Item number three on our list of Seven Faith Practices is “read and study the Bible.” Each week we, as a congregation, will be reading one chapter from a book of the Bible. Currently, we are reading from the book of Job.
We will continue with our “one chapter per week” schedule. I hope you will consider joining us as we practice our faith!
Our reading schedule is as follows: for the week starting…
Faith Practice #3 Reading Schedule...
July 15 – Job 1
July 22 – Job 2
July 29 – Job 3
August 5 – Job 4
August 12 – Job 5
August 19 – Job 6
August 26 – Job 7
September 2 – Job 8
September 9 – Job 9
September 16 – Job 10
September 23 – Job 11
September 30 – Job 12
October 7 – Job 13
October 14 – Job 14
October 21 – Job 15
October 28 – Job 16
November 4 – Job 17
November 11 – Job 18
November 18 – Job 19
November 25 – Job 20
ADVENT BREAK
December 30 – Job 21
January 6 – Job 22
January 13 – Job 23
January 20 – Job 24
January 27 – Job 25
February 3 – Job 26
February 10 – Job 27
February 17 – Job 28
February 24 – Job 29
March 3 – Job 30
March 10 – Job 31
March 17 – Job 32
March 24 – Job 33
March 31 – Job 34
April 7 – Job 35
April 14 – Job 36
April 21 – Job 37
April 28 – Job 38
May 5 – Job 39
May 12 – Job 40
May 19 – Job 41
May 26- Job 42
The Book of Job, grouped with the “poetry and wisdom” books in the Old Testament, explores themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of God's justice. The story is set in the land of Uz and centers around Job, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil.
The narrative begins with a description of Job's prosperity and piety, yet the Adversary appears before God and argues that Job is faithful only because of his prosperity. God allows the Adversary to test Job by taking away his possessions, children, and health, but forbids him from taking Job's life. Despite his immense suffering, Job does not curse God but instead laments his misfortune.
His lament sets the stage for a series of dialogues between Job and his friends. They engage in a series of speeches, arguing that Job's suffering must be a punishment for some hidden sin. Job maintains his innocence and argues that his suffering is unjust.
At the end of the book God finally answers Job out of a whirlwind. Rather than providing a direct explanation for Job's suffering, God highlights the vastness and complexity of creation, emphasizing his own omnipotence and the limitations of human understanding. Through a series of rhetorical questions, God makes it clear that his ways and purposes are beyond human comprehension.
The Book of Job is a powerful exploration of the human condition, the mystery of suffering, and the nature of faith in the face of inexplicable adversity. It challenges simplistic notions of divine justice and encourages a humble acknowledgment of the limits of human understanding.
