Judaism does not solve the problem by turning a blind eye upon it, or by denying its existence. Our religion is too faithful a mirror of human life not to reflect its dark spots, and it is too human and loving not to respond to the distressed ery wrung from the aching heart. So far from ignoring the great mystery of human suffering, it has projected it in a striking and inimitable way. The Book of Job is a superb structure reared on this great theme, and the presentation is so hold,.so_soul-stirring, so comprehensive in detail, that the consummate artist and profound thinker have but little to add to it. "Job is no historical personality," say the sages. He is a personification of martyred humanity. His history is the history of mankind.
There lived once a man, pious, righteous, God-fearing, surrounded with all the blessings that can make life on earth full and happy. But suddenly he was made a target for misfortune, and all his blessings were torn away from him one by one. Hostile bands deprived him of his possessions. His happy sons and daughters were buried under the ruins of their house that suddenly fell upon them. Of all he once had nothing remained, not even a healthy body to bear his misfortunes. For a terrible disease soon attacked his person, afflicting it with violent pain, making a horrid spectacle of the once reowned Job. So changed, 80 transformed was he that even his most intimate friends could not recognize him. Though misfortune followed misfortune, Job bore his lot with manly courage and dignity. It was he who uttered the memorable words which are repeated in the presence of death: "The Lord gave and the Lord took away, blessed be the name of the Lord." But even his endurance was at length exhausted by the burning pain which the terrible disease kindled in his frame. He protested his innocence, and questioned the justice of God, though be it with the becoming modesty of true piety. He discusses with his friends, and with matchless eloquence, with a vigour heightened by conviction, he boldly and fearlessly carries his point step by step. In vain did his friends try to trace his misfortune to sin. In vain did they strive to justify God by depicting the impregnable magnificence of virtue and the dangerous subtilty of secret sin which, though hidden from the eye of man, may be grievous enough in the sight of
end.
God to bring punishment in the Jcb did not think God could be defended By flattery, nor did he believe ho was bound to be false to his own conscience which declared him innocent in order to justify God who punished him go harshly. Tha problem becomes thus so intense, the mystery of human sorrow so profound, that the Book of Job may be regarded as unique in the literatures of the world. No thinker who attempted to bring God to the judgement seat understood so well how to touch tha human heart with this painful question as did the genius to whom we owe this great book.
And what is the solution it offers? It is contained in the 28th chapter which was probably the original conelusion~ of the book. "There is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine. Tron is taken out of the earth. and brass is molten out of stone. Man setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out to the furthest end.... But where shall wis dom be found, and where is_the place of understanding? Man knoweth not its measure, neither is it found in tha land of the living.... The Netherland and Death say, we have heard a rumour thereof with our ears, God understandeth the way thereof and He knoweth the place thereof.
When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then did He see it, and declare it; de established it; yea, and searched it out. But unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord 18 wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
THE PART AND THE WHOLE, The Book of Job does not unravel the mystery of human suffering. But it tells us that this la not the only riddle which our imperfect reason is unable to solve. It says to us: You have indeed learnt much. You have penetrated into the bowels of the earth, and you know the place of silver-and of gold. You have brought to light many dark things. But more is yet unknown to you. Where is the place of wisdom? Know you the wisdom which was God's tool at the creation? Can you explain the workmanship of this universe; how the countless orbs were suspended in the vast, I!mitless space, how the perpetual order
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.