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How to Read Job

by John Walton and Temper Longman III, IVP Academic, © 2015,
208 pages, $25 (paperback), ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-4089-2

Job is one of the most interesting books in the Old Testament, because it gives a view of the purpose for human existence — the struggle between good and evil. Many people read the book of Job thinking that they will get an answer as to why pain and suffering exist, but the book does not answer that question. The authors point out that the Book of Job is about God, not about Job.

Walton is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Longman is a professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. The first of the book's four parts presents the author's view that Job is important as literature, not history. With that approach, the authors talk about the makeup of the ancient Middle East and explain much of the book in those terms. They refer to Satan as the “challenger” and behemoth and leviathan as the most powerful creatures imaginable. Part two deals with learning about God, and part three examines “the retribution principle,” which implies that righteous people will prosper and the wicked will suffer. Part four is titled “Reading Job as a Christian.” This section compares Job and Christ and then shows how understanding Job may help Christians answer the problems involved with suffering. The authors suggest that Job teaches acceptance rather than trying to manipulate God and even elevating ourselves above God.

This book is challenging, with many good ideas and references to other books in both the Old and New Testaments. It would be a good book for college classes, with each chapter suggesting things to discuss. It is a well-written, deep discussion of a Bible book that many of us have not studied deeply enough.