Perseverance in Trials: Reflections on Job

Rating:
Summary: Dynamic and Creative Biblical Insights & Spiritual Guidance
Review: This is a compact treasure of a book by a master biblical scholar and spiritual guide, filled with brilliant insights, thoughtful meditations, and pastoral wisdom. With the the Book of Job as a framework, Martini considers suffering, various Christian responses to suffering, and how we can react to the trials of life. He alternatively probes Job's character, considers third world suffering and our response to it, ponders human knowledge about self and God, and helps us to follow Jesus's trials to live as did Jesus.

Throughout the book, he ties together various others' analyses of the challenges that Job presents, referring to such diverse thinkers as Catholic liberation theologians and evangelical Protestants. A typical example of the depth of his meditations is his final one: He compares Job's "unwearying search for divine justice ... and the way human beings can understand it" with "The Song of Songs's unwearying search for love ... and the joy [the presence of the beloved] brings." I'd never heard the two compared before, but I delighted in the parallels he revealed.

In each chapter, Martini demonstrates miraculous wisdom and balance in considering difficult challenges in one's Christian life. His discussion of coping with a restless mind not only led me to better appreciate and balance Martini's continual emphasis on dialogue and an exchange of views with others, as evidenced by his Belief or Non-Belief? (written with Umberto Eco) or his thoughts about the role of doubt, but most important, it proved to be great pastoral advice for such people as me with a wandering mind.

Throughout the book, Martini's comparisons with other biblical passages, from both Old and New Testaments, prove extraordinarily creative and dynamic. He considers Job from diverse perspectives, all with the aim to guide one's meditations on the Bible and to richen one's spiritual life.

Rating:
Summary: A "Thinking Man's" exposition!-
Review: Wow. I always new Job was a tough one; but reading this book made me realise the depth of the book of Job. The transcript of a retreat- which this book is - really makes one reflect on his understanding of trials and their meaning. This is an excellent book; but keep your dictionary handy when you read it!