The Legend of Job

 

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

² Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
³ Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
⁴ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
⁵ Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
⁶ Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
⁷ When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
⁸ Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
Job 38:1-8 King James Version

Gerald Squires was an acclaimed Newfoundland artist who died in 2015. Squires was born on Change Islands, adjacent to Fogo Island in the North Atlantic. It is a raw, rugged beautiful place and even though he grew up elsewhere and eventually found work in Toronto, I often have the sense of the place in his work. We have visited several times and spent a month there last summer, leaving only to visit Fogo.

Squires' last project was an illuminated manuscript called The Legend of Job, a biblical story which fascinated him. Squires painted a number of biblically themed works through the decades including Stations of the Cross and The Last Supper. Squires grew up in a home where he and his siblings would read the bible aloud, the only book in their home, so perhaps it's not surprising that his paintings are haunted by scriptural themes.

 In this manuscript he works with close friend Boyd Chubbs, who lettered and designed it. They explore the story of Job, whose suffering, the inadequate response of his "friends," and God's insistence that he "suck it up" even though he deserves none of his woes is a powerful parable on the mystery of human existence.



I have searched the internet to find an image of Chapter 38 of Job, but I can't find one. It is the chapter where God speaks to Job out of the storm and asks him to consider who God is as Creator and for Job to ponder his insignificance. These are hardly words of comfort, yet they are a magnificent Creation hymn.

 When we were on Change Islands last summer I would walk up to the Anglican church, which was always open. There was a large bible at the front and I would open it each time to an "earthy" passage, including Job 38. On each subsequent visit the bible would be closed again. The custodian probably wondered who the mystery bible opener was!



Squires and Chubbs did include the reference in Chapter 41 to Leviathan, which is the sea monster of Job, the Psalms, Isaiah and Amos. They represent by what looks to be a whale and specifically a humpback whale, appropriate for Newfoundland.

Who knows, I may have the opportunity to see The Legend of Job one day, perhaps at Memorial University or at The Rooms. I hope so.