I

Although Job had never seen God or heard God’s words with his own ears,

God had a place in Job’s heart, God had a place in Job’s heart.

His attitude toward God was “blessed be the name of Jehovah.”

His blessing of God’s name was unconditional,

irrespective of context, and bound to no reason.

Job had given his heart to God, allowing it to be controlled by God;

all that he thought, decided, and planned

was laid open to God and not closed off from God.

His heart did not stand in opposition to God,

and he had never asked God to do anything for him or give him anything,

and he did not harbor extravagant desires

that he would gain anything from his worship of God.

II

Job did not talk of trades with God, and made no requests or demands of God.

His praising of God’s name

was because of the great power and authority of God in ruling all things,

and it was not dependent on

whether he gained blessings or was struck by disaster.

He believed that regardless of whether God blesses people

or brings disaster upon them,

God’s power and authority will not change,

and regardless of a person’s circumstances, God’s name should be praised.

That man is blessed by God is because of God’s sovereignty,

and when disaster befalls man, it’s also because of God’s sovereignty.

God’s power and authority rule over and arrange everything about man;

the vagaries of man’s fortune

are the manifestation of God’s power and authority.

III

From any point of view, God’s name should be praised.

This is what Job experienced

and what he came to know during the years of his life.

All of Job’s thoughts and actions

reached the ears of God and arrived before God,

and were seen as important by God, were seen as important by God.

God cherished this knowledge of Job,

and treasured Job for having such a heart.

No matter what the time or place,

this heart awaited God’s command and welcomed whatever befell him.

Job made no demands of God, made no demands of God.

What he demanded of himself

was to wait for, accept, face, and submit to

all of the arrangements that came from God;

Job believed this to be his duty, and it was precisely what was wanted by God.

from The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself II