Job

How can it be that good people suffer and yet God is just? For thousands of years, the profoundly moving story of Job has allowed people of faith to reflect on that question. Among the books of the Old Testament classified as wisdom literature, the book of Job never loses its freshness and power. Job is a righteous man, stripped of all he holds dear, who engages in a powerful dialogue with three friends on the nature and cause of suffering. Jobs friends struggle to justify Jobs suffering and advise him on a course of action. Job counters their arguments and then turns his attention to God in a desperate plea for justice. When Gods answer comes from the whirlwind it is not what we expect. In this commentary, Kathleen OConnor makes the characters in the book of Job and their speeches come alive. She explores and illuminates the beliefs that undergird their perspectives, helping the reader contextualize this powerful tale. Then, OConnor invites readers to engage with Jobs story personally and work to develop their own solution to the dilemmas faced by both Job and his friends. It is a unique approach that connects both head and heart with this powerful inquiry into suffering and Gods justice.