 25:30 Hamlet and returning to dust
• 27:00 Herman Melville & measuring God 
• 28:15 "miserable comforters"
• 29:00 justice & words without knowledge
• 30:50 "Where shall wisdom be found?
• 35:00 God answers Job 
• 37:00 "Canst thou draw out Leviathan...?"
• 38:40 the resolution of Job 
• 39:40 the seasons in our lives 

Questions to Consider:

1) Is the Book of Job a comfort? Does the work adequately answer the question of why there is evil in the world?

2) What works of literature can the Book of Job help us unlock? 

3) Are there any passages from this story that you find particularly impressive?

Happy reading, folks!