Job Book Study - TheStorySýnishorn

Catalogue of Innocence

When I was in Scotland, working on this chapter, I saw a BBC program on the tomb of Kha and Meryt in Egypt. In it was found a papyrus which listed 42 sins, which the dead person would swear that he had not committed. There is a picture of his heart being weighed on scales. I was amazed because the idea of a checklist of sins, which the “accused” either confessed or denied, is so similar to Job’s protestations in this chapter.

There is a similar catalogue in a Hittite prayer in which a person is seeking release from suffering. The defendant declares his innocence of any of the sins on the list.

Parallels like this show how much the book of Job illustrates ways of thinking that were not uniquely Israelite, but common to the Ancient Near East. This, in turn, brings into sharp focus the ways in which the Old Testament is unique. Job still has to wait for the true God to manifest himself (chs 38-42).

There are some interesting things in Job’s checklist - “if my heart has been led by my eyes” (v 7), if I have not shared with the poor (v 17), if I have put my trust in money (v 24), if I have gloated over my enemy’s misfortune (v 29) - that speak across the centuries.

It’s a good idea to examine oneself honestly in the presence of God from time to time. This isn’t to be connected with looking for answers to the insistent “why?” in the context of suffering, but rather to check our behaviour/lifestyle in the sight of God. Some Christian traditions encourage their members to do this before receiving communion. It’s all too easy to slip into an easy “God will forgive me - it’s his job” mentality without remembering that our sins sent Jesus to the cross.

Respond in Prayer

Almighty God, forgive me that I can be careless about my sin. I so easily justify it with the excuse that other people do that too, or, to put it crassly, thinking I’ll be forgiven anyway because I’m justified by faith. Forgive me for pretending that you didn’t notice. Help me to live with integrity in your presence. Amen.

Annabel Robinson

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).