This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
JOB
INTRODUCTION
There has been no historical evidence that proves Job was not written before Moses' time, although it is written in the style of the times of Solomon. According to the style of life presented in the book, Job obviously lived in the time of Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob. The land of "Uz" is/was a place near the South of Palestine in Edom. Historical references to a man named Job have been found as early as 1900 BC.
Another point for the authenticity of the book is that no part of Job is inconsistent with any other part of the Bible. In fact, James 5:12 refers to this book and it's teachings of patience.
..........THEME........
CHAPTER 1
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
First of all, Job was a man; a man like you and me with all the problems we face today.
2 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.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Job was a rich man, and had been blessed with ten children.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
God stands on the outside of time and sees all of time from beginning to end; for He is the CREATOR of all there is, including time.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Tragedy is no respector of persons. Sinfulness in the world results in catastrophes for all men.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
How easy it is during tragic circumstances, to look up toward heaven and question, "WHY? WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO ME GOD? WHY?" Please continue in Bible Study with us.
.........AUTHENTICITY.......
The book of Job is a story about a man and his sufferings. It is considered to be one of the most articulate literary works ever written. This book ranks very highly, and is considered to be a "wisdom" book (Hebrew - chokmah, much like Psalm and Proverbs. It is written in a poetic style.
All men suffer because of sin. We suffer as a direct result of our own sin, and we suffer indirectly as a result of other men's sins.
Job is a sufferer who trusts in God with all his heart.
He suffers physically, mentally and emotionally. He becomes the subject of ridicule by his "friends" because of his faith in God.
Job lived according to the description of faith given in the book of Hebrews.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.....But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must elieve that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:1 & 6)
Secondly, he was perfect; and this statement comes from God (see verse 8). This means that he was "walking with God." It does not mean that he was sinless, for Job himself acknowledges that he is a sinner (Job 9:20).
Let me point out that this statement is consistent with all the rest of the Bible, in that when a man is justified before God, then God looks upon him as perfect.
Friends, from this statement alone we learn a great deal. It IS POSSIBLE for a sinful man to be JUSTIFIED in the eyes of God!! ((See Romans 10:9-10, Romans 3:23-25))
Thirdly we see that Job was upright. He had a good reputation with all who knew him. His uprightness resulted from the fact that he revered God and hated evil.
He had a great concern for his children. He sent for them to attend sacrificial offerings that he made for their behalf (verse 5). It was the nature of this man to teach his family to worship God.
This was not a "one-time" thing with Job, but he did it continually.
Parents ought to care for their children even when they are older, married and have children of their own. Parents ought to continually offer prayers on behalf of the children, and encourage them to attend services of worship lest they "curse God in their hearts."
Perhaps this "day" when the "sons of God" presented themselves before God is the FINAL day when Satan, our accuser appeared also.
At any rate, God asks Satan what he's been doing. And Satan replied very deviously. He did not say that he had been doing evil, because he would not confess his sin. He did not say that he was doing good, for he knew that God KNEW. Satan simply said that he had been residing withing the place God had PUT him.
All things are created by God, including men and angels. And all are PLACED by God where they will bring HIM the most glory.
Notice how God speaks of Job. He calls Job "perfect and upright." God KNOWS our thoughts and actions.
Notice too, that Satan owns God has protected Job (verse 10). God really cares about His own, and shields them. Except God "lift His hand," Satan can do them no harm.
In this conversation between God and Satan, there is a great PROMISE from God to His people. Satan cannot do harm to you if you follow God with all your heart. He may be enabled to bring suffering as the direct result of sin. He may bring suffering as the indirect result of sin. But he CANNOT change the fact that you are a SON OF GOD through the shed blood of the Saviour, Jesus Christ!! When you are "sealed" in the Spirit of Almighty God, you are sealed FOREVER! Once adopted, you will NEVER be disowned!
It is because man has sinned and is a continual sinner that Satan is allowed to afflict us (Verse 12).
Job was not impervious to the tragedies caused by the sins of men.
Job lost all his working animals (verse 14);
He lost all his sheep (verse 16);
He lost all his camels (verse 17);
AND, he lost all his CHILDREN (verse 19).
SUCH TRAGEDY! This type of tragedy seldom happens to a man in ONE day!
Please note that Job's eldest son was old enough to have a house of his own. Perhaps even the other children were old enough to have houses of their own too. But we KNOW that the eldest did. This fact alone establishes Job and his wife in the "middle-age" of life, or later. Remember, he had ten sons and daughters.
Now notice Job's reaction to the catastrophe (verse 21).
He turned to God in his thoughts and words. Immediately, in reaction to such calamity, most react in horrific swearing, crying and wailing; bemoaning the awfulness of the situation. Few people, under these circumstances, reveal the depths of their heart as being continually directed toward God as Job did.
Oh! How AWFUL life treats us at times. And, YES, it does HURT!
At the beginning of our years as a married couple, we lost our first child before birth. Ann and I cried. We HURT! But we turned to God. We acknowledged, as did Job, that we are NOTHING before God; and that He has given us all that we are and have. If God saw fit to take that first child, then He would also give us another when it was His will. And God did bless us with two more children; a boy and a girl.
Yes. Tragedies do hurt us. But we should keep our focus upon God.
Job's statement here is one we should commit to memory: "...Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
But Job did not!
I submit for your meditation the reason Job did not sin in his thoughts and emotions by charging God with a personal offense toward him. The reason is because he walked with God daily!
Job already knew that God is the CREATOR and GIVER of all things. He already KNEW that all things and people are created to GLORIFY GOD. He already knew that it is God's RIGHT to do whatever He pleases with men.
And MORE than all those things that Job knew, he also knew that God is ALWAYS JUST in all His work!!
Friends, we need to "get to know" this great God! We need to KNOW that His character and integrity are BEYOND QUESTION in ALL THINGS!
ONLY THEN will we be able to look to Him in tragedy and proclaim, "...blessed be the name of the LORD!"