Job Exegesis: Job 28:24-28

Transcription

1 Job Exegesis: Job 28:24-28 Kenneth Chad Wiggins BIL-410-A March 15, 2012

2 Purpose statement For my exegesis I chose Job 28: The purpose of this passage is to help show how God understands wisdom. He created the earth and everything in it, therefore wisdom was created by God and is understood by him. They way to wisdom is through Him. By no other means can wisdom be found. It is only through fearing the lord that wisdom is found and departing form evil is understanding found. Passage outline Job 28:24-28 I. God Creating and Ordaining the World (vv ) A. Created Earth and Heavens (v.24) B. The natural forces (v.25) 1. Wind 2. Water C. The Forces of Storms (v26) 1. Rain 2. Thunder storms D. The Creation and Confirmation of Wisdom (v.27) II. God s Decree to the Human Race (v.28) A. Fear the Lord B. Shun Evil 1

3 Literary form of the passage This passage is found within a larger section of the book of Job. This section is the entirety of chapter 28. It has often been called the interlude, because it separates the speeches of Job s three friends with the speeches of Elihu. This passage is written in poetic verse. Word Studies In Job 28:24, the word heaven, in NASB, is or shamayim. It comes from the root, to be lofty. Within the context of wisdom literature, it is used in several different ways. The first notable of these ways is a simple reference to the sky. In the Old Testament the sky was not seen as a creation of god, but more a distant place, both seen and unseen far above the surface of the earth. Depending on the other subjects it is paired with, the meaning of the word can change. When combined with God, as in God in heaven it describes the place that God dwells. Within the immediate context of the passage, the word is referring the vast expanse that exists in the created order. 1 In Job 28:26 the word limit, in NASB, is translated as khōke. Often translated as statute, the word can have a variety of different meanings. It can mean everything from an ordinance, limit, or something prescribed, to something that is due. It is most often used in conjunction with a description of a law, used most often in the Books of law. Within the context of Wisdom literature, it often describes a provision God set up upon the earth, such as the boundaries of water, the regulation of rain and seasons, and heavenly bodies. It is also used to 1 Willem A. VanGemeren, ed., New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis (Volume 4) (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1997), page nr. 2

4 describe the fate of Job in God s hands. This passage itself is describing the natural forces of the rain and how they are governed by God. 2 In Job 28:27, the word established, in NASB, is translated as kün. Though it has a variety of different uses, some of the more common translations are: prepare, establish, and to make ready. These different translations function in a variety of literary contexts, but are mainly seen in the genres of hymn, report, announcement, and petition. In the hymn context, it readily appears in context with God as its subject. Throughout most wisdom literature, it is used in this context. It can describe how God is a King over the people, or the lord s creative act of establishing cosmic spheres that both threaten and sustain human existence. Within the verse itself, it is describing the relationship that God has in creating wisdom. 3 Background studies Historical context of creation The Israelite culture was different than other cultures in the fact that they have a God that created everything in their creation story. The Babylonian creation myth, the Enuma Elish, says When on high the heaven had not been named When no god s whatever had been brought into being Then it was that the god s were formed within. The New Interpreter's Bible commentary notes that the creation story told in gen. 4-7 is similar in structure. They both focus on the when clause that exist before the crucial event. Job 28:25-27 however, takes a different 2 Willem A. VanGemeren, ed., New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis (Volume 2) (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1997), page Ibid,

5 approach. Job reports that in the act of creating the world that wisdom is perceived. 4 Francis Anderson says in Job: an Introduction and Commentary, that this text is getting close to some very ancient theology, and that although the act of creation was mysterious, it was complete and successful. What He saw then, He sees now. 5 What was their understanding of wisdom The Israelite culture understood wisdom as a treasure. They must search for their treasure, both physical treasures and the mysterious thing of wisdom. They understood that God used wisdom to bring everything in creation to order. This section of verses reminds them of the care and detailed process God went through to give limits, and ordained rules for the created order. The Expositor's Bible Commentary says that Wisdom is the summery of the genius God used to fashion the universe. 6 This passage shows the reader that God is the source of wisdom, but even more than that. This passage takes it to the next step. It tells the reader how to find wisdom. To the culture at the time knowing that God was the creator of everything, were being told that if they wanted the type of wisdom and understanding that God has, they simply had to do what he says. Cultural Context of Rain and Nature Verses speak about rain and storms being set out before creation by God. Agricultural societies are dependent on rain for the crops to grow. And nomadic people are 4 Robert Doran et al., New Interpreter's Bible: 1 & 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms (Volume 4) (Boston: Abingdon Press, 1996), page Francis I. Andersen, Job: an Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2008), page Tremper Longman III & David E. Garland and general editors, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2010), pages

6 dependent on water being in streams and lakes to hydrate their livestock. The surrounding cultures of the Israelites had specific gods for agricultural fertility. An article in the Catholic Biblical Quarterly entitled God and nature in the Old Testament says God blesses fields, gives of heaven's dew and earth's fatness He blesses the offspring of man and the produce of the soil, grain, wine, and oil, the progeny of the flock He visits and enriches the land, prepares grain, saturates the furrows, softens the soil with showers, blesses the young growth. 7 Rain was precious to the culture at this time. This passage could have been understood as a description and an assurance that the God of the Israelites provides. Five observations about God The first observation that can be seen in this passage is found in verse 24. It says that God looks to the ends of the earth and sees under the heavens. From this one can understand that God can look though all the earth and see everything. There is not a place that one can hide to escape God s sight. This passage the attribute of God s omnipresence can be seen. The second observation is is seen in verses 25 and 26. Though these verses, God is seen as creator of the of the storms, and indirectly as the all of the created order. This is an interesting thing considering that if Job was written before Genesis, then the understanding of God in creating all would have been known throughout the people. 7 McKenzie, John L "God and nature in the Old Testament." Catholic Biblical Quarterly 14, no. 2: ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 14, 2012). 5

7 The third observation is that God has specific powers of the objects in creation. This can be seen in verses 25 and 26. God empowers the strength of the wind and the waves. He sets limits for the rain and direction for the thunder bolts. The fourth observation is that God of the Israelites is the creator of wisdom. This is in contrast with the God s of the surrounding cultures, being formed by something before them, putting them in their place. The fifth observation is found in verse 28. It can be simply stated as God is powerful. In this verse the conclusion of all the previous verses occurs. God is the source of wisdom, and he tells us that the fear of the lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. This verse simple tells us the path God wants us to fear him as the means to wisdom. 6

8 BIBLIOGRAPHY Andersen, Francis I. Job: an Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, Doran, Robert, Leander E. Keck, J. McCann, and Carol A Newsom. New Interpreter's Bible: 1 & 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms (Volume 4). Boston: Abingdon Press, Garland, Tremper Longman III & David E., and general editors. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, McKenzie, John L. "God and nature in the Old Testament." Catholic Biblical Quarterly 14, no. 2 (April 1, 1952): ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 14, 2012). VanGemeren, Willem A., ed. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan,