JOB(Copied material compiled and adapted from various sources)

The BOOK of JOB is THE OLDEST BOOK IN THE BIBLE.

We live in A FALLEN WORLD. Our faith has to face up to TOUGH TIMES here.

We can learn from the MAN, JOB and what he went through. His NAME JOB means “PERSECUTED one” or “REPENTANT one”.

Job gives us a practical message – setting AN EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE for us, in how he met LOSS and SUFFERING, and how he wrestled through tragedies and pain.

THE LIFE OF JOB is as RELEVANT for us today as it was when it was written, thousands of years ago.

God showed CONFIDENCE in Job. God allowed him to suffer to prove to satan what

kind of man Job really was. And we see God's power and sovereignty.

A key theme of Job is also WORSHIP.

Job 1:1-22 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job... Was blameless and upright Feared God and shunned evil God called him perfect.

He feared God and he feared sin.

Job was rich in WEALTH and INFLUENCE but, especially, in CHARACTER. He was a respected man, devoted to God.

(2) And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. (3) His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Job was a great man...A blessed man.

(4) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

(5) And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent

and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered 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 did Job continually.

Job was A MODEL FATHER... He was CONCERNED for his children He prayed He was CONSISTENT.

Next, in verse 6, we catch A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE CURTAIN, and can see into THE UNSEEN WORLD of the principalities and powers who are at work against us, and satan at work, THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN...

(6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and satan came also among them.

(7) And the LORD said unto satan, Whence comest thou?

Then satan answered the LORD, and said,

From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

(8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered MY SERVANT JOB, that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

REAL SERVANT

In verse 8... God called Job, MY SERVANT God COMMENDED Job God DELIGHTS in His people.

Satan had to ask permission...

It’s good to know that, no matter what you're suffering... satan's power is limited God sets the limits God is in charge.

We will see in the Book, that Job is tried... By his losses

By his family By his disease By his friends.

We can all identify with JOB at times when we face trouble...

He shared life’s experience... as he served God he met face to face with... The experience of suffering He went through the melting pot of life The crucible of severe tests and trials.

(9) Then satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

(10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?

thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

(11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Satan said- take his wealth away and he will curse you to your face.

(12) And the LORD said unto satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.

God has authority.Satan had to ask permission.And Job submitted as a servant to God’s will.

So satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

God ALLOWS HIS PEOPLE TO BE TESTED...

Job was about to face a time of great testing.

(13) And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

(14) And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

(15) And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(16) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven,

and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(17) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels,

and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(18) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

(19) And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote

the four corners of the house,

and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

What a DISASTER it was.

Job LOST EVERYTHING... All his earthly possessions... Even HIS OWN FAMILY that he loved.

What did he do?

REAL WORSHIP

Here we see the character of the man, Job.

Here we see what real worship is. Not so much the – ‘If you’re happy and you know it’... His worship wasn’t manufactured. It was real worship.

(20) Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

WORSHIP was his first response. Job PRAISES God in his PAIN Even in his grief he still praised God His faith did not waver.

Job teaches us... To ‘WORSHIP instead of WHINE. To PRAISE instead of POUT’ That, whatever happens, we can PRAISE

AND TRUST GOD.

Job’s faith carried him through the worst times in his life.

His amazing faith grew through prayer, as... He spent time with the Lord He was obedient to what God asked of

him.

Regardless of what we may need to endure.Any ways, and always, let us praise God.

Job praises, verse 21,

(21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither:

the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job acknowledges... God’s controlling hand God’s sovereignty.

(22) In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

In Verse 22, we see that satan’s plot had failed. He had expected Job would curse God. Job passed the first test.

Our Lord is worthy to be praised, just for who He is, apart from any blessings He gives.

Things would ramp up in chapter 2... as we see round 2 of this boxing match...

Job 2:1-10 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD,

and satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

(2) And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou?

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

REAL INTEGRITY

Job held fast his INTEGRITY... And the Lord COMMENDED Job, again:

(3) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered MY SERVANT JOB, that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

(4) And satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Satan said the test had not been severe enough.

'Let me touch his body. I've touched his possessions, but let me go a bit further and touch his body, his health.

‘Let me give him some pain, and then You'll see how faithful he really is!’

(5) But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

(6) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Now would begin Job’s second test. It would affect his own health and his physical comfort.

Job’s FAITH and FAITHFULNESS was about to be tested big time, now under this new assault

by satan... but he would maintain his integrity...

(7) So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

(8) And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Job’s affliction was painful and humiliating.He had excruciating pain, all over his body.Boils from head to footItchingShortness of breathDifficulty eatingWorms

Running soresDarkness of eyesLoss of weightPeeling skinGnawing painFever- He was a mess.

Yet, despite his terrible pain...He still believes.

His wealth was all gone.His children were dead.

Job had only his wife and friends to turn to for understanding and encouragement. And he found neither.

As he sat on an ash heap in pain from the boils covering his body, verse 9,

REAL ENDURANCE

(9) Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job’s integrity was proven through this harsh time of endurance...

Job still had his wife.But she only added to his testing and torment.

Job’s wife was discouraged. She rejected the goodness of God, yet Job continued to trust God:

Job shows us how to react...

To accept whatever God sends, or allows:

(10) But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What?

shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Here was Job, totally reduced to nothing, sitting on the garbage heap, his body covered with itchy sores and boils.

His wife had urged him to curse God and die.

Job answered, “Shall we receive good from God and not evil?” He overcame the discouragement. He resigned to God’s will.

JOB starts with two chapters of faith. Then there are 35 chapters of questions.

I like how one preacher expressed it, “Right now in this place the devil is hard at work trying to get some of you to turn your back on the Lord. He wants you to give up, he wants you to give in. He wants you to collapse and quit but I’m here to proclaim to you this right now you may just be in chapter 1 of what is going on but chapter 42 is coming…”

Three friends came to visit Job, and they would further test his endurance:

Job 2:11-13 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place;

Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Job receives much human counsel over the next chapters. Much of it was NOT Biblical.

A ‘comforter’ is meant to be one who tries to console or help someone.

Job’s ‘comforters’ only ended up making him feel worse... They became critical of him, and started accusing him.

They saw Job’s sufferings as being a punishment for his sin.

(12) And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept;

and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

(13) So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job went through a time of great turmoil.He felt hopeless.

He spoke up, and vented his anger, even cursing the day of his birth:

Job 3:11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Many times in chapter three he asks, as we can do sometimes, ‘WHY?’

His friends were little comfort to him. Their words represent WORLDLY WISDOM. The wisdom or knowledge of the world can be folly.

They saw his suffering as a punishment for his sin. They felt that Job needed to confess his sins and repent.

But Job is sure that he is innocent. He argues his case to his three friends:

ELIPHAZ based everything on experience, ‘I have seen’... He considered that Job had gone

astray and done something wrong. He might have disobeyed God.

BILDAD rests everything on tradition – on what the fathers say (8:8). He used traditional wisdom – that Job has gotten what he deserved.

ZOPHAR builds on legalism and reason – saying God bestows His favour according to merit (11:6,5). He urges Job to repent or die the death that God reserves for the wicked.

In answering them Job says, Job 16:2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

He was disgusted with them.

Lastly came ELIHU – the teacher – whose name means, ‘He is my God’– he then

spoke, and pointed Job in the right direction – to hear God’s Word. Elihu spoke of God’s greatness and gave Job a real understanding of God...

Job makes reference to a Daysman or Mediator...

Job 9:32-33 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

(33) Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Here we see a reference to the one mediator to come – the Lord Jesus Christ.

In all of his musings Job expressed his faith, and how God is beyond comprehension:

Job 11:7-11 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

(8) It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

(9) The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

(10) If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

(11) For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

REAL FAITH

Job’s integrity and endurance saw the proving of his faith, as gold...

His faith stood firm:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

The experience of pain is common to man...

Job 14:1-2 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

(2) He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Job maintained his faith, expressing his eternal hope, in life after death...

Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Despite his many woes, Job was a living role model of the power of a righteous life, holding firm:

Job 17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Job is an example to us through his faith...

He looked in genuine faith to God, as his redeemer and saviour.

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job expressed his faith in the Redeemer. He lives! And He is to return to plant His feet again in Jerusalem.

Job 19:26-27 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

(27) Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Gold is being refined in the fire...

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

All the glory and praise is UNTO HIM.

As Oswald Chambers wrote, “It is not our trust that keeps us, but the God in whom we trust who keeps us.”

REAL FOUNDATION

Job had a real foundation. He anchored his faith as he found his sustenance in the richness of the Words of God.

Job 23:11-12 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

(12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Job learned to rely upon God through the trial. Likewise, we need to place our affections higher, to behold the things above, rather than setting our focus on this world.

Job did not ground his faith in the falsehood of evolution, but in the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Job founded his faith in the fear of God.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Job shows us that it’s important not to forget God, and to even find a song in our suffering...

Job 35:10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Our foundation can be sure, such that we can a song in his time of suffering.

As did Paul and Silas, Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Job sat there, scraping himself with a piece of broken pottery. The battle had taken its toll on him.

But he still didn’t blame God for any of his trouble.

Tests are ultimately for our good.

God strengthened his character and deepened his faith.

Job would be honoured and blessed all the more, as he faithfully braved the test.

He kept humble before God.

He kept reverent before God.

God speaks to Job:

Job 38:1-4 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.

Our faith has its foundation on the one who laid the foundations of the earth.

God is all powerful, over the earth and the heavens and over every living creature.

(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?

When Job had cursed the day of his birth he had failed to grasp the wonder of creation.

We’re not in a position to question our Creator’s wisdom and rule.

There’s a contrast here between God’s greatness, majesty and glory, and man with his finite knowledge.

REAL TESTIMONY

Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

People are watching.

People were watching Job’s life. As we are today.

Job was a real testimony to the work of God in a human soul.

Job humbled himself before God:

Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, (2) I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Job learned that God was in control.

Job received a revelation of God...

The Lord wants us trust Him. He is the One Who is in charge.

Job 42:3-6 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Job humbles himself and confesses that he has spoken of things he did not understand, and of things beyond his ability to comprehend.

(4) Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

(5) I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job repented of what he had said wrongly in his ignorance.

(6) Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

God honoured the honesty of Job’s speech but He rebuked Job’s because they had spoken wrongly of God.

Job served before the Lord, as their priest, offering sacrifices for their forgiveness.

Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

The Lord restored Job to a well-being and prosperity substantially greater than he had before.

Job found a new closeness to God. A new intimacy and relationship with God.

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord began to restore him.

The full reward did not come until the test was over.

The Lord blessed Job by giving him twice the number of livestock he had in the beginning. He is also blessed with seven sons and three daughters...

Job lived another 140 years, seeing his descendants to the fourth generation before finally dying.

Suffering has an end- it will not last forever.

Trials will confirm your foundations...

In the end, Job was restored to the station he previously held.

God gave it all back. God restored everything: His health His finances His family, and His relationship with his spouse.

The Lord will give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...

What can we learn from Job?Satan’s power is limited.The righteous can and do suffer.

Momentary problems must not turn us away from eternal values.

Job is a role model for us, as: Servant Worship Integrity Endurance Faith Foundation Testimony

Satan is defeated Job is restoredGod is glorified

Job triumphed over his trials and temptations.

It’s been said that our trials can make us bitter or they can make us better!