And Job answered and said, No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Job 12:1-2
"It is remarkable that the Bible, with its great variety of literary forms and numerous personal
conversations and discourses, contains very few examples of sarcasm or satire.
Nevertheless, the few examples of Biblical irony are well worth noting, with one of the most notable being Job's response as above to the self-righteous platitudes of his three philosophizing "friends." In their intellectual and moral arrogance and with no real understanding of God's purposes, these critics were far out of line and well deserved Job's cutting sarcasm. Examples of such combined spiritual ignorance and intellectual arrogance are not hard to find today and, occasionally perhaps, a satirical commentary may be effective in changing them or preventing their effect.
One other well-known case of Biblical sarcasm is Elijah's taunting monologue to the prophets of Baal: "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, (defecating) or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked" (I Kings 18:27).
Much more foolish are those modern-day idolaters who worship "Mother Nature," believing that her "natural processes" can evolve hydrogen atoms, over billions of years, into human beings. The examples of Elijah and Job may warrant an occasional touch of sarcasm when discussing such notions!" HMM
Job 12:1-2
"It is remarkable that the Bible, with its great variety of literary forms and numerous personal
Nevertheless, the few examples of Biblical irony are well worth noting, with one of the most notable being Job's response as above to the self-righteous platitudes of his three philosophizing "friends." In their intellectual and moral arrogance and with no real understanding of God's purposes, these critics were far out of line and well deserved Job's cutting sarcasm. Examples of such combined spiritual ignorance and intellectual arrogance are not hard to find today and, occasionally perhaps, a satirical commentary may be effective in changing them or preventing their effect.
One other well-known case of Biblical sarcasm is Elijah's taunting monologue to the prophets of Baal: "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, (defecating) or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked" (I Kings 18:27).
Much more foolish are those modern-day idolaters who worship "Mother Nature," believing that her "natural processes" can evolve hydrogen atoms, over billions of years, into human beings. The examples of Elijah and Job may warrant an occasional touch of sarcasm when discussing such notions!" HMM
