Old Testament Survey: The Book of Job

Old Testament Survey: The Book of Job “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” {Job 1:1}

The Man Job • He lived during the Patriarchal Age in the city of Uz. • He was a wealthy man who was devoted to God. • He had seven sons and three daughters. • He was concerned for his children. • “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.” {Job 1:5}

Key Verses “And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’” {Job 1:21} “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” {Job 13:15}

Key Verses “And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’” {Job 28:28} “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” {Job 23:10}

Key Verses • Key phrase • “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.” {Job 19:25} • Key chapter • Chapter 42 “As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.” {Job 37:23,24}

The Test and Challenge “…Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” {Job 1:8} “…Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” {Job 1:9-11}

God Limits Satan “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” {Job 1:12} • Afflictions in one day: • Lost his material wealth • His children died in an accident • Job did not charge God foolishly.

Satan’s Next Challenge “…Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” {Job 2:4,5} • Afflictions in one day: • Boils from head to foot • Scrapes with potsherd • A discouraged wife • Job did not sin with his lips.

The Three Friends • Months pass, and three of Job’s friends come to comfort him. • Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar • For a week, they do not speak. • Job breaks the silence by cursing the day of his birth. {Job 3}

The Position of the Three Friends • Man suffers as the result of sin. • Since Job was suffering so grievously, he must have sinned. • With each speech, the friends charge Job and call on him to repent and seek God’s forgiveness. • Job maintains his innocence; he has not sinned! • Yet, he doesn’t know the reason for his suffering.

Job Has Many Questions • Expressed desire to die rather than continue in his present state. • He sought to stand before God, knowing he would receive a fair hearing. • Agonized that his comforters were adding to his grief. • His only hope for justice was through a Redeemer and resurrection. • Denies his friends charges. • Sadly, we’ve all sinned—even Job!

One Other Speaker—Elihu • Patiently listened to all the speeches. • Aggravated friends did a poor job in answering Job. • He charged Job with rash and arrogant speech in denying God’s justice. • He suggested that God owes Job no explanation of his circumstances. • Sometimes, pain is used to chasten us. • He knew God did not hate Job. • God does many things we cannot comprehend. • Man has insufficient knowledge to charge God.

God Enters the Discussion “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” {Job 38:2,3}

God Questions Job “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone.” {Job 38:4-6}

God Questions Job “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.” {Job 38:16-18}

God Questions Job “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? On the rocks it dwells and resides, on the crag of the rock and the stronghold. From there it spies out the prey; its eyes observe from afar.” {Job 39:26-29}

Job Humbles Himself Before God “Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” {Job 42:1-3}

Job Humbles Himself Before God “Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.‘I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” {Job 42:4-6}

God Rebukes the Three Friends “And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.’” {Job 42:7,8}

Job Prays for His Friends and Is Again Blessed by God “So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” {Job 42:9,10}

Lessons from Job • Satan’s power is inferior to God’s power, and his knowledge is less than God’s. • Suffering is not necessarily the result of sin. • The righteous can and do suffer. • The really poor and wretched are those who reject God and trust in themselves. • Momentary problems must not turn us away from eternal values. • Material possessions and earthly ties do not endure.

Old Testament Survey: The Book of Job