Suffering is a very real challenge in our fallen world. How are we to interpret it when bad things happen to good people? (Equally theologically difficult but less emotionally weighted is the problem of why good things happen to bad people…) The book of Job directly engages this question, but what are we supposed to do when, at the climax of the book, God finally speaks primarily to describe two monsters: the Leviathan and the Behemoth. What are we supposed to do with that, especially in times of hardship? As part of the “New Studies in Biblical Theology” series (which is excellent, for what it’s worth), Eric Ortlund’s Piercing Leviathan: God’s Defeat of Evil in the Book of Job attempts to answer this question by exploring just what is going on in God’s extended speech in Job 40-41.
Ortlund begins with a long chapter (about a third of the book) providing an overview of the tragedy that struck Job (Job 1-2) and the debate between Job and his friends (Job 3-37). Then follow a chapter on God’s first speech (Job 38-40), a chapter on God’s second speech (Job 40-41) and a chapter on Job’s restoration (Job 42). Even though this is a short book, it’s complex enough that I won’t try to give summaries of any of these beyond mentioning Ortlund’s core argument: the “Leviathan” of Job, and to a lesser extent the “Behemoth” are not just critters that show God’s sovereignty, they are “symbols of supernatural chaos and evil.” (133) What’s more, they show that God is both willing and able to defeat “evil for those who (like Job) trust him when they suffer…. terrifying evil is ‘Exhibit A’ for God to show how easily, how joyfully, he defeats everything that opposes him and oppresses his saints.” (152)
I’m no expert in Job (though there does seem to be a surge in the number of books about that particular part of the Bible coming out these days–that said, there also seems to be a surge in books coming out from people named “Ortlund” these days…), so I can’t comment on whether this is the right way to read the book or not. But it certainly makes sense, and I can see the pastoral value here as well (you know, were I a pastor). I can also say that it’s well-written, thoughtful, and interesting book that should be on your shelf.
Highly recommended!
Dr. Coyle Neal is co-host of the City of Man Podcast an Amazon Associate (which is linked in this blog), and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO
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