p. 597 | THE BOOK OF JOB by George B. Starr

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

By George B. Starr

Is it inspired of God? Is it entirely inspired of God? or is it simply a novel, a finely arranged imagery, based wholly upon imagination, written by some learned men of Job's time or later, as a moral dialogue? Was it by the design and direction of God that it became a part of the Old-Testament Scriptures? or is it an unfortunate intrusion, permitted by God, but not directed by him? And this involves the still greater question whether the Bible as a whole is entirely from God; or whether we (men of all nations, good or bad, ignorant and learned) unto whom the Bible comes, are left to be judges of its inspiration, and to be judges for ourselves which books are inspired, and which are not.

In other words has God appointed each individual man on earth a committee of one to compile a Bible to suit his judgment, out of all these books, said by some to be entirely inspired, by others, partially so? Is this the character of the book to which Christ refers all men, and of which he commands them to "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me"? and was he not aware of the fact that the books of Job and Ecclesiastes and the Songs of Solomon were parts of what the Jews held as the Scriptures, the sacred writings, and which Paul designates as the oracles of God? Rom. 3:2.

Were these Scriptures the oracles of God? or were they only in part the oracles of God, containing erroneous books, teaching erroneous doctrines—oracles of men? If the latter view be the correct one, why did Jesus not except those books when referring to the Scriptures and urging upon us their careful, searching study? Did he not rather forbid such a view, when he quoted to the tempter the words of Moses, "It is written, Men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God"? Luke 4:14; Deut. 8:3. And again, "It is written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" "and the Scriptures cannot be broken." John 10:34, 35; Psa. 82:6.

The book of Job was a part (doubtless one of the oldest parts) of those writings called "your law" and "the Scriptures," and Jesus knew it. In the face of this statement can any part of the book of Job be broken? or the book as a whole be broken off from, or taken out of, the Scriptures?

But more directly to the book of Job itself. If any people upon the earth, or in any age of the world, ought to give more careful and considerate thought to this book than others, that people certainly are those who are waiting for the second advent of Christ. For in their time of waiting, amidst the apparent triumph of the wicked, they are directed to this book especially. James 5:7-11. And here, after exhorting them to patience and giving them the example of the husbandmen patiently waiting for the fruit of his labor, and cautioning them not to grudge against those who are more prosperous apparently, he exhorts them to take "my brethren the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job."

Where had those latter-day Christians heard of the patience of Job unless that book was recognized as coming down to them to the very last days, among the prophets to whom he refers? And how would we see the end, design, object, and pitiful tender mercy of God in Job's case, unless God was really and truly connected with his experience and history? Does not this indorse this book and that experience as among the things written aforetime for our learning, that we through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope? Rom. 15:4.

Job is a real person, a righteous man and servant of God, is also recognized by God himself outside and independent of the book of Job itself. In view of impending judgments, the Lord says by the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God." Ezek. 14:14. Shall we not then as Christians who are looking for the coming of the Lord follow the advice of James, and learn from the books of Jeremiah, Job, and others, of the sufferings and patience and final victory of these men of God, and endeavor in a similar situation by the grace of God to follow their example?

We think a most critical and careful study of Job, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and as a whole, will abundantly reward any one, and present views of the matchless power and sovereignty of God, hardly to be found in other parts of the Bible. For there God speaks for himself upon these points and reveals himself to Job, not through the reason simply, but through views of his unapproachable creative power and wisdom.—Geo. B. Starr, in Present Truth.