THE BOOK OF JOB

INTRODUCTION TO THE FIVE POETICAL BOOKS:

1.In the Canon’s subject arrangement the Five Books of Poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song Of Solomon) link the Twelve Books of History to the Seventeen Books of Prophecy.

2.In a chronological arrangement the Books of Poetry (written during the great literary time of David and Solomon), might well be studied along with the Books of Kings.

3.The Books of Poetry do not tell the story of the Nation (Hebrew Race); But rather, the story of pain, wisdom, God, love, and life (Matters of The Human Heart).

4.The poetry of these Books is called “Hebrew Parallelism” (in which there is a rhyming, not of words, but of IDEAS).

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JOB:

1.Most Christians, and many educators, consider THE BOOK OF JOB to be one of the world’s most sublime pieces of literature.

2.DATE:

a.The man Job may have been contemporary with Abraham (about 2,000 BC).

b.Perhaps these events took place between Gen 11 and Gen 12.

c.If the Book was written by Moses, it may be the oldest Book in the world.

d.If it was written in David’s time (it IS poetry), then it must have been written about 1,000 BC.

3.Job was a remarkable man: He was extremely Spiritual -- and Wealthy -- and Powerful.

a.He “had everything,” then lost everything and began struggling with himself, with his friends, with God, and with the world about him.

b.Catastrophes forced him to wrestle with the question “WHY?”

4.The Book begins with a closed heavenly debate between God and Satan.

5.It moves to an open earthly debate between Job and his friends, with the friends insisting that suffering is punishment for sin, and with Job’s insistence that he had
not sinned.

6.It closes with God’s great questions to Job, And then a restoration of Job’s health and wealth.

7.The two common approaches to the study of the Book of Job:

a.Emphasize Job’s ability to endure suffering and remain faithful; This is a good lesson for us.

b.Emphasize the problem of suffering; Asking the question “WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER?” -- And looking in this Book for the answer; This probably misses the real import of the Book.

8.There is a third approach which may be a better one: Not try to find an answer to suffering, but see the Book as teaching us to have the attitude of mind that does not demand an answer -- Just trust God no matter what happens.

a.That which sets the stage for the drama is Satan’s challenge to God and man.

b.Satan implied that God is not capable of creating a being who will do right just because it is right, even while enduring suffering, and receiving loss rather than profit.

c.God’s answer to Satan was that JOB, with all his faults, had the kind of attitude toward God that does not demand solutions or explanations, but serves God simply because He is God.

d.This view holds the BOOK to be a profound message teaching saints in all ages of time to trust God without reservation.

1)We often hear, “The wicked prosper; The righteous suffer; Things are not fair” -- So, what is our response?

2)We can believe God is infinitely wise and He knows what He is doing; Therefore we trust Him - Job 13:15a; 2Co 12:9-10.

3)Learn to keep the “big view,” and to live this life against the backdrop of eternity - 2Co 4:17-18.

4)In this view, we conclude the BOOK is not an answer to the “WHY?” of suffering, but shows us the Sovereignty of God.

5)Perhaps the BOOK is summarized in 23:10.

1.DESPAIR -- CONFLICT: CHAPTERS 1-3.

A.CHAPTERS 1-2, JOB’S AFFLICTION.

1.1:1-5, Job was a godly man with a large family; He was very prosperous.

2.1:6-22, Satan entered the drama, came into God’s presence and falsely accused Job (and God) - cf Rev 12:10; He was permitted to test Job; Job stood faithful, see Verse 22.

NOTE: Job did not know the explanation for his suffering; (We do know about the challenge from Satan).

3.2:1-10, Satan was back in God’s presence, again accusing; Permission was given him to afflict Job bodily; Job’s wife gave Job bad advice but Job did not sin, see Verse 10b.

4.2:11-13, The arrival of Job’s three friends; They sat by for seven days of silent sympathy.

B.CHAPTER 3, JOB’S MOURNING AND COMPLAINT.

1.Job’s patience was exhausted, and he poured out his grief.

2.He had been stripped of: Wealth; Children; Health; Wife’s encouragement; Friends; Sense of the greatness of his own personality; Sense of his relation to God; And sense of the government of God over good and evil.

3.Job discussed the meaning of suffering; He lamented his terrible condition.

4.He had been a good man (1:1,8); He did not consider himself a target for this.

5.He did not know that Satan had charged that NO ONE loves God from pure motives ONLY.

2.DEBATE -- CYCLES: CHAPTERS 4-37.>

INTRODUCTION TO THE DEBATE:

1.The “comforters” were wrong, but they were Job’s friends; NOTE:

a.Of all who must have known Job, only these three were willing to come to him in his time of need.

b.They showed their sympathy for Job by mourning in seven days of silence.

c.Then they confronted HIM -- They did not talk to his back; They talked to him, not about him.

2.Then follows the long series of eighteen speeches.

A.CHAPTERS 4-14, CYCLE ONE OF THE DEBATE.

1.Chapters 4-7, Eliphaz versus Job.

a.Eliphaz based his arguments on EXPERIENCE.

b.He courteously stated that Job was a SINNER.

2.Chapters 8-10, Bildad versus Job.

a.Bildad based his arguments on TRADITION.

b.He harshly accused Job of being a HYPOCRITE.

3.Chapters 11-14, Zophar versus Job.

a.Zophar based his arguments entirely on ASSUMPTION.

b.He severely charged that Job was a WICKED MAN.

4.The three agreed and affirmed that all affliction generally, and Job’s affliction specifically, comes as the result of personal sin.

5.Job defended himself and asserted his innocence; He responded to his friends: “You act as my judge.”

B.CHAPTERS 15-21, CYCLE TWO OF THE DEBATE.

1.Chapters 15-17, Eliphaz versus Job.

2.Chapters 18-19, Bildad versus Job.

3.Chapters 20-21, Zophar versus Job.

4.Job’s response in this series is: “The Lord is my judge.”

C.CHAPTERS 22-26, CYCLE THREE OF THE DEBATE.

1.Chapters 22-24, Eliphaz versus Job.

2.Chapters 25-26, Bildad versus Job.

3.Job’s response in this series: “The Lord is my refuge.”

D.CHAPTERS 27-31, JOB’S FIVE-CHAPTER CLOSING MONOLOGUE.

NOTE: In the process of defending himself against false charges, he became guilty of self-righteousness -- See 32:1.

E.CHAPTERS 32-37, ELIHU ENTERED THE DISCUSSION.

1.A young man who deserved a lot of credit came on the scene; He listened humbly to this discussion, and did not interrupt his seniors -- His conduct shows that young people can be courteous and wise.

2.He had a more nearly accurate view than did the three friends.

a.Being disappointed by the older men and their theory, he suggested that suffering is God’s chastening which brings good results in one’s life; That rather than always serving as punishment, affliction may serve as correction, and may help to restore one.

b.He said that Job needed to humble himself before God, and to submit to God’s process of purifying his life through trials.

3.Elihu’s speech can be studied in two parts.

a.Chapters 32-35, The nature of affliction.

b.Chapters 36-37, The nature of God.

3.DIAGNOSIS -- CONCLUSION: CHAPTERS 38-42.

A.CHAPTERS 38:1-42:6, JEHOVAH’S TWO SPEECHES.

1.38:1-40:2, God answered Job out of the whirlwind, giving instruction and reproof.

a.It has now been made clear that human wisdom cannot resolve the problem of suffering.

b.As we read Jehovah’s speeches we may be surprised to observe that He says nothing about sin or sorrow; He gives NO EXPLANATION for human suffering! So it seems obvious the BOOK was not intended (as some think) to answer the problem of suffering.

c.Jehovah challenged Job to explain all the wonders of physical creation. If he cannot do that, then perhaps he is out of place in trying to explain all about life and its mysteries -- A good lesson for us too.

d.Jehovah shows Himself as the One Who has ALL POWER as the Creator and Preserver of all the universe.

2.40:3-5, Job acknowledged that he was ignorant and frail; Before God he now stood speechless.

3.40:6-41:34, Jehovah spoke the second time.

a.He challenged Job to take the Seat of Government in the Universe if he is
so wise.

b.He asked questions which Job could not answer.

4.42:1-6, Job repented of his error and confessed that he could not understand God’s ways in nature -- So, how could he possibly understand the spiritual realm?

a.Note that God may have spoken the words in Verse 3a and Verse 4b.

b.The lesson is that Job (and we) must trust God’s faithfulness in things man cannot grasp with his limited knowledge and wisdom.

c.Trials can be beneficial to us; They can cause us to learn to rely on God and serve Him; And they show us that baffling affliction may have a purpose which we do not know, but God does.

d.Adversity is certain, and it is painful, but stay aware that it is temporary -- Eternity is coming; If we knew all the answers, there would be no place for faith and trust in the all-wise Heavenly Father.

B.CHAPTER 42:7-17, JOB’S ACQUITTAL.

1.42:7-9, Jehovah’s rebuke of the three friends for their foolish words; His command for them to offer sacrifices.

2.42:10-17, Job prayed for his friends; His prosperity was restored, and he lived to a great age.

3.Job was not perfect, but in spite of his inability to understand why calamities engulfed him, he learned to be true to God, and not to question Him.

a.Job acknowledged God’s Sovereignty in all affairs; And he was faithful - cf Jas 5:11; 1:12.

b.Thus Satan’s challenge became God’s opportunity to build Job’s life.

**JOB IN THREE WORDS:

The Faithful Sufferer.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF JOB TO THE BIBLE:

1.Gives dramatic poetry that is rich in beauty, depth, and intensity.

2.If the early date is correct, it shows a glimpse of Gentile culture in the time of Abraham (in the Patriarchal Days).

3.Chapters 38-42 give a marvelous survey of Creation.

4.Compare five ways in which God can use hardships to our good:

DEUTERONOMY JOB

To Humble Us, 8:2 22:29

To Test Us, 8:2 2:3

To Rearrange Our Priorities, 8:3 42:5-6

To Discipline Us, 8:5 5:17

Prepare Us For Future Blessings, 8:7-10 42:10

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF JOB:

1.Job recognized his (all humanity’s) need for a Mediator, an Advocate, a Vindicator, a Judge; And need for information concerning immortality.

2.Christ is the answer to all this as He identifies with us, and gives answers - Heb 2:14-18; 4:14-16; 2Ti 1:10.

3.Thus He meets man’s need, and helps us to serve God simply because He is God.

**FURTHER REFLECTIONS FROM THE STUDY OF JOB:

1.Job shows that difficult questions of life must be faced by people of God; Salvation does not make us immune to the harsh realities of this sin-cursed earth.

2.There are things in life we know little or nothing about; Since that is true, then we must avoid any inclination to judge God and say He is unjust, when we don’t understand.

3.God wisely rules the Universe; What we consider calamities may actually turn out to be blessings - Jas 5:11; 1:12.

4.QUOTE FROM ALFRED EDERSHEIM: “We cannot understand the meaning of many trials; God does not explain them. To explain a trial would be to destroy its object, which is that of calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience. If we knew why the Lord sent us this or that trial, it would thereby cease to be a trial either of faith or of patience.”