To the Christian Scientist a study of the book of Job yields rich treasures of profitable instruction. Centuries of controversy, based on creedal beliefs about God, may have failed to explain its theological purport, but the viewpoint which Christian Science gives not only throws a revealing light on the issues it raises, but shows that it unfolds the modus operandi of God's law of healing and spiritual regeneration. No other Old Testament tale, perhaps, stages so completely the drama of human suffering and of hungering after righteousness, nor, when understood and so triumphantly. In the book of Job we have the age-long problem as to God and man solved—set forth in a story of poignant and dramatic interest, and written with deep spiritual culture.
In the opening chapter Job is depicted as a God-fearing man of manifest integrity, occupying an honored place in the community and living happily with his family in circumstances of great wealth. His earnest worship of God and endeavor to practice what to-day would be called "the Christian virtues" are revealed. Upon the scene of domestic contentment we see swift tragedy descend, and in the colorful and imaginative style of Oriental legend we are told that this is brought about by Satan, with the Lord's permission, for the purpose of testing the quality of Job's goodness and faith in God.
When the swift-footed messengers tell him, first of the loss of all his possessions, and, secondly, of the death of his sons and daughters, Job, failing to see Satan's hand in it, attributes it to God's direct intervention. At once he accepts the information as true and says with sincere piety, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." When, soon after these catastrophes, a loathsome disease breaks out on his own body, again mistakenly attributing it to God's will and design for him, he says, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" This initial attitude of Job towards his troubles has led to the generally accepted picture of him as a man patient in suffering; and mankind has often been counseled to pattern itself after this model of uncomplaining resignation to what was mistakenly believed to be God's will.
