Job - Chapters 1-2

Julie Callio is starting a new year of Bible study. She plans to read the Bible in chronological order and will be sharing the schedule with interested listeners. The first book they will study is Job, which is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible. Job is a book of poetry and wisdom literature that explores the theme of suffering and the justice of God. The story begins with Job being tested by Satan, but Job remains faithful and does not sin. Job's friends come to comfort him, but they do a poor job. I'm Julie Callio, your host, and thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at vab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Well ladies, I can't believe we're starting a new year. I hope that you have learned a lot about the Bible from our study last year when we went through each book. One of my friends and faithful listeners asked me to keep on going, so one thing I've always wanted to do was read the Bible in chronological order. Now there are tons of ways to do that, but one thing I learned last year was that each writer of each book is writing with a purpose in mind, so I wanted to read the books in their entirety instead of reading a few chapters from this book and then a few from another book. The one exception will be the books of poetry. Psalms will be read on Fridays when we are reading the Old Testament books of history about King David, and then Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon we will do on Fridays when reading about King Solomon. Truth is, I'm still working out the plan, but I'm hoping to have the schedule done this week. So if you're interested in seeing the plan, just send me an email at vab.bc.pc at gmail.com and I will send you the yearly schedule, or I will post on Sundays on Facebook what we will be reading each week. We are going to start the year with what many people believe to be the oldest book of the Bible, which is the first book of poetry, Job. We do not know who actually wrote the book, some people think that Moses did, but it does not say. It is believed that Job was a real person because the Bible confirms that he was. Ezekiel, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament says in chapter 14, verse 14, and even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst by their own righteousness, they could only deliver themselves, declares the Lord God. And then verse 20 mentions them again, even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst as I live, declares the Lord God, they could not deliver either their son or their daughter, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness. Now this passage talks of God's judgment on the house of Israel, and this passage declares that Job is righteous, and that righteousness would have spared him the judgment. In the general epistle of James, in chapter 5, verse 11, James, the half-brother of Jesus said, we count those blessed who endure. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. Here James speaks of Job and his endurance, and that he is an example to us, because we have seen the end of his story, and how God was compassionate and merciful to him. Maybe Job wrote the book, maybe one of the men who were with him, maybe the young man Elihu in the story, or maybe an unnamed person, but the truth is it does not change the story, whoever wrote it. Now there is debate on when it was written, but the traditional view is that it was written in the time of Abraham, around 2000 to 1800 BC. Some of the reasons for this thought is how long Job lived. He was a full-grown man with 10 kids, who all died in the story, and then at the end of the book, in Job chapter 42, verse 16, it reads, and after all of this, Job lived 140 more years, saw his sons, and his sons' sons for generations. Another reason for believing it's the oldest book of the Bible, are things like Job gave sacrifices to God on his own. There is no mention of the covenant, or the law of Moses, or the priesthood. Job's home is not located in the promised land, but in the land of Uz, and all his friends were from places we do not know for sure where, but it is assumed to be east of the Jordan River in Arabia. Also, his wealth is measured by his herds and unique silver coins that were used in ancient times. As I said before, Job is placed in the category of the poetic books of the Bible. It is also described as wisdom literature. If you have a Bible that shows poetic format, you will notice that chapters 1 and 2 are in story format of paragraphs, but once chapter 3 begins, we see the lines of Hebrew poetry until the end of the story in chapter 42 verse 7, and then the story concludes in paragraph form. Now, many times the poetic format is lost in the translation into English, but the meaning is not lost. According to a survey of the Old Testament by Hill and Walton, this book contains various literary genres, including dialogue, chapters 4-27, soliloquy, which is a monologue addressed to oneself with thoughts spoken out loud without addressing another, that's chapter 3, a discourse or talk between people, chapters 29-31, a narrative, chapters 1 and 2 and then the end of the story, and a hymn, chapter 28. This book deals with suffering, and why bad things happen to good people, and is God just? It affirms that God is in charge, or in other words, He is sovereign. Another thing that Hill and Walton say is, God's policies are placed on trial here, not Job. Now that the who, what, when, where and why are covered, let's look at chapters 1 and 2 of Job, verses 1-5 set up the story. We learn of Job, who lived in the land of Uz, and he was the greatest man among all the people of the east. He was blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He had many flocks and ten kids, and it says that Job would make burnt offerings to God for his children, just in case they cursed God in their hearts. With verse 6 of chapter 1 through chapter 2, we are given information that Job and his friends and family do not know. Verse 6, Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Just a few things, the correct translation is sons of God, not angels. We do not know exactly who they are. Since we have just read Revelation with the 24 thrones, and the 24 elders, and the 4 beasts, it makes me believe that there are other created beings instead of just angels and humans. What we do know is since they are sons of God, we see that God is sovereign over them. We also notice that Satan also came among them. The name Satan means accuser or adversary. Another thing to note is that since Satan also came among them, that means that Satan is not one of them. The Lord asked, Where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord from roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. With Job's first test, the Lord initiated the conversation. Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He's blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. This is the description also given in verse 1. If something is repeated in the Bible, it is for emphasis. Satan said, Well, he fears you because you bless him and protect him. But if you stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, he will surely curse you to your face. Verse 11. The Lord allowed Satan to touch everything that he has, but he was not allowed to lay a finger on Job himself. Then verses 13 through 19 we see that all on one day the Sabians attacked and carried his oxen and donkey and killed his servants. Verse 16. While he was still speaking, fire came from heaven and burned up the sheep and servants. Verse 17. While he was still speaking, the Chaldeans took all the camels and killed his servants. Then verse 18. While he was still speaking, a mighty wind struck his son's house and all his children died. Verse 20. At this Job got up, tore his robes, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said, Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. Then the narrator adds in verse 22. In all this Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing. Wow. Then chapter 2 tells of another day that the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and quote Satan also came with them to present himself before him. This time the phrase to present himself before him was added. I wonder if it's because Satan wanted to bring up the subject of Job again. The Lord again starts the conversation. Where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord. From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. Verse 2. The Lord asked again. Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He's blameless and upright. A man who fears God and shuns evil just like chapter 1 verse 1 and chapter 1 verse 8. Then the Lord added and he still maintains his integrity though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Then Satan the accuser said skin for skin a man will give all he has for his own life but stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said very well then he's in your hands but you must spare his life. Satan left the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. His wife said are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die. It's funny to me that his wife was the one that was spared. Job replies to her you're talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? Then the narrator adds in verse 10 in all this Job did not sin in what he said. Verses 11 through 13 of chapter 2 talk of Job's three friends who have come to comfort him. Their names are Eliphaz the Timonite, Bildad the Shuite and Zophar the Nemethite. They could barely recognize him. They wept aloud, tore their robes, sprinkled dust on their heads. They mourned with their friend for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word because they saw how great his suffering was. If the story ended there he would have had some amazing friends but the story does not end there. We will see that his three friends did a horrible job of comforting him. Before we close for the day ponder with me about Satan and his rule. We just finished Revelation and in chapter 12 verses 7 and 8 that speaks of the war with Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels and they lost and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. Then verses 9 through 11 read and the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ has come for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down. He who accuses them before our God day and night and they overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives even when faced with death. One other verse that has stayed with me as we finished up the New Testament last year was found in 1st John chapter 3 verse 8 which says the one who practices sin is of the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil. It seems that once Jesus died on the cross and ascended into heaven Satan no longer has access before the throne of God. Jesus came not just to save us but also to destroy the works of the devil. As we have said before Satan can do nothing except the Lord allows it and as we enter this new year we do not know what it will bring. Will we have a great year or one full of suffering or a mixture of both. What Job reveals is we do know that it is in the hand of God. So let me ask you are you a woman who would be described as blameless and upright? Do you fear God and shun evil? Is there some sin in your life that you need to confess to God as we start this new year? Or if everything you have is taken away from you this year could you say the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord. If your body is plagued with sickness this year could you say we should accept good and trouble from God. Now before you get too discouraged thinking that Job is perfect we will find a lot of complaining in these next few chapters. But are you a woman that worships God only because he protects you and life is great? Are there some things, some idols in your life that you need to lay at the Lord's feet as we walk this road with the Lord this year? If you have heard his voice today please don't harden your heart instead let's be a woman who worships and prays and prays and obeys. Until next time and thanks so very much for listening.