Bible

Today in the Bible room we begin reading the summary of the book of Job. We will read the book in 3 sessions, beginning here with Part 1, chapters 1 through 13.

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Job – Part 1 of 3

Introduction to Job:

Writer: Unknown, but identifiable as a Jew, probably writing this historical record somewhere around 500 years after the onset of the kings in Israel, before the fall of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar.

Scope: Though written by a Jew, this story is about a non-Jewish man, and his family, who were trusting in God, believing in God’s faithfulness and righteousness. Bible scholars believe these events took place around 2,000 years b.c.

Chapter 1. Test

Job lives in the land of Uz, east of the Jordan River near Mesopotamia:

• Job trusts in God, without fault;
• He is the wealthiest man in the entire region;
• One day Satan and some angels approach God;
• God asks him, “What have you been doing?”
• Satan’s answer: “Roaming the Earth”;
• God says, “Have you met my friend Job?”
• Satan says he knows all about Job: he trusts in God;
• He says Job is blessed only because God favors him;
• God trusts Job, gives Satan permission to test him;
• He is allowed to destroy his possessions, but not his life;
• Job’s entire estate, even his children, are destroyed;
• Devastated, Job goes into mourning and prayer;
• His faith never waivers, he prays:
• “The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away,
• “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Chapter 2. Frustrated

Frustrated with Job’s response, Satan presses further:

• He asks God for permission to test Job more;
• Job’s whole body becomes covered with boils;
• His wife questions why he keeps trusting God;
• She suggests Job just curse God and die;
• Job stays positive–God will continue to care for him;
• Three of his good friends visit to offer comfort;
• They hardly recognize Job, they’re devastated;
• They sit in silence with him for a week;

Chapter 3. Reaction

Job’s reaction is to wish he had never been born:

• He wishes his birthday would be forever in darkness;
• He wants it forever removed from all calendars;
• He wishes he could have at least died at birth;
• He claims he would be much better off dead;
• There is a lot to be said for death;
• Job does not eat, mourns instead;
• He says he has dreaded some calamity befalling him;
• Now it has, and he cannot sleep, his life is turmoil.

Chapter 4. Friend

After a week, one of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, decides to speak:

• First, he hopes Job will tolerate his speaking;
• He starts by telling his friend to recall his past good deeds;
• And all the times he has helped those in need;
• But now Job is discouraged and downcast;
• Job should let his faith in God get him through this;
• Eliphaz says he had a dream about good and evil;
• Sometimes even the ‘good’ suffer;
• God can trust those who endure suffering;
• Those who endure will gain wisdom.

Chapter 5. Wisdom

Eliphaz says he knows both fools and the wise who have suffered:

• He urges Job to endure and become even wiser;
• He tells him not to fall into resentment;
• Man is born to trouble, “As surely as sparks fly upward.”
• He says God has the answer to his problems;
• “Blessed is the man whom God corrects”;
• He lectures Job: just trust God, and come out a winner.

Chapter 6. Confession

Job responds to Eliphaz, confesses he has been impetuous:

• Job says he spoke out of anguish and misery;
• But he has natural reasons for his reactions;
• He says he would rather die than suffer this misery;
• He has trouble with Eliphaz lecturing him;
• He says he would rather just receive encouragement;
• He does not appreciate his friend accusing him;
• And he does not accept him impugning his integrity.

Chapter 7. Suffering

Job is suffering day and night with sores and sleeplessness:

• He is locked in despair and hopelessness;
• The days are bad enough, but he hates the nights;
• When he tries to sleep, he has bad dreams;
• He will continue to complain to God;
• Does not willingly accept the torment he faces;
• His life no longer has any meaning;
• He questions why he is being tested so much;
• He begs God to just leave him alone;
• If he has sinned tell him what it is;
• Then he will seek God’s forgiveness.

Chapter 8. Suggestions

Another friend, Bildad, tells Job to just look to God, receive help:

• He asks Job why he keeps questioning God;
• He says it’s simple: Just trust God and He will help him;
• Look to God, pray, and stay blameless;
• He tells Job he will have a prosperous future;
• It’s the godless who have no hope;
• Job will be again filled with laughter and hope.

Chapter 9. Control

Job answers Bildad: God is in control of everything in the Earth:

• Job knows what Bildad has said is true;
• It is futile to question God’s ways;
• Job cannot reason with God who knows everything;
• All he can do is plead for mercy;
• Job says if he stops complaining, he will still suffer;
• God can destroy the guilty, and the innocent;
• Job wishes there were an intermediary to plead his case.

Chapter 10. Complaint

Job is so distraught over his life he continues to air his complaint:

• He persists in voicing his bitterness;
• Asks God to tell him the charges against him;
• Says God knows he is not guilty;
• Reminds God that He molded him into who he is;
• Accuses God of having his suffering in mind all along;
• Says God has been watching his behavior for any sin;
• Though he is innocent, he drowns in his affliction;
• Seems like God’s forces come against him wave upon wave;
• Again, Job wishes he had died at birth;
• Asks God for a few moments of relief before he dies.

Chapter 11. Rebuttal

Job’s other friend, Zophar, has his own rebuttal to Job’s ranting:

• Zophar says Job’s rambling is so much idle talk;
• Says all this talk is not convincing anyone;
• He wishes God would speak up against Job;
• He says God doesn’t even remember some of Job’s sins;
• He tells Job he doesn’t know the mysteries of God;
• If job will quit the sin he is holding, God will forgive;
• The trouble will go flying by, and all will be bright again;
• He will be able to lie down in peace;
• He will get all his influence again, friends will return;
• But if he is guilty, he will have no hope.

Chapter 12. Response

Job continues his pointed response to his friends:

• He takes a jab at them: “No doubt, you are the people,
• And wisdom will die with you!”
• Job says he has wisdom also, equal to that of his friends;
• They have said nothing not known by everybody;
• His troubles have made him a laughingstock in the region;
• While the godless continue to thrive;
• He reiterates God has all power, all knowing;

Chapter 13. Argument

Job berates his three friends:

• He says their advice is worthless;
• They could show their wisdom better by being silent;
• What he wants is to speak with God, to argue with Him;
• Their arguments could never stand against God;
• He wants them to keep silent so he can speak;
• He declares: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him;”
• Job acknowledges his weaknesses;
• He pleads with God to show him his sins;
• He knows God is watching him day and night.

End of Part 1 of 3 of the book of Job