The Book Of Job Prologue - Job Is Tested (1-2) OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION 1) To see the stage set for the great controversy that will occur between Job and his friends 2) To consider the challenge that Satan made concerning Job; would God have as much confidence in our faithfulness? 3) To appreciate the integrity of Job in the midst of his great suffering SUMMARY The first two chapters set the stage for the great controversy that will take place between Job and his friends, which is precipitated by a controversy between God and Satan. We are first introduced to Job in the land of Uz (likely Edom, SE of the Dead Sea, cf. Jer 25:20-21; Lam 4:21). A man of remarkable character, he was blessed with a large family and many possessions. As an example of his piety, mention is made of his sacrifices in behalf of his children (1:1-5). We then learn of the controversy between God and Satan concerning Job. On an occasion when Satan came before the Lord, God asked him whether he had considered His faithful servant, Job. Satan responded with an attack on Jobs character, that his fear of God was only because God blessed him. Satan then said that Job would curse God if everything he had was taken away. In response, God put all that Job had in Satans power, with the exception of Job himself (1:6-12). In one day, then, Job lost all his material possessions through various calamities. His sons and daughters, also, were killed when a great tornado destroyed the house in which they were partying. Though deeply grieved, Job worships God and does not charge Him with wrong (1:13-22). When Satan appeared before God again, the Lord asked whether he had considered how Job had remained faithful despite his losses. Satan then made another challenge, saying that Job would curse God if he himself were harmed. God then allowed Satan power over Job, but only up to the point of actually taking his life. With such power, Satan strikes Job with painful boils (cf. 2:7-8; 7:5; 30:30) over his entire body. Jobs wife lost what faith she might have had, and told him to curse God and die. Job, however, refuses to sin with his lips (2:1-10). At this point, three of Jobs friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) come to mourn and try to comfort him. However, they are shocked when they see Job (whom they did not recognize because of the boils), and sit dumbfounded for seven days and nights without a word in reaction to the magnitude of his grief (2:11-13). OUTLINE I. THE PERSON AND CHARACTER OF JOB (1:1-5) Mark A. Copeland The Book Of Job 9 A. HE LIVED IN THE LAND OF UZ... 1. Somewhere in the East (cf. 1:3) 2. Near a desert (1:19) 3. Likely the land of Edom, SE of the Dead Sea (Jer 25:20-21; Lam 4:21) B. A MAN OF REMARKABLE CHARACTER... 1. Blameless and upright 2. Feared God 3. Shunned evil -- There is none like him on the earth. (1:8) C. A MAN GREATLY BLESSED... 1. With a family of seven sons and three daughters 2. With 7000 sheep, 3000 camel, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys 3. With a large household -- this man was the greatest of all the people of the East (1:3) D. THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF HIS FAMILY... 1. His sons liked to party 2. Yet Job sought to sanctify them and offer burnt sacrifices II. SATAN ATTACKS JOBS CHARACTER (1:6-12) A. SATAN APPEARS BEFORE GOD... 1. When the sons of God (angels?) came before God 2. After Satan had been going to and fro on the earth (cf. 1 Pe 5:8) B. GOD ASKS SATAN ABOUT JOB... 1. Have you considered my servant Job? 2. A man of remarkable character C. SATANS ACCUSATION CONCERNING JOB... 1. Does Job fear God for nothing? a. Does Job fear God selflessly? b. Does he not do it because of what he gets out of it? 1) I.e., Job is simply self-centered 2) By implication, God is not worthy to be praised on His merits alone c. Stop blessing Job, and he will curse God! 2. By such a test, Satan seeks to prove: a. There is no such thing as unselfish piety b. Men do right only when it is profitable to do so c. God is not worthy of service on the basis of His nature alone -- Therefore Satan is not only accusing Job, but God as well! D. GOD ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE... 1. He allows Job to be severely tried, but Satan cannot harm his person 2. What God is trying to prove: Mark A. Copeland The Book Of Job 10 a. There is such a thing as noncovetous righteousness b. There are people with a true devotion to God Almighty 1) For Who He is 2) Not for what they can get out of it III. THE FIRST SERIES OF JOBS MISFORTUNES (1:13-22) A. JOBS LOSSES IN ONE DAY... 1. His oxen, donkeys, and their servants to Sabean raiders 2. His sheep and their servants to fire from God from heaven 3. His camel and their servants to Chaldean raiders 4. His sons and daughters are killed in a tornado B. JOBS REACTION TO THESE LOSSES... 1. He mourns, of course a. Tears his robe b. Shaves his head c. Falls to the ground 2. But then he worships! a. In grief, he still praises God b. Even though he considers God as the One who has done all these things 1) He blesses the name of the Lord 2) He does not charge God with wrong IV. SATAN ATTACKS JOBS CHARACTER A SECOND TIME (2:1-6) A. SATAN APPEARS BEFORE GOD AGAIN... 1. The Lord asked Satan, Have you considered my servant Job...? 2. Despite punished without cause, He still holds fast to his integrity B. SATAN CLAIMS THE TEST HAS NOT BEEN SEVERE ENOUGH... 1. ...touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to Your face! 2. God accepts the challenge, allowing Satan to do anything but take Jobs life V. THE SECOND SERIES OF JOBS MISFORTUNES (2:7-10) A. JOB IS AFFLICTED WITH A TERRIBLE DISEASE... 1. Possibilities: elephantiasis, leprosy, or a leukemia of the skin 2. Characterized by: a. Boils (2:7) b. Itching (2:8) c. Drastic change of appearance (2:12) d. Worms and running sores (7:5) e. Corroding bones and gnawing pain (30:17) f. Blackened skin and fever (30:30) 3. The indication is that this horrible condition continued for months (7:3; 29:2) B. JOBS WIFE LOSES FAITH... Mark A. Copeland The Book Of Job 11 1. She calls upon him to curse God and die 2. Several conclusions might be drawn: a. Jobs wife was not of the same spiritual caliber as Job b. To a degree, she endorsed Satans accusation that God is not worthy of service when c. She labored under the delusion that death ended it all 3. Jobs response to his wife further illustrates his faith in God VI. THE ARRIVAL OF JOBS FRIENDS (2:11-13) A. ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE... 1. Perhaps the oldest, certainly the most prominent of the three 2. His name is of Edomite origin a. One of Esaus sons was named Eliphaz (Gen 36:15) b. From Teman, a city of Edom, known for its wise men (Jer 49:7; Oba 8,9) B. BILDAD THE SHUHITE... 1. Not much know about him 2. May have been a descendent of Shuah, son of Abraham and Keturah, who lived in the east (Gen 25:2,6) C. ZOPHAR THE NAAMATHITE... 1. Little is known of him 2. May have been from Naamah, a city toward the border of Edom in the South (Josh 15:21,41) D. THEIR ARRIVAL... 1. They came to mourn with him, and to comfort him 2. At first they did not recognize Job 3. So overwhelmed at the sight of Job and his grief... a. They cried out and tore their robes b. They sprinkled ashes on their heads c. They say down and remained speechless for seven days and nights REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION 1) Where did Job live? What country might that have been? (1:1) 2) How is Job described regarding his character? (1:1) 3) How many children did he have? (1:2) 4) What were his possessions? (1:3) 5) What did Job do whenever his sons would throw a party? (1:4-5) Mark A. Copeland The Book Of Job 12 6) What was Satans accusation to God concerning Job? (1:9) 7) What was Satans initial challenge to God concerning Job? (1:11) 8) What did God allow Satan to do? (1:12) 9) What did Job lose in one day? (1:13-19) 10) What was Jobs reaction to this great lose? (1:20-21) 11) What was Satans second challenge to God concerning Job? (2:5) 12) What did God allow Satan to do? (2:6) 13) With what did Satan afflict Job? (2:7) 14) What did Jobs wife want him to do? (2:9) 15) What did Job ask his wife? (2:10) 16) What three friends came to mourn with him, and to comfort him? (2:11) 17) How did they react when they saw Job? (2:12-13) 18) What summary statements are made of Job in response to his suffering? (1:22; 2:10)
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:02:57 +0000
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