The Writings and Wisdom Literature

 

Dear Bible Challenge participants,

  

We're well within the Ketuvim of Hebrew Scripture, or the Writings, and with Job we dive deeply into the Wisdom Literature.  In Job we'll hear an answer to the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  The answer will be very different from what we heard in the Deuteronomistic History.  

 

The three "friends" who meet up with Job and try to "help," are the antithesis of what we aimed for in our Pastoral Care class, "Equipping the Saints," and are a reminder that sometimes when those we love are suffering, the best gift we can give is quiet and loving presence, and not a vain attempt to explain away pain.

 

As an aside, we encounter "Satan" for the second time in the Hebrew Scriptures (the first occurrence was in Chronicles).  Many of your translations will footnote that "Satan" comes from the Hebrew "ha-satan," meaning, "the accuser," or "the adversary."  Although later Christian traditions took the idea of Satan to a new place, we should not read into Job that later tradition. Rather, ha-satan can be understood as something of a prosecuting attorney within the council of the "sons of God."  

 

We're coming very near to the end of our first read of another collection within the Ketuvim and Wisdom Literature: the Psalms. I'll be interested in your impressions as we begin reading through the Psalms a second time... do you "hear" them any differently, having read through so much of Hebrew Scriptures and the history of Ancient Israel? 

 

As ever, thank you for being on this journey!

 

Peace,

Paige+ 


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the Rev. Paige Blair

Office (858) 755-1616 Ext. 101 * Cell 858-248-7247