The book of Job is a book that is a lot of times over looked by most, its seen as a book of suffering. This
Book and the study of Job himself is very useful to most of us today to help us understand that we are not alone in trials and times of suffering. It gives us a glimps of Gods perspective on our suffering. We are often overwhelmed by self pity, and want an explination for why god allows trials to happen to us.
The author of the book is not known for sure the consensus says Job himself wrote it, moses, or Soloman.
Geographically: Job is from UZ, Uz is not an existant city today. Noone knows the exact place where it was for sure it is believe to lie west of Babylon and East of Palestine (Saudi Arabia area). The country had fertile grazing lands, with desert near, and rock. The geographical location is pretty insignificant to our study in Job, the book plunges into narrative immediately.
We do know from biblical/historical records that the culture in UZ they believed in God, our Yaewah, God. We know this because later in the book Job had 3 friends visit and they had discussions about God.
The land of Uz had an agricultural ecomony, just as it did in Canaan with Abraham
If we could sum up the book of Job in 3 words it would probably be life is difficult.
Start by reading Job 1:1
Job was blameless which means without fault, innocent
Upright, this is describing his relationship with others. meaning upstanding, honest – straight forward, he handled his business dealings with integrity, keep his word, and dealt fairly with others, as a result he was respected by those around him. .. The word upright in Hebrew translates to mean straight.
He was blameless by humans this doesn’t mean sinless before God.
Romans 7:25 Paul knew what he was suppose to do and not suppose to do, Paul couldn’t go through life without sin and we cant either, 1john also tells us that if we say we are sinless, we are wrong. Therefore he wasn’t.
Psalm 101:6 “my eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me, he who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister me”
--feared God –
• Proverbs 111:10 & 9:10 tells us that he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
• Proverbs 1:7 Beginning of knowledge
So this tells us that he was wise, and knowledgeable, he respected God.
Fearing God also tells us that Job had the right relationship with God and was motivated to turn away evil, or overcome temptation.
How can we today turn away from evil? this would mean not partaking in ungodly discissions or when that filth is on TV that is ungodly, you turn it off - Psalm 101:3 ‘ I will set no thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away it shall not fasten its grip on me’
Job reverenced god, God was His front and center.. just as he should be for us
READ 1:2
What does the #7 mean in scripture?
Completeness. 7 sons show us that Job was complete. Mideast during this time it was a sign of Gods blessing.
(we will discuss his children later on)
Read 1:3
Being that the Economy in Uz was an agricultural based economy, a persons wealth was shown by their livestock. Job was well to do. Today he would be equivelant to Bill Gates Donald Trump Oprah.. all in one.
Lets breakdown the riches, in todays time, US Currency.
7,000 sheep x $250.00 each = $1,750,000.00
--Jobs having sheep he probably sold wool and the sheep provided food for him
3,000 camels x $5000.00 each = $15,000,000.00
--Here locally I know they are rented for 1 night at $500.00
Jobs having such a large amount of camels tells us that it was kind of a trucking business, he probably ran caravans for hire as well as they were his personal mode of transportation.
500 yokes of oxen, it takes at least 2 oxen to make a yoke, so
1,000 oxen x $4000.00 each = $4,000,000.00
500 female donkies x $500.00 each = $250,000.00
Female donkies are worth more still today they are a pack mule if you want to call it that, back then they were worth more because they were the delicacy of the day – donkey milk.
Total Liquid assets in Livestock mentioned; $21,000,000. 21 million dollars.
So we have established that Job is very wealthy, he has 10 children.
Read vs 4.
Verse 4 being that the siblings are eating and drinking together, # they get along, #2 they are obviously grown, which means no diapers no toddlers going around. They were in a time of celebration. Job had it made. There was no one criticizing him because he was a good man, and there was nothing to criticize.
READ VS.5
By offering 10 burnt offerings for each of his children, that tells us that he had a deep concern for their hearts, concerned that they may have a bit of disobiediance in their hearts. Job was spiritually sensitive, not just with his own life but with his childrens. A praying father. A faithful man. He had concerns valid upstanding concerns for the hearts of his children.
Now verse 6, if this were a theatrical performance.. the curtains would close and there would be a pause. The entire scene changes. Verses 1-5 are full of Jobs blessings, good news, and a great life.
Read vs 6.
Job knows nothing about what is going on. Similar things happen in our life as well. When were not aware of it, God is carrying out a plan that would amaze us and occasionally, shock us. God is permitting things to get underway that we don’t know about that we don’t expect. Without Jobs knowledge, something is happening in the heavenlies.
Lets look at something here:
Verse 1:1 starts with ‘there was a man.
Now look at verse 1:6 ‘there was a day’
There was a man who lived on earth, there was a day in the throne room of God.
Between these verses we are taken from the familiar day to day life on earth , to the unfamiliar scene of God in heaven.
In verse 6, the sons of God came to present themselves .. who is this talking about?
-his angelic servants.. angels.. they came to present themselves before Him, to tell him what they have observed and get new orders. Some philosphers think that this was a band of angels that were protecting Job.
-why do you think they are referred to as sons of God?
In translations both Hebrew and greek the sons of God are Jehovahs messengers.
-He is THE FATHER TO THE SPIRITS, He is the Father to mankind as well however man is linked to the human body, where angelic beings arenot they have nothing to do with sin. In resurrection we.. Luke 20:36 “for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of resurrection”
Now, what do you think about Satan presenting before God?
- Satan can still have access to God, He walks the earth as well. However, Satan has went to God for permission. He is conversing with God.
- Revelation 12:7-12 tells us that Satan will be cast out of heaven and earth and bound to hell for 1000 years, then will be out for tribulation and then receive his eternal retribution.(rev 20:10)
This is such a picture of how great Gods patience are. He has tolerated Satans schemeing and even let him tempt our first parents adam and eve, then He is still on his accusing destroying path. To think that even Satan, must go before the throne of grace even before battering and torchering us.. we have a big soverign God.
The Hebrew text identifies, Satan in this verse HAA-SahTahn meaning ‘the satan’,
What does it mean? SahTahn is a Hebrew word, it’s a verb form word, meaning to be adversary, to resist. Therefore we get the accuser or adversary. Satan accuses Gods people day and night.
Satan is that little red devil with the pitchfork that we picture in our head. He is the most attractive brilliant powerful archangel that God ever created. HE hasn’t lost his brilliance, power or appealing beauty. Satan likes to work behind the scenes, because he is invisible, doesn’t mean he is not real. We will see in later scripture, he has personality. He is in constant commitment to destroy Gods people and oppose Gods plan.
Vs 7.
God asks Satan from where does he come, God knew for he is omniscient (allknowing) God knows everything. It could be worded for our understanding ‘tell me what you’ve been about, whats been going on?”
Satans answer is brief. “roaming the earth’ he moves all about the earth as do his demonic forces, he has random access to wherever he wishes to go. The earthly elements that hold us in do not effect him he is supernatural. He can move from asia to America instantly. When he says ‘ive been roaming around the earth” he means that, literally.
No comments:
Post a Comment