The Story Behind the Painting...
A brilliant Middle Eastern sunrise illuminates a scene of grief and despair. Two marred vessels sit on
the ground - righteous Job, and the vase from which he has broken off a piece to scrape the putrid,
abscessing boils erupting over his body (think MRSA in an extreme form..) Job sits in a pile of ashes
at the end of a deserted courtyard, stunned with grief over the unbelievable amount of tragedy that has
befallen him of late. All of his children have suffered fatal injuries in a freak weather event; all of his
livelihood has been lost due to a similar streak of catastrophes. Now, even his wife has suggested he
just curse God and die.
Job does not know that his severe testing is a response to Satan's challenge to God that, given the
right conditions, Job will curse God to his face. All he knows is that God is righteous in all His ways,
and that he (Job) trusts Him.
Job's three friends from neighboring areas arrive to grieve with him over his misfortune and offer
him comfort. In the classic style of ancient Middle Eastern mourning, they tear their garments and
cast dirt upon their heads. Throughout Job's entire ordeal, the angel of the Lord watches over him
from the sides of the north.
This painting represents a microcosm of a story full of interesting twists...how the "comforting"
evolves into a verbal sparring match, the zealous young whippersnapper who arrives on the scene,
what happens when God himself enters into the discourse, and the final outcome of the whole matter.
the ground - righteous Job, and the vase from which he has broken off a piece to scrape the putrid,
abscessing boils erupting over his body (think MRSA in an extreme form..) Job sits in a pile of ashes
at the end of a deserted courtyard, stunned with grief over the unbelievable amount of tragedy that has
befallen him of late. All of his children have suffered fatal injuries in a freak weather event; all of his
livelihood has been lost due to a similar streak of catastrophes. Now, even his wife has suggested he
just curse God and die.
Job does not know that his severe testing is a response to Satan's challenge to God that, given the
right conditions, Job will curse God to his face. All he knows is that God is righteous in all His ways,
and that he (Job) trusts Him.
Job's three friends from neighboring areas arrive to grieve with him over his misfortune and offer
him comfort. In the classic style of ancient Middle Eastern mourning, they tear their garments and
cast dirt upon their heads. Throughout Job's entire ordeal, the angel of the Lord watches over him
from the sides of the north.
This painting represents a microcosm of a story full of interesting twists...how the "comforting"
evolves into a verbal sparring match, the zealous young whippersnapper who arrives on the scene,
what happens when God himself enters into the discourse, and the final outcome of the whole matter.
But don't take my word for it!! Read it for yourself in the
Book of Job
King James Version
King James Version
Anagrams found for "Patience of Job"
| The Suffering of Job |
| 36 x 48 Gouache, pastel, and pencil on canvas |
© 2011 MultipleWorlds Media
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
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Select Book of Job
Select Book of Job