A. Job
1. Trials of Job
a. Satan and the Lord discuss Job - Job 1:6-12
b. God's permission to scourge - Job 1:13-22; 2:1-10
2. Job and his three friends
a. Job complains - Job 2:11-13; 3:1-26
I can not even imagine being worthy enough for God and Satan to discuss me. That is a intense thought. Father says this about Job:
"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?" (Job 1:8)
considered - H7760 - שׂים שׂוּם - śûm śı̂ym - soom, seem - A primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literally, figuratively, inferentially and elliptically). ~ Used 580x in 546 verses (I am taking a pass on reviewing each verse :-) Used in Genesis 2:8 when God put the man in the garden of Eden. Nehemiah 8:8 read the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand.
none - H369 - אין - 'ayin - ay'-yin - As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.
perfect - H8535 - תּם - tâm - tawm - From H8552; complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically gentle, dear. Used 13x in 13 verses. First usage in Genesis 25:27 of Jacob as a plain man, dwelling in tents. Second usage in Job 1:1, then 1:8 and 2:3 said by God. In Proverbs 29:10 the bloodthirsty hate the upright, but the just seek his soul. Also translated as undefiled in the Song of Soloman.
upright - H3477 - ישׁר - yâshâr - yaw-shawr' - From H3474; straight (literally or figuratively).
- H3474 - ישׁר - yâshar - yaw-shar' - A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous.
feareth - H3373 - ירא - yârê' - yaw-ray' - From H3372; fearing; morally reverent.
- H3372 - ירא - yârê' - yaw-ray' - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.
43x in 43 verses...Father said if of Abraham about fearing HIM by not withholding his son, Issac (Genesis 22:12); ahhh, even our Proverbs 31 woman - feareth the Lord (31:30); and this one:
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared (H3372) the Lord, and that thought upon his name (Malachi 3:16).
escheweth - H5493 - שׂוּר סוּר - sûr śûr - soor, soor - A primitive root; to turn off (literally or figuratively). Used 301x in 282 verses...I always wonder when there are less verses and more hits, where is that word duplicated. E-sword will do a search for H5493H5493, but it still comes up with the same results. :-(
Interestingly this word is used in Genesis 8:13 when Noah removed the covering of the ark. In Malachi 2:8 it used as departed; in Jeremiah 6:28 it is translated as grievous and 5:23 as revolted.
What he lost: oxen plowing (yoked 500), asses (500) beside them, servants (#?); sheep destroyed (7,000), servants (#?); camels (3000), servants (#?); sons and daughters, servants (#?). {How did she come up with those #'s? :-) - well....in Job 42, verses 12 and 13 it delineates what Father blesses Job with, and in verse 10 it states Job was given twice as much as he had before.}
What he kept: servant, servant, servant, servant, wife.
1st test - Loss of livestock, servants, children - yet Job does not sin nor charge God foolishly (Job 1:20-23).
2nd test - Health tested, boils from the sole of his feet unto the crown of his head. Rebukes wife for receiving good, but not evil with same attitude (Job 1:9-10).
3rd test - Eliphaz (god of gold or the endeavor of god), Bildad (old friendship), Zophar (departing or rising early, crown) come to visit - silent for 7 days (can you imagine? no words spoken for 7 days!).
The tests are not numbered in Scripture, that is solely my way of keeping track - the names for the three friends are taken either from Strong's or the Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary.
After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day. (Job 3:1)
Been there, done that...Okay God, I am done...can't take anymore of whatever You are allowing and/or dishing out to me...just take me home. Don't want to be here no more! {said with a southern twang} How sad is that:?! In comparison to Job, my trials and tribulations are nothing. I wonder if he had any idea that his story would be used to comfort people. Have you ever stopped to consider that whatever you are going through is designed to:
- remove dross from your life;
- glorify God; and
- help someone else through their tough times?
Lord, we all have trials, tribulations and tests (3T) in our lives. Some we sail through, others we slog. Father, You are always gracious and merciful to Your servants, never allowing more in our lives but what we can stand and/or endure. Lord, help each of us to learn from the 3T's in our lives the first time around, rather than running around the mountain again, and again, and... :-D Lord, help us to not sin with our lips, to keep our eyes focused upon You. Lord, raise up people to pray for us and for us to pray with and for during the times we are challenged and discouraged. Father, help us to keep our eyes focused solely upon You. Create in us a growing desire to give a proper estimate of You in and through all of life's hills, valleys, mountains, gorges, etc.
A book which I have enjoyed reading, recommended by our Bible study teacher (1st Peter - NT book to the OT book of Job) is:
When All Hell Breaks Loose: You May Be Doing Something Right: Surprising Insights in the Book of Job, Steven Lawson
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