WORSHIP IN JOB'S EXPERIENCE

Although the book of Job deals the theme of divine justice in the face of human suffering, this text of the wisdom literature of the Hebrews raises a question of the utmost relevance to the worship of God. Could man worship God without expecting any reward? This question, however, is best perceived when the reader understands the drama of Job's suffering.

According to the text, one day Satan challenged the piety of Job before God. The fallen angel said that Job worshiped God because he was blessed and nothing was lacking. Then he said, "Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD gave permission to Satan to do so, and Job lost all his wealth and children. But Job's reaction was, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (1: 6-22).

Again Satan appeared before God, and the LORD said, "have you considered my servant Job? There is no one  on earth like him; he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason...". The rebellious angel, who maintained his distrust of Job's sincerity, said, "stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face".

So, God said, “very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life”. Thus Job was afflicted with terrible wounds, from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head. His wife, upon seeing her state, said: "curse God and die!”. He replied: you are talking like a foolish woman. Will we accept good from God and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (2.1-10).

The narrative proceeds from chapter three to thirty-seven, showing a dialogue of Job with three friends. These make him suffer even more, for they claim that he is going through all this because of sin. Said one of them: "those who plow and those sow trouble reap it" (4.8). Job, however, in the full extent of the text, stands as righteous before God and does not understand why he is going through such a trial. After much suffering and pain, God, seeing his righteousness and his sincere devotion, speaks to him, heals him and restores "double everything he had before."

Thus this text of the sacred literature of Jewish wisdom shows that a person can worship the Creator without expecting anything in return. This is the core of true worship of God: to worship Him for what He is not for what He can do for us. At this point, Satan is doubly defeated: God is worthy of worship and man can worship him with sincerity and without hidden intentions. In Job the essence of worship of God is evident: we worship him for love and for what He is.

Antônio Maia – M.Div.

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