tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post7265235821763762404..comments2024-03-10T00:44:49.280-05:00Comments on This & That: The Blasphemy (?!) of JobSusannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-12575653815876853132016-02-27T11:16:12.452-05:002016-02-27T11:16:12.452-05:00I oftentimes hesitate to post excerpts like this b...I oftentimes hesitate to post excerpts like this because *I* have the context of the book in my head (since I just read it) while others don't. I appreciate your feedback. Yes, the author does very often point out that Job wasn't a Jew, but he does say that it was included in a Jewish canon of Scripture along with other Wisdom books (I hope I'm remembering that correctly.) <br /><br />At times he tries to understand how a Jewish audience would have read this poem, and what it could teach someone who grew up under the Law (the bit about Leviticus and blasphemy) yet what was more important (relationships with people rather than ritual - both of which are in the Law. Maybe ritual at times got more attention than caring for others.)<br /><br />I also wondered about the "did not sin" part that mentioned. I actually pulled that verse out of my own head and included it since I must think blaspheming God or complaining against God IS sin. Yet, maybe the lesson here is that it's not. In fact the author points out later in the book that God can handle it.<br /><br />Yes, lots to think about. Thanks for what you added! Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-42832853837405792962016-02-27T11:02:02.629-05:002016-02-27T11:02:02.629-05:00Interesting.
I remember teachers pointing out th...Interesting. <br /><br />I remember teachers pointing out that he does charge God with wrongdoing, and that the statement therefore emphasizes the first part - he "did not sin" by doing it.<br /><br />The bit about blasphemy here is interesting to me. I'm not quite sure it fits, but I'm also not sure it doesn't. There are some assumptions here about blasphemy and culture and it would be interesting to dig deeper and find out how accurate they are. Like, yes blasphemy is serious, but is "complaining" about God blasphemy? Why didn't all of Israel just start stoning each other in the desert? So much of (later) Jewish thought seems to encourage calling God to task, it seems odd that it would be a stonable offense here. Doesn't mean it wasn't though, things change. Also worth noting that Job wasn't a Jew so I'm not really sure it applies, but again it might. Maybe even moreso, if religion in Edom was strict on that and the author is emphasizing that God understands and forgives, or that people do suffer unfairly sometimes and shouldn't be blamed.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing! Lots to think about.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.com