Lectures on the Book of Job

by James Durham, Chris Coldwell (Editor)

“This is a small book, and we have been unable to procure it. Orme only mentions it upon the authority of [Robert] Watt’s Bibliotheca. It is certain to be good, for Durham is always admirable.” — Charles Spurgeon, Commenting and Commentaries

The great admirer of Puritan commentaries was correct on all counts. James Durham’s Lectures on the Book of Job was published from a manuscript in 1759, one hundred years after his death, in what must be one of the rarest Puritan commentaries to obtain in an original edition.

214 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1995

About the author

James Durham (1622 - 1658) was the eldest son of John Durham of Grange Durham Angus, and proprietor of ‘a good estate,’ then called Easter Powrie, in the county of Forfar. He studied at St. Andrews University, and afterwards lived at his country place. Subsequently he took arms in the civil war and became captain of a troop. Naturally serious and thoughtful, he had come under profound religious impressions on a visit to the relations of his wife (Anna, daughter of Francis Durham of Duntarvie) at Abercorn, near Edinburgh, and it was his being overheard praying with his soldiers by David Dickson, an eminent Presbyterian divine, that led to his devoting himself to the ministry.

After studying at Glasgow he was licensed as a preacher in 1647. That a man of his position should make such a change excited some comment among his old friends and neighbours, but his whole soul was in his new occupation, and he vindicated himself with great fervour.

Durham was a man of intense strength of conviction and great gravity of character. It is said of him, as of Robert Leighton, to whom in certain respects he bore a resemblance, that he was seldom known to smile. His studies, both in Scripture and in the theological and ecclesiastical questions of the day, were carried on with extraordinary diligence. Of his devotion to the Christian ministry he gave decided proof, both by his laboriousness in the work and by his retiring from the position and enjoyments of a country gentleman’s life.

Of his power and faithfulness as a preacher a remarkable illustration is said to have occurred at the time of Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland. It is said that Cromwell entered his church incognito, and got a seat as it happened in the pew of the provost’s daughter, who, as he wore the dress of an English officer, was by no means very courteous to him. At the close of the service Cromwell asked her the preacher’s name. She gave a curt reply and asked why he wished to know. Cromwell replied ‘because he perceived him to be a very great man, and in his opinion might be chaplain to any prince in Europe, though he had never seen him nor heard of him before.’ It is certain that Durham preached before Cromwell against the English invasion. One version of the story has it that Cromwell asked him whether it was his habit to preach on politics, and that he replied that it was not, but seeing him present he thought it right to let him know his mind.

For a time he exercised his ministry in Glasgow, and in 1650 he was appointed Professor of Divinity in the university there. But before he could be settled in that office the General Assembly decided that he should attend as chaplain on the king. The duties of this office he discharged ‘with such majesty and awe’ as to inspire the court with much reverence for him. When free from this situation he was again called to the ministry in Glasgow, and inducted into the ‘Inner Kirk.’

His health had never been strong, and he was prematurely old, partly the effect of the singularly laborious life of study which he led. He died on 25 June 1658, in the thirty-sixth year of his age. He was held by his contemporaries in the very highest esteem as one of the most able and godly men of the time.

Reviews

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historic volume on the book of Job is a series of 42 lectures from the brilliant James Durham. Though it is difficult to read (due to its somewhat archaic syntax and diction), it fostered in me an even greater love for the book of Job than I had previously. I recommend it, but not to the beginner. I hope that Durham (and Hutcheson) garner more attention from scholars in years ahead.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really understood Job before. I got the big picture, but it always seemed like there were about 30 chapters of Job and his friends going back and forth, all saying the same thing over and over again. This book changed that for me. Durham helped me understand the flow of the book, how even though they do say a lot of similar things, each speech does build on or respond to the ones going before. He also, like a good Puritan, was very good at pulling applications out of some difficult passages.

Each chapter/lecture on the book deals with a chapter of Job. They are only a few pages long, and each conclude with applications, making it pretty ideal for a devotional. Although I didn't have too much difficulty, it is not always a super each read. I also didn't agree with 100% of his interpretation, but that is to be expected.

This book led me to a much greater understanding and appreciation of Job. Now I think that going through Job in detail could be a great way to teach logic and debate.

[Annelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Durham really opens the book of Job and enabled me to really profit from it. Highly recommend.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and really helped my understanding of the book of Job. Durham takes the book chapter by chapter and does a brief commentary, observations, and applications. Rather than a verse-by-verse commentary, it is a chapter-by-chapter commentary and it works really well.