Job, Day 1 Readings

Faithful Job is Put to the Test  

Today's reading sets the stage for the extensive meditation on the meaning and purpose of human suffering for the book of Job.  It introduces Job and demonstrates his remarkable faithfulness; even when he suffers the loss of his wealth, members of his family, and even his health, Job does not curse God.

There is an underlying assumption in the book of Job -- people who do wrong should suffer some form of punishment.  However, the suffering of various people does not always seem to be equal to the amount of their wrongdoing.  To explore this, Job is the example of a fully upright and faithful man who suffers greatly.  The rest of the book will question why he suffers and how he might deserve his lot in life, if at all.

To do so, God allows ha-satan ("the adversary" or "the accuser" in Hebrew, and the Biblical source of the name Satan) to test Job, destroying his property and wealth, killing his children and their families, and eventually even taking Job's health.  Even so, Job does not sin against God, but remains faithful.

Read Job 1:1-2:13  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Job 1-8 today.