The book of Job deals with the mystery of human suffering.
Early on we learn that Satan spends time "roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Job 1:6
We learn that Satan, unlike God is not Omnipresent. We Know that God is omnipresent, all knowing, and all powerful. Satan will hit us at our weakest points and Satan is persistent. He persisted in attempting the get Job to curse the name of the LORD. Job clearly stood firm in his faith (again one can look at Hebrews 11 about faith)
Job, in his loss, is an example for us, for what we are tasked to do, accept our situation in our losses and challenges of life. After so much loss, he worships the name of the LORD. Job 1:20. Job is quite an example for us.
My research in Hally's Bible Handbook explains that his friends were probably nomad princes- Eliphaz the temanite 2:11 was a descendant of Esau, an Edomite. Bilidad the Shuhite was a descendant of Adam and Keturah. Sophar the Naamathite was of unknown origin.
All his friends explain that there is...has to be a connection with his present situation and his currnet suffering.
There argunents are along the line of
Job is suffering
God is Just
What did Job do to deserve this?
Job Replies
I am suffering
I have done no wrong
He avoids naming God as unjust, but reasons God has some explaining to do.
Eliphaz appeals to Experience and observation. Bilidad appeals to tradition. Zophar appeals to his own view of God.
Some points to consider:
In Eliphaz' first speeech, "Blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the almighty." Job 5:17 One might think of the writing in Hebrews: "Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Heb 12:6 Discipline is training up.
Another passage, in Job's response to Bilidad. "Since I am already found Guilty, why should I struggle in vain?" Job 9:29. Leads one to consider "For all have sinneed and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. We need Christ's blood shed for us, to wash away our scarlet sin to be white as snow again.
Also in Job 9, Job ponders, "If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot." Job 9:33-35
This passage clearly points to God's plan of salvation, points ahead to Jesus Christ. Let us go and tell the story.
In Christ
David P
Men are often knocked for not being in touch with their feelings. Could this be said of Job and his two friends? Hardly! In this piece of great literature some of the earliest writing of any person is so filled with raw emotion that we are captivated with these men and their feelings. So we can empathize and sympathize with these people. Are you feeling blue? Read Job and commiserate with Job.
ReplyDeleteI have a question of our team. In my NIV Bible Job speaks of God as "he" and "him" (i.e. Job 9:11) without capitalizing the pronouns? What is the significance of that?
I'll take a flyer on this one after doing about 5 minutes of research. He and him when referencing God aren't capitalized anywhere in the NIV (Genesis 1:27 gives three examples where this isn't done), and generally it's a style thing. Is it right? Beats me. Does it show a lack of respect? Not as much as a change of convention--God still IS God, after all.
ReplyDeleteScott
I had the same question.
ReplyDeleteThink about the attributes of God listed here.
David P