NOTE: If you are just starting with us, go to the previous post. As you participate in this study you will want to read the entire book of Job in as few “sittings” as possible. Read Job a couple of times if you can. Before you read: pray. Pray what? Consider praying something like this. Open my eyes, O Lord, to wonderful things in your word!” Now read thoughtfully. Don’t obsess and don’t skim. Reread Job 1:1-5 before moving into this week’s study.
In the opening sentences we get a picture of Job “from the outside.” We read of how the Holy Spirit describes Job to us. Job was a man of stature, character, faith, and family. How did Job come to be who Job was? God’s word tells us as a man thinks within himself so he is (Proverbs 23:7). Fast forward with me to Job 29 and gaze within the man as well as at the man.
Job 29:1-25 And Job again took up his discourse, and said: 2“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, 4 as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, 5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, 6 when my steps were washed with butter… 11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, 12 because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame…16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. 21 “Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. 24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. 25 I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.
What we see here is by any standard a good man who looked to the needs of others. We live in an age where society villainizes the rich and powerful while ascribing extra piety and privilege to those it deems poor and oppressed. What we see in Job is a man who seeks to benefit others with no thought of himself.
Why is this important? In addition to providing insight into Job’s character it reminds us that life in a fallen world is such that hardship and suffering befalls the good and the wicked, just as some observe in parallel that God causes the good rains to fall on the good and the wicked, alike (Matthew 5:45). Many find this bewildering (as Job’s friends seem to do) and assume only bad things happen to bad people. The book of Job dispels this myth and causes us to rely on divine revelation rather than intuition or conventional wisdom. We will see that Job is s good man and yet a sinner (a sinner like you and me).
Perhaps this is why Job, like Ecclesiastes, causes us to pause and reflect (in bewilderment). Perhaps this is why Job is so essential to making sense of our world and not only our hardships but God and even Satan’s hand in them. Just as in Ecclesiastes there is an “under the Sun perspective” (i.e. earthly perspective) and an “above the Sun perspective” (i.e. heavenly or spiritual perspective) so it is in the book of Job. One sees this clearly in the dialogs between God and Satan.
Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
A similar dialog is found in Job 2.
Job 2:1-6 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”
Consider the implications of what we read in these exchanges between God and Satan! God has both called attention to Job and allowed Satan to test Job within certain limits. Satan can strip Job of all that Job holds dear, even Job’s health, but Satan may not takes Job’s life.
We are mystified, perhaps by God’s thought process or rationale. Indeed, it is not revealed. But as early as chapters 1 and 2 we learn a great deal about our own existence, God’s involvement in the activities and affairs of the human race, and (at minimum) there is an entire world we do not see or comprehend. Above these things we learn that God’s ways and thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God is sovereign over everyone and everything—even Satan and his demonic horde. Satan’s damage and malice are subject to God’s sovereignty. Satan, as someone once noted, is God’s devil and functions in God’s universe according to God’s rule. Satan must ask permission of God because God limits the harm Satan does, whether we sense this or not:
Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
“Satan has demanded permission...” Take a moment now and look up 1 Corinthians 10:13. Read it out loud a couple of times. Re-read Job chapters 1 and 2 and ask them how they relate and harmonize with one another. Now tie this to all to Luke 22:31. Dwell on these passages. Read and reread them. Linger over them. Do you remember what we noted earlier? Do you remember the title of this study: “Job Happens Every Day to Someone Someplace in Our World.” One of the lessons we are about to learn together is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:13 as we study the book of Job.
1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
We are going to see Job experience and undergo seemingly unspeakable hardship. We may wonder, privately or aloud, what God is doing. And as we do so, studying the book of Job or experiencing our own soul-crushing losses and hardship, we do well to remember and rehearse why we trusted Him for our salvation. Moreover, we need to ask ourselves “is God then not trustworthy in all matters, great and small, regardless?”
Always remember that God is faithful. God is good. God is loving. He is intimately involved in every facet of your life. You are part of God’s redemptive program and sometimes that involves incredible hardship. Always remember we do not see all that is going on in our lives. Nor do we understand it all. God’s perspective is much bigger than we can see or process. There is good in all He does. Purpose!
Finally, think about your view of God and why you serve Him. Why do you serve God? Do you serve Him for His blessing or to draw closer to Him? What’s the difference? Think about it