Job 2

Introduction

Job 2:1 begins similar to Job 1:6.

Job 1:6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.”

Job 2:1 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.”

“Again” - It came to pass a second time. Not that there has only been two times that Satan has met the LORD in this heavenly council but; rather, this is the second time that Satan has met the LORD regarding Job.

“Sons of God” - Angelic beings

“Presented themselves” - Stationed themselves before Jehovah”

The Heavenly Council - Job 2:2–6 “And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Set times of deliberation

In the Hebrew, an article adjective precedes Satan in chapters 1 and 2. Thus, signifying a title more than a name. His title means:

The opponent

The arch enemy of good.

Therefore, this council is between good and evil

What is the purpose of this council?

It is not to determine who wins. Even though Satan is the prince of this world right now (John 14:30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” and Ephesians 2:1–2 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.) His authority has been given to him by God. He can do no more than what God has allowed him to do. His is defeated!

John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

Revelation 20:7–10 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

To fulfill God’s purposes!

Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

“Perfect” - bring to an end.

The Lord will accomplish His purposes for me.

Psalm 57:2 “I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth all things for me.”

Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Job 42:2 “I know that thou canst do every thing, And that no thought can be withholden from thee.”

Daniel 4:35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Whether we are talking about Job or us, the purpose of this council in a personal sense is to complete in us we He has started.

Satan has a hand in our calamities but not the final or decisive hand.

Illustration: Moses

Why does it seem we go through so much suffering?

To show His love and mercy - James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

To help us with our pride - 2 Corinthians 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

To fulfill the purpose of grace:

Luke 22:3 “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”

Heavenly Council - 2nd Scene

Job 2:2–6 “And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Satan is under the authority of the LORD. In this council, Satan speaks only when he is spoken to.

The LORD initiates the conversation about Job.

Satan’s persistence.

In Job 1 Satan’s plan failed

In Job 2 Satan comes up with a new plan.

Ultimately, Satan cannot believe that people will love God simply for who He is. In other words, in Satan’s mind, the only reason people love God is for the blessings. People would never love God for nothing.

In truth, the only people that do anything for nothing are Satan, the angelic following and people in his kingdom.

Illustration: why do people yearn for Heaven? Is it to be free from sin, live in a mansion, eat from the trees of life that are planted on both sides of the glorious river that flows from the Throne, the streets of gold, ect…or is it Jesus!

In spite of everything that has happened to Job, he has not changed.

Job 2:3 “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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

His relationship to community and God has remained stedfast.

Satan is given power within parameters to inflict suffering on Job, but God has all-power.

v.4 “his bone and his flesh” - Bones reflects the hard parts and flesh the soft parts. The idea is total and thorough pain.

Elihu - Job 33:21 “His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.”

Job’s Suffering

Job 2:7–10 “So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

Job was struck with sore boils. In the season of his grief , as he mourned the loss of his children, wealth and status in the community, he was stricken with an awful and painful disease.

Instead of icing on the cake - I have been kicked while down.