Another of our grouping of five books; Proverbs, James, Job, Ecclesiastes and Jude. The things they all teach apply to all times. But Paul has taught us that the power to do them comes only through the power Christ has given us (Phil. 4:1313I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)). This book can be a help to you if you wish to learn a great secret from God. It has been a blessing to many believers. In fact, it has been the turning point in the spiritual life of some. It is the only book in the Bible which deals exclusively with the life of one person. We must not forget that God interests Himself about every believer on earth!
This makes it very personal. The build-up of the story takes 41 chapters, while the point of the book is packed into a few verses in the last. If you were to read only this last chapter, you would get very little of the powerful message which the Lord has for us. Remember that most of the 41 chapters are the thoughts of men. Taken by themselves, these thoughts are often not correct. But they are necessary in order to get the whole point of God’s message. For instance, Job says “God distributeth sorrows in His anger” (Job 21:1717How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. (Job 21:17)). Is this true? No, but this is what Job said at that particular time. If Job was such a good man, how could God find any fault in him? If Job was a bad man, how could God allow him to say such a dreadful thing and let him get away with it? What was wrong with him? Around these questions, the whole book is built. God alone saw what was wrong in Job. If you learn the answers and apply them in your own life, you will be a happy Christian.
V.1-5 Notice (a) how good he was; (b) that he feared God; (c) that he eschewed (kept away from) evil; (d) that God had given him the perfect number, 7 of sons; (e) how rich he was; (f) how great he was; (g) that he offered sacrifices to God for his children (rising early) just in case they sinned; (h) that he kept up this life regularly. What is God trying to show us? We’ll see!
V.6-12 The angels are here in the presence of the Lord; Satan is among them. At first, we might be surprised to find Satan here in God’s presence and with the other angels of God. But it helps us to understand when we realize that God hadn’t yet acted in judgment in putting down evil. In the future, Satan is going to be cast out of the heavens (Rev. 12:7-97And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:7‑9)). Another thing to notice: In the beginning and end of this book the name “the Lord” is used, the middle part “God.” “The Lord” appears 16 times in the first 2 chapters.
The Lord draws the attention of Satan to Job, saying of him the exact words used in the first verse. Satan replies that the reason why Job feared God was because God was so kind to him, and that if all these things were taken away he would be like anyone else, and would curse God to His face. The Lord gives Satan the power to trouble Job, and surely he does. But we’ll see that all Satan’s accusations against Job fail.
V.13-22 The blows fall. He loses everything. And it is recorded of him that in all this he didn’t sin.