This is a sermon in three parts on the Book of Job. I’ve been teaching a class on Job, and my wonderful students participated in the service by reading different parts of the text. For the Voice of God, we had a man and woman read the text in unison. The anthem, midway through the friends’ berating Job, was “Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child.” This really worked. Thanks to all who contributed to what was, for me, a profound worship experience.
Peace,
Rev. Laura
***
Living with the Texts: The Book of Job
The Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton
May 15, 2011
1. Job: The Story Begins
The story is told of a man named Job
who lived long, long ago in the land of Uz.
He was a man of perfect integrity,
who feared God and avoided evil.
He had seven sons and three daughters;
seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels,
five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys;
and also many slaves. He was the richest man in the East.[1]
One day in the heavenly realms where God presided,
the angels gathered, and the Accusing Angel was there too.
God said to the Accuser, “There is no one on earth
like my servant Job, wouldn’t you agree?
He is blameless and full of integrity.
He fears God and never does evil.”
The Accuser said, “Well, of course he does!
You’ve made him the richest man in the land!
Everything he does, you bless.
If you take everything away from him,
I bet he will curse you to your face.”
God said, “All right: everything he has is in your power.
Just don’t lay a hand on him.”[2] Continue reading
