This is only a small thing among all the things that Job said in response to his friends, but he mentions that he has become a byword or a proverb among people. Here, in his speech, he suggests the proverb is negative as people spit at him and others are appalled at his countenance, to be in his presence. However, Job still is a proverb! I'm sure you've heard the saying about having "the patience of Job," except this is nothing to spit at. It is considered good if you do possess the "patience of Job" and that gaining it can be a positive among trials. This proverb plays on a specific aspect of the definition of patience. This is not the patience we usually think of: being able to put up with a delay or mild nuisance. Instead, the proverb emphasizes the idea of patience as bearing with great misfortune or pain without complaint or irritation or the like. Does Job really deserve that epitaph? If you only paid attention to Job for the first few chapters, I would be able to say yes without hesitation. But in these past few readings has not Job complained a lot? Justifiably, about his friends. Asking for death and wondering what the delay was. Job has actually complained a lot. He has been angry, indignant, and sarcastic. But I don't feel we can quite write him off his proverb yet. Don't many of us get irritable and sarcastic, even indignant, when we begin to have difficult circumstances? We would have to watch the entire evolution of this account before we could decide. And we have several chapters to go. Maybe they're all a little long-winded.
Tomorrow's Reading: Job 18:1-19:29
No comments:
Post a Comment