The phrase ‘from the scrap heap’ (the defining perspective for me in the Job story/play), the phrase ‘life under the sun’ (the defining perspective for me in the Ecclesiastes essay), and the phrases ‘from below’/‘with the world face to face’/‘non-religious’ (the defining perspectives for me from Bonhoeffer’s last years) lead to the center/heart of the perspective on spirituality and ethics I have been pursuing over the past 3+ decades. The next several ‘scrapheap Job’ postings illustrate ways my understanding and use of the Job story/play and the Ecclesiastes essay matured through the opportunity -- in twice-monthly discussions 1999-2006 with a Hebrew language/literature specialist friend -- to present/test the results from my sustained/intense meditation (analogous to attending the same Broadway play several times each week year after year) on the Job story/play and the Ecclesiastes essay. I kept detailed notes from these discussions. Each discussion was conducted in tutorial fashion, with specific attention to my specialist friend’s judgment whether the Hebrew text permits/tolerates my appropriation of the Job story/play and the Ecclesiastes essay as I have attempted to stay on a ‘scrapheap’/‘life under the sun’/‘from below’/‘with the world face to face’/‘non-religious’ path. He freely shared his expertise with the Hebrew language and Wisdom Literature. I disciplined myself not to press him to agree with my conclusions or with the associated approach to spirituality and ethics. I accept full responsibility and accountability for the ideas put to the test in this crucible.
The primary references to the text for the Job story/play come from Eugene Peterson’s translation -- The Message of Job. I have copied the section of the story/play to which the postings that follow the text relate. Here is the text for postings #11-#17.
Prologue to the story/play
The primary references to the text for the Job story/play come from Eugene Peterson’s translation -- The Message of Job. I have copied the section of the story/play to which the postings that follow the text relate. Here is the text for postings #11-#17.
Prologue to the story/play
1.1Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. 2He had seven sons and three daughters. 3He was also very wealthy – seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants – the most influential man in all the East! 4His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking. 5When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, “Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly.” Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they’d sinned.
6One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the designated accuser, came along with them. 7God singled out Satan and said, “What have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.” 8God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him – honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.” 9Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? 10Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does – he can’t lose! 11But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.” 12God replied, “we’ll see. Go ahead – do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.
13Sometime later, while Job’s children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, 14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us 15when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.” 16While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them – burned them to a crisp. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.” 17While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I’m the only one to get
out alive and tell you what happened.” 18While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother 19when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the your people and they died. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
20Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and
worshiped: 21“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes, God’s name be ever blessed.”
22Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
2.1One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. 2God singled out Satan, saying, “And what have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Oh, going here and there, checking things out.” 3Then God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him, is there – honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn’t work.” 4Satan answered, “A human would do anything to save his life. 5But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away his health? He’d curse you to your face, that’s what.” 6God said, “All right. Go ahead – you can do what you like with him. But mind you, don’t kill him.”
7Satan left God and struck Job with terrible sores. Job was ulcers and scabs from head to foot. They itched and oozed so badly that 8he took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, then went and sat on a trash heap, among the ashes. 9His wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and
be done with it.” 10He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God – why not also the bad days?” Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God.
11Three of Job’s friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country – Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, Zophar from Naamath – and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. 12When they first caught sight of him, they couldn’t believe what they saw – they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. 13Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering.
