Job

by David L. McKenna, Lloyd John Ogilvie (Editor)

In this volume of The Communicator's Commentary series, Dr. David McKenna helps us appreciate the Book of Job for its literary power as well as for its author's dramatic skills. McKenna focuses on the man Job and his faith development, showing how a "perfect" man endured the tests of satanic harassment and human opposition to arrive ultimately at personal, firsthand knowledge of God. The implication is clear: each of the Lord's people should make it his or her aim, through his or her own faith journey, to arrive at this same destination.

331 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Dr. David Loren McKenna (b. 1929) is Founding Chair of the Northwest Graduate School of the Ministry, Redmond, Washington. He served for 50 years in Christian higher education, including 33 years as a college, university, and seminary president. His national reputation as an educator was acclaimed when he was finalist for Secretary of Education in the Reagan cabinet. He and his wife, Janet, have four children and twelve grandchildren.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Job is one of my least favorite books of the Bible, so when I finished reading the book in my Bible as part of my reading through the Bible, I decided that I needed better insight in the book. I chose this commentary because I have always gotten so much insight from books by Lloyd John Oglivie, who was general editor of this commentary series. Dr. McKenna writes with warmth and easy scholarship, making the familiar story and the long speeches have meaning in today's world as well as providing needed historical context. When I next read Job, it will be with new insight because of this excellent book.

[Jim George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is from part of a series, it is more of the kind of book a pastor might read to prepare a sermon. It is about the Book of Job. Like Job we must accept whatever life throws at us, we must live our lives with blind faith and blind trust. It is not ours to wonder about, or to ask why? Sickness and peril is not a test, or a trial, or a temptation, or a punishment. It is just the way of life. In all circumstances praise God and let yourself be reconciled to Him. Find all of your comfort in every situation with Him. Find your strength in Him. Accept whatever comes your way, humbly and blindly. Accept everything as beyond your comprehension. Accept His all encompassing compassion, mercy, and wisdom. Life is rewarding and life is challenging. The Lord loves us all and at the end, He is waiting for us, to lead us home. Ready yourself for an eternity of praising Him, be at peace with Him, accept His grace. Naked from my mother's womb I came, naked I will return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.