THE BOOK OF JOB – 18th BOOK OF THE HOLY BIBLE

The Authorship of Job is uncertain. Some Researchers attribute the Book to Job; others ascribe it to Moses, Solomon, or One of the Prophets.

Unspecified ( 15th to 2nd Century B.C.). The Customs and general lifestyle of Job seem to be from the Patriarchal period.

The suffering of the godly and the Sovereignty of God.“ For it i better, if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing evil”( 1. Peter 3:17). God permitted suffering in the life of Job.

Job was a real person. Both Ezekiel and James mention the name Job. Job had a life of righteousness. Ezekiel 14:14,20. James speaks about the patience of Job. James 5:11. The Book of Job speaks about an individual’s relationship with God. Real life consists of potential sufferings, struggles, and sorrows.

Job was a wealthy man. He knew God by the Name of “ELSHADDAI”= THE ALMIGHTY GOD. There are 30 references to Elshaddai in the Book of Job. The LORD calls him, ”My Servant Job”.

The common practice of defining wealth by the possession of livestock and Children. Job 1:2,3:”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”. The righteous suffer. But God delivers from all. The power of integrity is a revelation.

Job may be seen as a type of Christ. Job suffered greatly and was humbled and stripped of all he had, but in the end he was restored and became an intercessor for his friends, “ For this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us an example, that you should follow His steps. Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”( 1. Peter 2:21,22). “ For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at laqst on the earth”(Job 11:25).

The Book of James tell us about the patience and endurance of Job. God’s intention toward Job and us is good(Job 5;11). We are to await the coming of our Lord Jesus to receive God’s blessing. “ Behold, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful (James 5;11).

“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you”(Job 22:21). In the Book of Job, God’s providential and ethical Government is considered. The suffering of a Righteous man is a age old problem. Elihu explained Job’s suffering as God’s chastening with a view to exponential purification.

God revealed Himself in His Majesty and Power, Chapters 38-41. Job confessed:” Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes(42:6).Then Job emerged from suffering onto blessing and restoration.’ And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before”(Job 42:10). We need to pray for our friends, relatives and those whom we know in our lifetime. Then God will restore and bless us abundantly.

(i) Job, a native of northen Arabia, was a righteous and God fearing non- Israelite, living perhaps before the covenant family of Israel even existed”(1:1).
(ii) The Book deals with the mystery of suffering.
(iii) God’s purpose prevails over Satan’s hope . Saints experience fiery trials.
(iv) This Book makes Biblical Revelation on subjects as God, mankind, creation, Satan ,sin, righteousness, suffering, justice, repentance and faith.
(v) The Book records faulty Theological evaluation of Job’s suffering by his friends. It reflects a common error among God’s people that needs correction.
(vi) Satan’s role as “accuser” of the righteous is demonstrated in Job than any other OT Book of the 18 OT references to Satan by name, 14 of these accuser in Job.
(vii) Jesus said;” The thief does not come except to steal and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”( Jn.10:10). This verse vividly describe Satan’s activity in the Book of Job.
(viii). The Book of Job demonstrates that believers are transformed by revelation, not information(Job 42;5,6), and God is the One Who blesses with life( Job 42:10-17).

(i) Satan is an opponent of God. Satan received permission from God to test the righteous man, Job. God’s grace sustained him during suffering.
(ii) God is moved by considerations too vast for the human mind to fully comprehend.” God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend”(Job 37;5).
(iii) The real spiritual foundation is laid in a revelation of God Himself.
(iv) God sometimes permits Satan to test the righteous with sufferings in life to purify our life leading to more sanctification, as gold is refined in fire. “ But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”(Job 23:10). See 1.Peter 1:7.
(v) Such testing results in an increased measure of spiritual integrity and humility in His people( Job 42:1-10).
(vi) Though God’s dealings at times may seem dark and cruel ( as Job Himself thought) in the end God is seen to be full of compassion and mercy ( Job 42;7-17 & Ja.5;11).

I. Prose Prologue: The Crisis:1;1- 2:13
II. The Dialogues between Job and His friends. A search for intellectual answers,3:1- 31:40
III. The speeches of Elihu: The beginning of Insight,32:1- 37:24
IV. The LORD answers Job: Firsthand Revelation,38:1- 42:6
V. Prose: Epilogue: The Crisis Ends, 42:7-17.

(i) The Redeemer whom Job confesses ( Job 19:25-27), the Mediator, for whom he longs(9:32-33), and the answers to his deepest questions and needs all find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ.
(ii) Jesus identified fully with human suffering (cf. Heb.4:15-16;5:6) as God’s appointed Redeemer, Mediator, wisdom, Healer, Light and Life.
(iii) The Spirit of Prophecy concerning the Coming of Christ is most clearly expressed in Job 19:25-27.
(iv) Explicit mention of Job occurs twice in the New Testament:(1)as a question (5:13 in 1.Cor.3:19) and (2) as a reference to Job’s stedfastness in affliction and the merciful outcome of God’s dealing with him(Jas.5:11).
(v) Job illustrates vividly the NT truth that when believers experience persecution or some other fiery trial of suffering, they must remain stedfast in faith and entrust themselves who judges justly, just as Jesus did Himself when He suffered(1. Pet.2;23).
(vi) Job 1:6-2:10 remains the best illustration of our enemy as described in 1.Peter 5:8-9 as a roaring lion.

* For I know that my Redeemer liveth; and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. Job 19:25
*I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Job 42:2
* Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6000 camels, 1000 yoke of oxen, and 1000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:12,13.
* “Behold, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful (James 5:11).
* But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,establish, strengthen, settle you. 1.Peter 5:10.

*1-3 * 4-6 * 7-9 * 10-12 * 13-15 * 16-18 * 19-21 * 22-24 * 25-27 * 28-30
* 31-33 * 34-36 * 37-39 *40-42.

REV. C.PETER CHANDRAN, Bible Professor
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www.thelivinggodministries.org
Email: peterchandran1980@gmail.com