Table Of Content

UNLOCKING WISDOM FORMINGAGENTSOFGODINTHEHOUSEOFMOURNING Copyright © 2008 byJamesS.Reitman Published by 21st Century Press Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybeusedorreproduced in any manner whatsoever or stored in any database or retrieval system without written permission except in the case of brief quo- tations used in critical articles and reviews. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.All rights reserved. Requests for permissions should be addressed to: 21st Century Press 2131W. Republic Rd. PMB 41 Springfield, MO 65807 ISBN 978-0-9779535-5-4 Key search words: 1. Job 2. Ecclesiastes 3. Wisdom 4. Hermeneutics 5.Canonical-Linguistic Downloadfilesat:www.21stcenturypress.com/wisdom.htm Download1: HermeneuticalMethod(“WordsofTruthand WordsofPurpose”) Download2: SyntheticChartofJob(fullcolor) Download3: SyntheticChartofEcclesiastes (fullcolor) Download4: SearchablepdfofUnlockingWisdom emailauthor:[email protected] emailpublisher:[email protected] Cover: Lee Fredrickson Book Design:TerryWhite Visit our website at: www.21stcenturypress.com 21st Century Press 2131W. Republic Rd., PMB 41 Springfield, MO 65807 D EDICATION To my patient wife Peggy, who endured countless cycles of the “Hermeneutical Spiral” and set the tone for this book when I told her we were finally going to press. She said: “It’s a good thing you’re a doctor and not an author, because we would have starved by now.” A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS I cannot overstate the contribution made by Ruben Martinez, who wasmyfirstrealmentorandguidedmethroughmyearlystagesof foolishness after seminary. It was he who first had the courage to administer “the rebuke of the wise” (Eccl 7:5) with great compas- sion and love as soon as we met in 1987. I owe to him the encouragement that first motivated me to pursue my expository journey through the books of Job and Ecclesiastes. We planted a church together, but he was the one with the passion, stubbornness, and couragetoshepherdLivingWordEFC(Pharr,Texas)againstgreat odds for the last 20 years. Also of great encouragement over the years since I entered DallasSeminaryin1981havebeenElliottJohnsonandRoyZuck. It was Elliott’s Expository Hermeneutics that first gave me the incentive to pursue “synthetic” hermeneutics, and he invited me to join the 2006 Expository Hermeneutics study group of the Evangelical Theological Society that reignited my interest in hermeneutic methodology. Elliott and Roy have both consistently encouraged my work on this commentary since my original article on Ecclesiastes in 1997. More recently, the work of Kevin Vanhoozer and Dick Averbeck provided the main theological incentive for my paper “Words of Truth and Words of Purpose,” which best articulates the hermeneutical rationale underlying the present commentary. Kevin’s innovative framework for under- standing the connection between textual meaning and authorial intent and his “canonical-linguistic” approach to theology have especiallyboostedmyconfidenceinthesoundnessoftheexposito- ry approach that led to the present volume. Finally,IamindebtedtothepeopleoftheBodyofChrist,who for 29 years have endured my rugged individualism and loved me even when I was unlovable. I am particularly grateful for the men of “TheAgency” at Fellowship Bible Church in Colorado Springs whoseasonedmyteachingstyleandtestedmytheologicalconvic- tions in the area of “human agency.” Pastor Raleigh Gresham and the“MissionalIntegrationBoys”atFBChavebeenequallyencour- aging discussion partners. My wife Peggy has tolerated my antiso- cial traits for 30 years and has really loved me when I was unlovable. In light of the loving persistence of all these agents of the Creator, I too am now loving others a little more consistently. 4 T C ABLE OF ONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................7 FOREWORD(WilliamW.Klein,PhD).................................................9 PREFACE:Hermeneuticsandthe“Window”ofSuffering.................11 JOB: SUFFERING AGENT OF THE CREATOR Introduction:WhatDoYouMean,“Agent”?......................................39 Expository Outline...............................................................................45 Literary Structure and Overview.....................................................48 Prologue (Job 1–2): SATAN’S DARE....................................................61 Act I (Job 3–31): CREATOR IN COURT...............................................71 1. JobLamentsHisCreation(Job3)..............................................77 2. DebateoverJob’sGuiltandGod’sJustice(Job4–27)..............81 3. RoundOne:PleadingforCompassion(Job4–14)....................84 4. RoundTwo:ConfidentofVindication(Job15–21)...................95 5. RoundThree:ObsessedwithRevenge(Job22–27)................104 6. PleaforWisdom—DoesJobFearGod?(Job28)....................111 7. JobSuesforFullRestitution(Job29–31)................................113 Act II (Job 32–37): PLAINTIFF & MEDIATOR..................................121 8. God’sSpirit-FilledMediator(Job32:1–33:7)..........................126 9. God’sRedemptivePurposes(Job33:8–33).............................128 10. God’sSovereignRuleisJust(Job34).....................................133 11. Job’sSelf-RighteousPresumption(Job35).............................138 12. God’sSovereignInstruction(Job36–37)................................142 Act III (Job 38:1–42:6): CREATOR IN CONTROL.............................149 13. God’sAll-WiseRuleoverCreation(Job38:1–40:5)...............154 14. God’sAll-PowerfulRuleoverEvil(Job40:6–42:6)...............160 Epilogue (Job 42:7–17): SATAN’S DEFEAT.......................................167 SelectedBibliography........................................................................178 5 ECCLESIASTES: WISDOM IN SEARCH OF A LEGACY Expository Outline.............................................................................182 Literary Structure and Overview...................................................184 Prologue (Eccl 1:1-11): PROPOSITION...............................................209 Part I (Eccl 1:12-3:22):EXPLORATION.............................................213 15. TheFutilityofEmpiricallySearchingforanEarthlyLegacy (1:12-2:26)...........................................................................216 16. TheFutilityofPrescribingGoodDeedsforaHeavenlyLegacy (3:1-22).................................................................................226 Part II(Eccl 4–6): VEXATION...........................................................235 17. ThePervasiveOppressionofSelfish-Ambition(4:1-16).........239 18. TheFoolishPresumptionofSelfishAmbition(5:1-20)...........244 19. TheExistentialDespairofSelfishAmbition(6:1-12).............250 Part III (Eccl 7:1-14): TRANSITION..................................................257 20. AuthenticMourningisbetterthanFalseOptimism(7:1-7).....261 21. PatientSubmissionisbetterthanStubbornPride(7:8-14)......265 Part IV(Eccl 7:15-9:10): RESOLUTION............................................271 22. TheDepravityofMankind—Wisdom’sAdvantageExcluded (7:15-29)...............................................................................275 23. TheFearofGod—Mankind’sonlyConfidenceInJudgment (8:1-15).................................................................................282 24. TheWorkofGod—HopeofHisFavorforAlltheLiving (8:16-9:10)...........................................................................290 Part V(Eccl 9:11-12:7): COMPLETION.............................................299 25. Wisdom’sSuccessVersusSelf-SufficientFailure(9:11–18)...303 26. Wisdom’sSuccessamidtheHazardsofFolly(10:1-20).........306 27. Wisdom’sSuccessinLightof“TimeandChance”(11:1-12:7)...315 Epilogue (Eccl 12:8-14): AUTHENTICATION......................................325 Postscript:The“Significance”ofEcclesiastes..................................333 Selected Bibliography........................................................................353 Scripture Index..................................................................................355 Author Index......................................................................................364 Foreign Term Index...........................................................................366 Subject Index.....................................................................................368 6 A BBREVIATIONS AB Anchor Bible BDB F.Brown,S.R.Driver,andC.A.Briggs, The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew- English Lexicon BKC The Bible Knowledge Commentary BSac Bibliotheca Sacra cf. confer, compare with cp. compare e.g. exempli gratia, for example esp. especially fn(s). footnote(s) cited in other works Gk Greek Heb. Hebrew HOTC Holman OldTestament Commentary ibid. ibidem, in the same source idem. idem, same, the previously mentioned author i.e. id est, that is ILM Issues in Law & Medicine impf. imperfect tense lit. literally LXX Septuagint MS(S) manuscript(s) MT MassoreticText n(n). footnote(s) cited in this commentary NASB NewAmerican Standard Bible NCBC New Century Bible Commentary NET New EnglishTranslation (The NETBible) NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament NIV New InternationalVersion of the Bible NIVAC New InternationalVersionApplication Commentary NKJV New King JamesVersion of the Bible NRSV New Revised StandardVersion of the Bible NT NewTestament OT OldTestament pf. perfect tense q.v. quod vide, referring to the text within a work TOTC Tyndale OldTestament Commentary v(v). verse(s) WBC Word Biblical Commentary 7 Old Testament Books Gen Genesis Eccl Ecclesiastes Exod Exodus Song Song of Solomon Lev Leviticus Isa Isaiah Num Numbers Jer Jeremiah Deut Deuteronomy Lam Lamentations Josh Joshua Ezek Ezekiel Judg Judges Dan Daniel Ruth Ruth Hos Hosea 1 Sam 1 Samuel Joel Joel 2 Sam 2 Samuel Amos Amos 1 Kgs 1 Kings Obad Obadiah 2 Kgs 2 Kings Jon Jonah 1 Chr 1 Chronicles Mic Micah 2 Chr 2 Chronicles Nah Nahum Ezra Ezra Hab Habakkuk Neh Nehemiah Zeph Zephaniah Esth Esther Hag Haggai Job Job Zech Zechariah Ps(s) Psalm(s) Mal Malachi Prov Proverbs New Testament Books Matt Matthew 1Tim 1Timothy Mark Mark 2Tim 2Timothy Luke Luke Titus Titus John John Philem Philemon Acts Acts Heb Hebrews Rom Romans Jas James 1 Cor 1 Corinthians 1 Pet 1 Peter 2 Cor 2 Corinthians 2 Pet 2 Peter Gal Galatians 1 John 1 John Eph Ephesians 2 John 2 John Phil Philippians 3 John 3 John Col Colossians Jude Jude 1Thess 1Thessalonians Rev Revelation 2Thess 2Thessalonians 8 F OREWORD Through the prism of his own trials, professional disillusionment, and intense interest in medical ethics, James Reitman engages in this important exercise in biblical interpretation, mining two wis- dombooksfortheanswerstothetheist’sdilemma.Hebelievesthat JobandEcclesiasteshelpusanswerthequestion:whyisthererea- sontohope,muchlesstoliveandbelieveinGod,whenlife’squest for fulfillment leaves only an unshakable sense of utter futility. For Reitman, Job turns out to be, not a shining example of faithfulness in adversity, but a believer who, like many of us, lost confidenceinGod’sjusticeandcarewhenGodfailedtosatisfyhis self-righteous expectations. Ecclesiastes is not merely a cynical tract proclaiming the futility of life without God. It points the way to an informed optimism—that those who trust in God can find a lasting legacy in his inscrutable ways. IespeciallyappreciateDr.Reitman’sself-consciousandmetic- ulous hermeneutical rigor—the point at which I am most qualified toendorsehiswork.Heexplainshisrationalefortheformatthathe employs in the commentary—one that is both idiosyncratic and effective.Inthecommentary’sorganization,hiscarefulandanalyt- icalmindexcels.Eachsectionstartswithasummarystatementthat clearly articulates its payoff: how the author makes his case, what heintendstosay,andhowreadersshouldrespond.Aswell,readers canseeforeachbookaSyntheticChartthatgraphicallydepictsthe ExpositoryOutline,andforeachsectionanOverview,Theological Correlation,andValidation.Heemploysasystemoffootnotingthat traces the theological conclusions that emerge and correlates them to other sections. Dr. Reitman is aware of the danger of leveraging the text to suit hisownpreferences,andheadoptstheworthygoalofdiscoveringthe “author’s intended meaning as expressed in the biblical text.” He employswhathecallsthe“spiralofinductionanddeduction”todrill down deeper and deeper into the authors’intended overarching and compositemeanings.Onlythendoesheseekthetexts’application.He tests his interpretations against the criteria of comprehensiveness, competence, coherence, and consistency. These are all laudable tac- tics.Wouldthatallcommentariesweresorigorous.Andwouldthatall were so satisfying in their conclusions. Beyond his attention to methodological precision, Reitman’s conclusions ring true to life— alwaysthetestofacommentary’seffectiveness. WilliamW. Klein, Ph.D. Chair, Division of Biblical Studies Denver Seminary 9 “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:4) “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:4) 10