Job, a Philosophy Book from God.
God only included so many philosophy books in his 66 books of revelation. On this, my 50th reading of the Old Testament book of Job I wish to record some of the depth that is not found in its casual reading. It is adequate to know that God had the book penned through inspiration, that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, but Job’s penning of the work is still a curiosity. The introduction has glimpses into heavenly operations and positions that escape man’s natural purview. Job is not a prophet. There is not a single “Thus saith the LORD” to be found in Job, so it is curious where these men get their profound insights. Reaching deep into the rational thought and drawing profound conclusions is called philosophy. It is an avenue for deriving truth, but it is a dangerous avenue when left unattended; reference Mary Baker Glover Eddy’s hellish Christian Science Philosophy. God’s mainstay of truth is his revelation of himself through the written Word of God. There is little evidence in the book of Job that they had any written record to shape their philosophy.
Consider the source for the insight of Eliphaz, the first of Job’s three friends to speak out, “Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made my bones to shake.” Thus, a manifestation of a passing spirit, an image not discerned, had a voice saying, “Shall mortal man be more just than God?” (4:12-21) Job attacks Eliphaz’s source, “Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:” (7:14) It is therefore, insightful and helpful to analyze where one gets their philosophy. Job was not a stand-on-a-box, “Thus saith the LORD” kind of a prophet. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, and all the minor prophets could say, “The Word of the LORD came unto me saying…” Job says only, “For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.” (6:10b) Thus, Job did have the Words of the Holy One, and a foundational theme is deep in the Hebrew poetry of the Book of Job, and that theme addresses the aged question “What is truth?” Job is one of the grandest philosophy books because it reveals the horrid shortfalls of philosophy.
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