Enter Satan The Book of Job #2

Enter Satan

The identification of Satan is critical to any interpretation of the unfolding drama. I propose that throughout the Bible Satan is a metaphorical character representing human pride. Therefore in Job Satan is present wherever pride is present: initially only in the three friends (but later Job too becomes infected).

This proposal is prompted by the following observations:

 The word ‘Satan’ is a Hebrew word meaning ‘opponent’ and is referenced with the definite article (i.e. The Satan), suggesting a metaphorical character, rather than a proper name.

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 The natural reading of the prologue suggests that the ‘opponent’ is the opponent of God.

 The Satan is stupid! The entire basis of the Satan’s argument is that he is cleverer than God and has observed something God has missed. This characteristic arrogance points strongly at human pride.

I consider these observations in the light of the broader Biblical teaching concerning Satan, resting on the assumption that the scriptural canon communicates a single message, so Biblical texts interpret each other:

 Peter’s NT writing reveals angels do not slander righteous men, as the Satan does to Job, excluding the possibility of the Satan being an angel, either benign or malign.

 Scripture consistently indicates that God’s opponent is man’s stubborn, proud heart (Gen 6; Jer 17; Mark 7).

 The scriptural scenes of God interacting with Satan follows a template of three generic points: 1) God speaks a truth; 2) Satan counters with an untruth, which forms an accusation against a righteous man; 3) God rebukes the Satan. Examples of this three-part template can be seen in: a) Gen 2-3 & Rev 12; b) Matt 16; c) Ezra 1-4 & Zech 3. The template is consistently fulfilled in Job if we understand the Satan as the pride of the three friends, because their untruths concerning God’s character form accusations against righteous Job and their pride-filled rhetoric is rebuked by God at the end.

 The story of Job forms the iconic tale of human suffering. This forms an appeal to our sensibilities, especially as God is directing the action, that the cause of this suffering should equally be the signature root cause. Other interpretations lay this cause at the feet of others: other men are seen as the Satan, or even a slow-witted angel who doesn’t quite grasp God’s plan. My interpretation identifies the pride and self-will resident in us all as that ultimate, root cause of suffering and divorce from harmony with God: the Satan.