(these notes taken from Tim Mackie’s presentation: “Why You Don’t Understand the Book of Job” link)
The Bible and Blue Note Jazz:
-Blue Note jazz: first 30 seconds or so of it sets the melody for the whole song. The rest of the song cycles through this melody but never identically. The core melody is explored with other angles and instruments.
-the core melody of the Bible is set in Genesis 1-9.
1. creation, image of God, blessing, and life
2. Folly, death, violence, suffering. De-creation.
3. outcry
4. Re-creation, blessing, redemption, new life
-this pattern/melody is repeated again and again, explored in different ways/stories/lives with individuals, groups, and land. Of course, it’s humanity, so even the humans involved, like Noah, still mess up. (Jesus is the crescendo, the one who does this perfectly)
Examples: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Job, Isreal, Jesus
-Abraham is called righteous, blameless (though he’s not sinless). Called from Chaldea into the wilderness. His long trek to the promised land. Also, his encounter with Egypt illustrates this but also illustrates the pattern of Isreal/Jesus.
-Only 3 specific people are called righteous/blameless in the Hebrew Bible (OT)
-Noah (Gen 6:9)
-Abraham (Gen 15:6 and 17:1)
-Job (Job 1:1 and 1:8-9)
Book of Job and this melody
-the Book of Job is well into the melody, it expects us to be familiar with the melody and to recognize the roles being played, especially when it calls Job righteous/ blameless.
-it is structured to show this easily with its prologue, dialogue, and epilogue
-Job is said to be righteous and blameless twice, a servant of God. Right away, the narrator is emphasizing Job’s role in the melody. We must recognize that he will play the part of Noah and Abraham (among others).
-Job holds his temper for about 2 chapters.
-he’s on an emotional roller coaster. His outcry, lament, is a drawn out picture of the outcry of innocent blood in other stories.
-Job never requests to be replenished, but only to have a hearing with God, to present his case. Once he finally gets this, he hears/sees God. Repents.
-Job is the only character in the book who talks to God, pours out his heart to God, even if that’s in anger and despair. The only one who surrenders to God.
-once he surrenders, then he’s vindicated. But he’s still not replenished until after he prays for his friends.
The roles:
Job= role of Jesus. The one who suffers, then cries out
Friends= nations, world
-Jesus was brought into unjust suffering on behalf of the world so the world could be saved.
-Job was brought into unjust suffering on behalf of his friends so they could be saved.
Take away:
-though Jesus is the crescendo of the melody of the Bible, the ultimate player who does this perfectly, the song continues with us. Let out life stories also play the melody out.