Job: Under Consideration (2)

Introduction

“Trusting is not the cause of fulfillment, for that would reduce things to quid pro quo. On the other hand, it is clear that only those who hope will be given the gift. This does not make a very logical argument. But it is a key insight of biblical faith.

Walter Brueggemann

A) Quid pro quo—a Latin phrase meaning “something for something.” It’s often used to describe an exchange or trade where one party provides something in return for something else. The concept of reciprocity and mutual benefit is at the heart of this expression.

This is the issue before us today: In a very real sense all of us here would have to confess that oft-times people’s reasons for serving God are directly tied to their being blessed and protected by Him. While it is natural that this would be case, it should not be the only reason.

B) Context of the Text

Job 1:6–12 NASB 2020

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

The author of the book is unclear; there are also unanswered questions concerning the original audience and the time of the writing. The message of the book is set in the genre of wisdom literature . As wisdom literature, it makes no claims about the nature of the events; rather, it provides a “thought experiment” in order to explore an important question. That question is:

Is there such a thing as disinterested righteousness?

Job is prosecuted by the satan figure and longs for a defender in the court of Yahweh. While Job is not sinless—no one is (Rom 3:23)—he is blameless in this particular situation (Job 1:7–8). But as Yahweh shows Job, he still has much to learn (38:1–40:2).

Job shows that even in grief we can find hope in a deepened relationship with Yahweh (23:10). It is only through Job’s sufferings that this is possible (42:4–6). Today—with our advocate, Jesus, in heaven—we face the question behind Job’s story: Will we love Yahweh, no matter what?