Job 2
When Job heard of the loss of his animals, and the death of his sons and daughters, all in one day, he was very, very grieved; yet he did not speak against God, as Satan said he would, instead Job said,
“Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
But Satan was not satisfied with all that sorrow to job; he wished him to have still more trouble, and said Job would then speak against God. This shows Satan’s awful wickedness, wanting Job to dishonor the Lord.
Satan was allowed by God to cause more trouble to Job: this time he sent him dreadful boils; even one such sore would have been bad, but Job had so many that they were from “the sole of his foot to the crown of his head:” He could get no rest and was so distressed that he sat down among ashes, showing his utter misery.
It is not easy to be patient in pain, and sometimes people blame God for their troubles, but Job honored God by being patient, and he did not once speak against Him, although his wife, who should have comforted him, was so wrong as to tell him to curse God.
So Job again proved that Satan had spoken falsely; and we do not read that Satan tried to send more trouble to him, Satan still tries to have people dishonor God; he even tried to tempt the Lord Jesus to do so. However his power was broken by the death of Jesus, and he is to be finally punished (Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14); Rev, 20:10).
Not all our troubles are by Satan; we may cause trouble by our own sinful hearts (see James 1:12-1812Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:12‑18)); but when we are tempted to dishonor the Lord, we may know it is what Satan wishes.
It was God’s wish to do good to Job, more than Job had known before, as we shall see later. But, first, there was something He wished Job to learn by his troubles, and we find more of that in the next chapters. Here are words about Job written many hundreds of years after he lived:
Who came to visit Job, and how long did they sit without speaking, and why? (Job 2:11, 12, 1311Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11‑13)).
These verses tell us how to “resist’ Satan: (1 Peter 5:8, 98Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9), and Eph. 6:11-1711Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11‑17)).
ML 04/21/1940