Appendix 3 was written in the year 2004 [and included as such into the creative work "World of Dialectics versus Multidimensional Space - Dialectic Interactive Approach in Use"] with the purpose of coming to light this masterpiece of creative action in these distant ancient times DIA appropriate space using the dialectic interactive approach. Namely, this creator of knowledge was overwhelmed with delight after reading this overly neglected Book of the Old Testament, that he had to express his inner admiration [time in space: future in spirit] in writing too, that is, to share it with others [space in time: the matter embedded in the past]. Of course, this was done after he managed to provide the necessary time DIA space [spirit, mind dia reason, matter]. But it seems that the others were not so excited at all, neither with the reappearance of this Book from the deep oblivion on this great creative stage of His nor with the comments of this creator of knowledge, (in particular, the obscured 'eavesdroppers'). As one example for comparison, Plato’s dialectics, although much more famous creative work (especially in the philosophical circles), was expressed by its actors using a much simpler form of the dialectic interactive approach: Dialogue. In other words, it was uttered DIA simplified in terms of the so-called linear way of thinking, where Socrates in the lead role (thesis) is contradicted by another actor (antithesis), while his responses are witnessed by a multitude of PASSIVE SPECTATORS (synthesis DIA a renewed thesis).
On the other hand, “The Book of Job” is rather a creative (that is, artistic, cultural, philosophic, and scientific) deployment of the DIALECTIC INTERACTIVE APPROACH IN USE, understood in terms of the arrangement of all its constituent dialects (elements) as well, including the active participation of more than two actors, culminated with an impressive divine monologue (of the dialectics), where all presented actors as enchanted listening to. This is in fact a jewel, masterpiece of the dialectics, written by using the dialectic interactive approach: With the Lord playing the major role in the last, essential and decisive act of this marvelous, fascinating, dialectic creative work. This magnificent narrator hidden behind this masterpiece leads to perfection the application of this heavenly manifestation of the dialectical interactive approach by connecting these imperfect earthly creative expanses with the secrets of heavenly wisdom. After the temporary conclusion of this earthly creative debate was reached, where Job is a new creative star (temporary winner), to conjure up the temporality and transience of each earthly creative asterisk and star [a temporal conclusion of the time, in time DIA space] as well as to demonstrate heavenly dissatisfaction with the end result of this creative discussion, the narrator suddenly introduces Elihu to this all-saying and all-encompassing creative podium.
In other words, using a play on words Elohim [Eloah: Lord (God), meaning Lord God of the earthly version of creation, who created Adam and... Eve] and Elijah [a Hebrew prophet of the 9th century B.C. who did not die but was taken by the Lord God], to re-initiate this creative debate, the narrator having no other option at his disposal employs (the name) Elihu as a symbolic representant of the heavenly forces ("watcher") to achieve this effect. But this is by no means the end of this enchanting approach to finding a solution to this seemingly unsolvable creative challenge of the considered span of time and space. Applying the deeply imprinted, impressed, and rooted culturally artistic interplay of earthly and heavenly forces in the inner beings of the inhabitants of this bygone time DIA space, Elihu also disappears from this creative stage, and his role is overtaken by the Lord God, who continues to speak from Elihu's inner being DIA the innermost one (the deepest in him).
In summary, the narrator has said in this creative way who has the last word, that is, the achieved conclusion in each human and humane creative environment is temporary while the end answer (absolute truth) is the right of the (Eternal, Immortal) God and no one else, including the emissaries and representatives of His. On top of it, this statement mustn't be understood in terms of the "well known black or white way of thinking" because Job as the winner of this creative debate at the earthly level of competition rightfully regained his societal status, and God also rewarded him richly. On the other hand, the losers of this creative battle did not experience Socrates' tragic fate of freedom of speech and creative expression and action in the natiocratic democracy of ancient Greece (1500 years later), nor the losers were punished, except for paying a symbolic tribute to the temporary winner of this endless creative debate. Pay special attention to the fact that they did not sacrifice seven oxen and seven rams to either God or Job, but offered them as a sacrifice for themselves, that is, for their defeat in this creative debate, because God does not need this kind of sacrifice but creative action and upbringing of new generations in terms of distinguishing good from evil, benevolence, good and humane behavior, the application of good-doing and the like. In return [for their shown sincere repentance], Job will pray for them and Lord God will accept his prayer and not deal with them according to what they deserved as losers of this creative debate. For all these reasons, this heavenly way of thinking, understood in terms of distinguishing good from bad and evil (creative) options is the main postulate of the dialectical interactive approach.
The Book of Job was written in the 8th century BC (or was it then included in the Old Testament?). Try to compare this heavenly approach with this modern understanding of human rights [formal rights of the people and not individuals too], freedom of expression, creative action, and other buzzwords of the established natiocratic societies. Did you manage to compare these two approaches even in the imaginative sphere of your mind using your way of reasoning of this complex methodological content? In my opinion, these overly modernly camouflaged and omnipresent appearances of various forms of manifestation of the natiocrats including all their propagandistic interpretations of freedom, human rights, humanness, and humane beingness in general are for ridicule and public mocking, exactly what this creator of knowledge has done in these creative articles. For this reason, true lovers of the culturally religious, artistic, philosophic, and scientific way of expression should read this masterpiece of dialectical interactive approach using all their senses, thereby enjoying in its creative expressions including appropriate impressions and imprints of culture, art, philosophy and science of this ancient time DIA space, with all mind DIA heart and soul! As a creative framework for further discussion, the essential scenes played on this great all-theater stage of His were in A DIALECTIC WAY introduced in the first part of this creative re-interpretation. But do not forget to re-read the whole "Book of Job" after finishing with the reading these creative articles dedicated to this unknown narrator of these gone times DIA the unexpereinced spaces of his in this too modernised planet called Earth.
0 - Prologue: Putting Job to the Test
Beyond the Hidden Scenery
In the land of Uz there lived a human being whose name was Job. This human being was blameless and upright,
who feared God and shunned commiting evil. .... One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord.
"From roaming through the earth and going to and fro in it". Than the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered
my faithful follower Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is blameless and up-right, a man who fears God and
shuns evil" (Joв-1:6-8).
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Temptation of Job in the Land of Uz
.... So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (2x) .... and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles
of his feet to the top of his head (Job-1 & Job-2:1-7)..
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1 - The Silence of Dialectics
When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Tamanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Namathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathise with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognise him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then Job's three friends sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No-one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was (Job-2:11-13).
2 - The Initialisation of the Dialectic Interactive Processes using the Dialectical Interactive Approach | |
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'a boy is born!' That day may turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it. May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light. .... Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb. Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest .... (Job-3:1-26 /Job/). |
After these words Eliphaz the Tamanite replied: If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can
keep from speaking? Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your
words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to
you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?
Consider now: Who being innocent, has ever perished? Where the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed,
those who plough evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast
of his anger they perish (Job-4:1-9 /Eliphaz/).
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3 - The Dialectic Interactive Process DIA Dialectic Interactive Approach
Synthesis DIA the Renewed Thesis
What is (wo)man that You make so much of her/him, that You give her/him so much attention, that You examine
her/him every morning and test her/him every moment? Will You never look away from me, or let me alone even
for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O Watcher of (wo)men? Why have You made me Your
target? Have I become a burden to You? Why do You not pardon my offences and forgive my sins? For I shall soon
lie down in the dust; You will search for me, but I shall be no more (Job-7:17-21 /Job/).
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The Renewed Antithesis Ask the former generations and find out what their (mothers and) fathers learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding? Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What (s)he trusts in is fragile; what (s)he relies on is spider's web. .... But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, "I never saw you." Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow (Job-8:8-22 /Bildad/). |
How then can I dispute with Him? How can I find words to argue with Him? … Even if I were innocent, my mouth
would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty (Job-9:14-24, /Job/).
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You say to God, my beliefs are flawless and I am pure in Your sight. Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that He would open His lips against you and disclose to you the secret of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin (Job-11:4-6, /Zophar/). |
Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you, I am not inferior
to you. Who does not know all these things (Job-12:1-3, /Job/)?
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Would a wise (wo)man answer with empty notions or fill her / his belly with the hot east wind? Would (s)he argue
with useless words, with speeches that have no value? But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to
God. Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty (Job- 15:1-7, /Eliphaz/).
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4 - Withering of the Initiated Dialectic Interactive Processes
Synthesis DIA Renewed Thesis ⇉ (Provisional) Conclusion
Then Job replied: How you have helped powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble! What advice
you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed! Who has helped you
utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth! The dead are in deep anguish, those beneath
the waters and all that live in them. Death is naked before God; destruction lies uncovered (Job-26:1-6 /Job/).
As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of my soul,
as long as I have Life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and
my tongue will utter no deceit. I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live (Job-27:1-6, /Job/).
But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? (Wo)Man does not comprehend its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, “It is not in me”, the sea says, “It is not with me”.
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver… Where then does wisdom come
from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from
the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumour of it has reached our ears. God understands
the way to it and He alone knows where it dwells, for He views the ends of the earth(ens) and sees everything
under the heavens. When He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when He made a
decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then He look at wisdom and apprised it; He confirmed it
and tested it. And He said to (wo)man, “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding”
(Job-28:12-28, /Job/).
And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me. Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest.
In His great power, God becomes like clothing to me; He binds me like the neck of my garment. He throws me
into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes (Job-30:16-19 /Job/).
Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defence - Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put
his indictment in writing. Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown. I would give
her/him an account of my every step; like a prince I would approach her/him. If my land cries out against me
.... The words of Job are ended (Job-31:35-40).
5 - Encouraging the Dialectical Creative Debate
So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very displeased with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He also was ignited with the three friends of Job, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing to say, his irritation was aroused (Job- 32-1:5 / Narrator /). |
So Elihu, son of Barakel the Buzite said: "I am young in years and you are old, that is why I was fearful, not
daring to tell you what I know. I thought; Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom”. But
it is the spirit in a (wo)man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives her/him understanding. It is not only
the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say: Listen attentively to me; I
too will tell you what I know. I waited patiently while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were
searching for words, I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has answered his arguments. Do
not say, “We have found wisdom; let God refute him, not (wo)man. But Job has not marshalled his
words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments. They are dismayed and have no more
to say; words have failed them. Must I wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no
reply? I too will have my say: I too will tell all what I know. For I am full of words, and spirit within me
compels me; inside I am like bottled up wine, like wine skins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply. I will show partiality to no-one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were
skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away (Job- 32:6-22, /Elihu/)."
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6a - Ignition of the Dialectical Interactive Processes
Synthesis DIA Dialectical Synthesization of This Dialectical Content: Transfiguration of a Human Being into a Divine One within Time DIA Space
Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: Who is this that darkens my counsel with words
without knowledge? Brace yourself like a (wo)man; I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were
you when I laid the earth(en)’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimension? Surely
you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its
cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?… (Job-38:1-7,
/The Lord speaks– displeased/out of the storm /).
Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the primordial womb, when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and laid bars in place, when I said, “This far you may
come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt” (Job-38:8-11, /The Lord speaks – displeased/out
of the storm/)?
Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death
been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast
expanses of the earth(ens)? Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where
does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings. Surely
you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years (Job-38:16-21, /The Lord speaks -
displeased/out of the storm)!
Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellation
in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up
God’s dominion over the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood
of water? Do you send the lighting bolts on their way? Do they report to you, “Here we are”? Who endowed
the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick
together (Job-38:31-38, /The Lord speaks – displeased/out of the storm /)?
6b - Restarting the Dialectical Creative Debate
The Lord said to Job: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” Let her/him who accuses God answer Him (Job-40:1-2, /The Lord speaks – not displeased/out of the storm)! |
Job answered the Lord: I am unworthy – how then can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke already once, but I have no answer – twice, but I will say no more (Job-40:3-5, /Job/). |
7 - Supporting the Dialectical Interactive Processes DIA Ending this Debate with Job's Synthesis DIA (Interim) Conclusion
Synthesis DIA the Renewed Thesis |
The Renewed Antithesis |
Job's Synthesis DIA (Temporary) Conclusion |
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm: "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like this? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendour, and clothe yourself in honour and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud (wo)man and bring her/him low, look at every proud (wo)man and humble her/him, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit you that your own right hand can save you (Job-40-6:14 /The Lord out of the storm, displeased again). |
Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know (Job-42:1-3, /Job/). |
You said, "Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes (Job-42:4-6, /Job/). |
8∞ - Epilogue - The Coronation of the Victor of this Initiated Dialectical Creative Debate
After the Lord had said these things to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my faithful follower Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My faithful follower Job will pray for you and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right as my faithful follower Job has. So Eliphaz the Tamanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Namathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job's prayer (Job-42:7-9).
READ the Next Part of this Creative Article:
- The Dialectic Interactive Approach in Use in the Ancient Time DIA Space: The Book of Job - Holy Bible - Part Two: Useful Comments by the Creator of Knowledge
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