Early in this chapter we looked at the relationship of the teaching of the book of Job to the teaching of other Old Testament books, but we can now take a look at the position of the book of Job in the Bible as a whole. It occupies an important position in the whole teaching of the Bible. On one point, the author saw further than anyone else in the Old Testament although he does not present us with a developed doctrine. He puts the question which only the New Testament can answer: If man cannot stand before God in righteousness, how is he to stand before God at all? Another way of putting this question is like this: If a man who tried very hard to avoid evil and was described as good and faithful finds that he cannot justify himself before God because God is so much greater than he ever imagined, what kind of relationship is possible between that man and God? In the Old Testament there are two main lines of thought about how man and God could be in a relationship of reconciliation. One direction, indicated strongly in the Law books, calls for behavioural, sacrificial and ritual correctness as one way of approaching God. Holy God requires a holy people. The other direction indicated strongly by the great pre-exilic prophets-Amos, Hosea, Isaiah-calls for the obedient humble mind and the upright character. Unless the mind and will are behind the external acts, behavioural, sacrificial and ritual correctness are inadequate. The writer of the book of Job indicates by the discussions of the whole book, that something more than these approaches to God is required; in fact, he challenges these two main lines of thought as being inadequate. In the opening chapter of Job, Job is introduced as a man who kept the requirements of the Law and was pure in his intentions. His external acts were supported by an obedient, humble mind and an upright character. He combines the two approaches to God already indicated in the Old Testament; but this is not enough. He cannot know God and experience a personal relationship with him until God himself takes the initiative and comes to meet Job, out of sheer grace. As Job 38-41 shows, man is a totally helpless creature before his Creator on whom he depends for his existence. In the end, man cannot do anything by himself, unaided, to win God's approval; he can only accept it as an astounding gift of love from the God who is so much greater than he can understand.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel had realized that something very drastic would have to happen to man before his new relationship with God could become a reality. From them comes the very important teaching about the new covenant and the new teaching which God himself would put into the hearts and minds of his people. They see that the initiative is with God and that man cannot change himself. The book of Job does not set out a developed doctrine of grace but points towards the New Testament teaching about God's grace which is expressed so clearly in the teaching of Paul. Paul learnt of God's great gift of grace through his own experience. Like Job, Paul had been a man who took great care to avoid all evil and to live with pure intentions. 'All the Jews know how 1have lived ever since I was young .... They have always known, if they are willing to testify, that from the very first I have lived as a member of the strictest party of our religion, the Pharisees' (Acts 26: 4-5). As we know, Paul's great efforts to please God, through following the life of a strict Pharisee, did not bring him any nearer to God but led him to lead a fierce campaign against the first Christians whom he understood to be heretics and enemies of God. On the road to Damascus, God revealed himself to Paul in the risen Christ. We can see a comparison here between Job's experience when God spoke to him, and Paul's. Paul was overwhelmed by God's presence in Jesus Christ, and like Job, his whole attitude to God was changed.

So the book of Job points towards the very important teaching of the New Testament about God's approach to man through his grace. The more we understand the book of Job, the more we see that it is an important link with the teaching of the New Testament.