Over the past month or so, I’ve read over 300 books and articles (often only parts of them) about the book of Job for a dissertation chapter I just drafted. Here are three of the most edifying and accessible resources:
1. D. A. Carson. “Job: Mystery and Faith.” Pages 135–57 in How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006. [Amazon | WTS Books]
Penetrating insight, pastoral warmth.
2. Layton Talbert. Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 2007. [Amazon]
See my review.
3. Derek Kidner. “The Book of Job: A World Well Managed?” and “Job in Academic Discussion.” Pages 56–89 in The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes: An Introduction to Wisdom Literature. Downers Grove: IVP, 1985. [Amazon | WTS Books]
Pithy.
Update: See ch. 4 (free PDF) in From Typology to Doxology.
Hey Andy, I see your Job post hasn’t garnered the interest of Harry Potter. However, I was wondering how extensively you have forayed into non-evangelical analyses of Job, as I have just begun a study of it. Also, would you care to share some of your thoughts on the purpose(s) of the book, its place in the canon, the general function of the wisdom books etc? They are overlooked by many Christians, so I’m glad to see you doing some work on them.
Hey, Joe,
1. Most of the resources I read fit your description (i.e., “scholarly” but often neither edifying nor accessible).
2. I’d rather not at this time and in this venue. But if it helps, I’m sympathetic with the three resources cited above.
Alright. I’ll try a more specific question: why are people in the depths of grief comforted by the book of Job, while at the same time finding the propositions that God works everything together for good, God is just, and that God’s ways are higher than ours detestable? The same goes to a large extent for Ecclesiastes. Original thoughts, go!
I’m not sure I can relate to your question, Joe. The people I’ve known or heard of who have taken comfort in the book of Job have found those propositions beautiful, not detestable.