Job 4 - 23

In his Lectures on Faith, the Prophet Joseph Smith stated -

"An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life. It was this that enabled the ancient saints to endure all their afflictions and persecutions, and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing (not believing merely) that they had a more enduring substance." (Sixth Lecture: Lectures on Faith: Delivered to the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio, 1834-35)

I think that this is the summation of my readings in the Book of Job. It is in the story of Job that some higher (or in a sense celestial) principles and laws that I feel are taught that are very difficult for the world to accept:

The first being that there is a God in Heaven and that he is of perfect character in everyway. He is our Father and loves us.

The second being that our Father in Heaven allows his children to experience opposition in it's many forms as Lehi teaches -

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:11)

He allows this for our eternal growth and betterment. He has clearly stated -

"...we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them..." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 3:25)

The third being that both the righteous and wicked experience this opposition or joy, happiness, pain & suffering. The tradition generally taught through the Old Testament is that as the children of Israel are obedient to the commandments, they prosper. When they are not obedient, they fall into captivity and suffer. This seems to be the pretense of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. As they visit Job in all his suffering, they assume it is because he has sinned making multiple accusations and that he needs to repent saying -

"...Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles." (Old Testament Job 22:22 - 23)

Generally, what they say may be true, but in Job's case they are very presumptuous.

The fourth principle is that not only will the righteous suffer with the wicked, but Job suggests, contrary to the attitude of his visitors, that the wicked may even prosper in this life saying -

"Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me." (Old Testament Job 21:7 - 16)

But eventually, Job testifies -

"His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty." (Old Testament Job 21:20)

The last principle that seemed to be impressed on my mind is as the Prophet taught that no matter what is happening in our lives, we can receive a witness or confidence by the Spirit that we are doing that which is according to the will of God. We see this as Job testifies -

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Old Testament Job 13:15)

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth..." (Old Testament Job 19:25)

And with a divine assurance, Job states -

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."..
(Old Testament Job 23:10)

I can't help but read of Job without feeling of empathy and gratitude for the blessings in my life.