Job
Title & Purpose:
Job is the first of the, so called, poetical books. What else would this book be entitled? It is an in depth look at the life of a Christian man by the name of Job, focusing especially upon his sufferings at the hands of Satan, though with the permission of the LORD God. The book particularly deals with the thoughts of the suffering Christian, and how such thoughts are reconciled with the justice of the LORD.
Content:
The book begins with a debate between God and Satan. Job remains faithful to the LORD in all of his suffering until he is provoked by the behavior of his three friends who had comforted him for the previous seven days in silence.
The book moves through three cycles of debates between Job and his friends. The friends accuse Job of some unrighteousness that must have caused his suffering. Job takes issue with this and defends himself successfully, only to be left with questions in his own heart and concludes with the LORD’s dramatic answer to Job’s questions. Job’s three complaints are: 1) God does not hear me (13:3, 24; 19:7; 23:3ff; 30:20); 2) God is punishing me (6:4; 7:20; 9:17); 3) God allows the wicked to prosper (21:7).
Finally, a fourth friend, previously unheard, by the name of Elihu, steps in and stands up for the LORD, urging Job to humble himself before the LORD in the face of his trials. Finally, God Himself speaks to Job from a whirlwind and ends all debate. Job realizes he can scarcely understand the LORD’s dealings with the world of nature, much less in the lives of men, and repents.
In the end, Job acknowledges the justice and the will of the LORD God and receives back more than he had before his trials began.
Time Period:
A number of facts indicate that the events recorded in Job occurred during the time of the Patriarchs, that is during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Job lived for 140 years after the events recorded in the book (14:26). The age of Job, who lived to be about 200 years old, would place him at the time of Abraham, who lived to be 175 years old. Another indication that Job lived early in history is the fact that his wealth is measured in terms of livestock (1:3; 42:12) rather than in terms of money. In addition, there are no references to Israel, the Exodus, the Mosaic law, or the tabernacle or temple. Also, the Chaldeans who murder Job’s servants are nomads (1:17) instead of city dwellers, which they later became. While no date in relation to Job can be definitely determined, the evidence above seems to suggest that Job lived around 2000 B.C.
Holy Writer & Form:
The holy writer of Job is unknown, and there are no textual hints as to the writers identity, except for the sophisticated form of Hebrew poetry which is used. Luther commented that even with the help of two other translators, he was only able to translate three lines of Job in four days.
The complex Hebrew seems to indicate a later time of writing, so many have suggested Solomon as the poet. Other suggestions have been Job, Elihu, Moses, Isaiah, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, and Ezra, as well as many others.
One can imagine that with no definite idea as to the time of the events, the time of writing, or the identity of the holy writer, the book of Job would come under severe criticism by modern critics as being a fictional account, and/or a fraud. However, Jewish tradition and Scripture are on the side of the authenticity of Job, both to the events recorded and to the divine authorship. In Ezekiel 14:14, 20 and James 5:11 Job is referred to as a historic person (Compare also Romans 11:35 with Job 41:2; 1 Corinthians 3:19 with Job 5:13; Psalm 39:13 with Job 10:20; Psalm 58:8 with Job 3:16; Isaiah 19:5 with Job 14:11; Jeremiah 20:14-18 with Job 3; and Amos 5:8 with Job 9:9.
Christ in the book of Job:
Job acknowledges the Redeemer in what is perhaps the best known passage of the book: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (19:25-27). He also cries out for a Mediator (9:33; 25:4; 33:23) “The book raises problems and questions which are answered perfectly in Christ who identifies with our sufferings (Heb 4:15). Christ is the believer’s, Life, Redeemer, Mediator, and Advocate.”
In considering Job, the Christian feels foolish for complaining about the small problems we face in this world. It doesn’t take much to get us grumbling and asking, “Why me?” Then we see how much it took to get Job to ask this question – the loss of his family and all of his possessions, the loss of his health, and the badgering of his friends, all within one week. What great faith the LORD had given Job! How foolish Satan was to think he could again challenge God and win! How foolish we are when we complain about our troubles! Trust in God’s Word which says, “All things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Trust that the inspired writer knew what he was talking about when he declares, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: `For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
Outline:
I. The Dilemma of Job (1:1 - 2:13)
A. The Circumstances of Job (1:1-5)
B. The First Assault of Satan (1:6-22)
C. The Second Assault of Satan (2:1-10)
D. The Arrival of Job’s Friends (2:11-13)
II. The Debates of Job (3:1 - 37:24)
A. The First Cycle of Debate (3:1-14:22)
B. The Second Cycle of Debate (15:1-21:34)
C. The Third Cycle of Debate (22:1-26:14)
D. The Final Defense of Job (27:1-31:40)
E. The Solution of Elihu (32:1-37:24)
III. The Deliverance of Job (38:1 - 42:17)
A. The First Controversy of God with Job (38:1-40:5)
B. The Second Controversy of God with Job (40:6-42:6)
C. The Deliverance of Job and His Friends (42:7-17)
Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew