Picture generated by A.I.
Have you read the book of Job? The book of Job reads like the transcript of a trial.[1] The room is called to order and Job makes an opening statement—in his lawsuit against GOD:
“I have prepared my case. I know that I am right… I was at ease, but God shattered me. He seized me by the scruff of the neck and smashed me to pieces… It is God who has wronged me. I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but get no response. I call for help, but there is no justice. He has blocked my way; He tears me down on every side so that I am ruined” Job 13:18; 16:12; 19:6-10.
Job’s friends assume the role of defense counsel, providing a duly zealous defense of their heavenly “client”:
“Should this stream of words go unanswered or such a talker be acquitted?… Does God pervert justice? Because your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion…. So do not reject the discipline of the Almighty” 11:2; 18:2; 8:3-4; 5:17.
The back-and-forth continues: plaintiff, defendant, plaintiff, defendant. Several times Job complains that he is forced to represent himself, but then he admits that he has an attorney—the Messiah who is to come:
“Even now my witness is in heaven and my advocate is in the heights!” Job 16:19.
Then the scene changes. The humble courtroom, with plastic chairs, linoleum floor tiles, and bad coffee, is replaced by heaven’s magnificent throne. A light brighter than ten thousand suns dazzles the men and they fall on their faces.
God shows them wonders: stars, planets, mountains, wild beasts, birds, oceans, snow. The men are struck dumb, realizing their ignorance and the arrogance of their words. For 2.5 chapters, God reveals mysteries—one of the greatest revelations of God’s voice and character in the Old Testament.
Finally, God confounds them with grace. Nothing is as simple as they thought—because a God of grace is unpredictable. God tells Job to pray for his friends (who spoke wrongly), then Job’s life is restored to something greater than before—and Job and his friends now know God in a way they never did.
ΑΩ
[1] You could take all of the book of Job (or large portions) and render it as a dramatic reading (reader’s theater style) or even a script of some sort. Imagine it animated, as each character speaks, the things he speaks of fill the screen, culminating in God’s conversation about creation. Perhaps include the earliest chapters with the devil talking to God. Could begin there—with God’s amazing throne room, go to the human court, then return to the throne as described above. Don’t miss chapter 29-30: Job was a rock star, the uncrowned king and greatest royal alive, then was brought so low homeless men mocked him, then he was restored.
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