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When Life Meets the Soul: Everyday Lessons from the Book of Job
Within When Life Meets the Soul , Ivan D. Parke challenges believers to dig deeper, asking, “Is spiritual intimacy with God a memory, a reality, or a goal?” The Book of Job chronicles the ruin and recovery of the greatest sufferer before Jesus. To read it only after experiencing a tragedy, however, is itself a tragedy—a decision depriving readers of the essential lessons this Old Testament book teaches. Job’s story addresses more than suffering and teaches more than patience or “rainy” day lessons. Its content encompasses the essence of life, integrating the best of times and the worst of times. When Life Meets the Soul examines the Book of Job in twenty-four responses, addressing the universal “How should I live? Parke’s study of Job explains that to live well is to walk with God, whether on mountaintops or through valleys. His spiritual guide is designed for Christians and those seeking to pursue close encounters with God—without hesitation.
254 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2025
The whole thing read like a group of his lectures. I love listening to his lectures, but it’s not my favorite style of writing.
Great insights from a great man, definitely worth a read!
Great insights from a great man, definitely worth a read!
July 20, 2023
Dr. Parke was one of my professors and one of the main reasons I went to seminary. Job is his favorite book. You can tell it while reading. His love and admiration of the material ooze off the page. He loves the book Job, the man Job, and more than that, the God Job worshipped.
The book is organized into chapters based on topic, such as a chapter on Job's honesty and openness toward God, and a chapter on not being quick to assign a reason for suffering. This makes it less like a commentary and more like a daily devotional, only a devotional that's much more scholarly and in-depth than the standard devotional. It's got Hebrew word studies, quotations from scholarly research, and other touches a feel-good devotional avoids. It also avoids easy answers. Job is designed to ask as many questions as it answers, and Parke doesn't dare take the "Your Best Life Now" approach.
If I had to make one small criticism, it's that Parke and the book assume the reader already is quite familiar with the plot, outline, and substance of Job. If a reader comes to this book mostly ignorant of Job, there's not much to ground him. I think an eight- to ten-page summary and introduction to themes would have helped a lot for those who don't already know Job well.
Overall, this is a very nice study on Job. It sits halfway between a scholarly devotional and a devotional commentary. I highly recommend it, but have a rudimentary knowledge of Job's structre and theme before you start.
The book is organized into chapters based on topic, such as a chapter on Job's honesty and openness toward God, and a chapter on not being quick to assign a reason for suffering. This makes it less like a commentary and more like a daily devotional, only a devotional that's much more scholarly and in-depth than the standard devotional. It's got Hebrew word studies, quotations from scholarly research, and other touches a feel-good devotional avoids. It also avoids easy answers. Job is designed to ask as many questions as it answers, and Parke doesn't dare take the "Your Best Life Now" approach.
If I had to make one small criticism, it's that Parke and the book assume the reader already is quite familiar with the plot, outline, and substance of Job. If a reader comes to this book mostly ignorant of Job, there's not much to ground him. I think an eight- to ten-page summary and introduction to themes would have helped a lot for those who don't already know Job well.
Overall, this is a very nice study on Job. It sits halfway between a scholarly devotional and a devotional commentary. I highly recommend it, but have a rudimentary knowledge of Job's structre and theme before you start.
October 20, 2023
Wonderful semi-exegetical, semi-topical approach to Job. The book really helps readers disentangle misconceptions about the purpose/nature of Job and appreciate more deeply how this story imparts wisdom. The chapters are short but substantial, lending to casual or serious reading, and the illustrative material greatly helps to bridge contexts. The first time through, I read it in two sittings. Highly recommend. *****
January 28, 2023
Loving this book. Incredibly heartfelt, meaningful, powerful, and encouraging for weary readers!
June 16, 2025
An excellent resource for those unfamiliar with the Old Testament book of Job
May 9, 2024
Dr. Parke’s book is easy to read, entertaining, and very clear in its interpretation of the book of Job. His explanations of the biblical dialogue help enable the reader to build an in-depth understanding of the content while finding relevant applications to personal experience. The book also maintains a swift pace through its commentary that never harangues. Rather, it entertains with examples that bridge timeless truth with conventional familiarity. I highly recommend this work for those seeking a better understanding of the biblical Job, as well as anyone struggling to understand why God allows difficult times to occur in our lives. Comfort, clarity, and direction can be found within these pages.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews