30 March 2025 — The Courtroom of Heaven: When God Is on Trial (2)

Introduction: The Scandal That Shook the World

In 2016, the world was shaken by one of the biggest scandals in sports history. The Russian Olympic doping scandal exposed how dozens of athletes had won medals not by hard work and training, but by a state-sponsored doping program. When the truth came out, medals were stripped, careers were ruined, and people began to question: Can we even trust the integrity of sports anymore?

The scandal didn’t just accuse individual athletes—it cast doubt on the entire system. Were victories real? Was the competition fair? Could we trust the governing bodies?

This is exactly what happened in the heavenly courtroom scene of Job 1:6–12. But in this case, it wasn’t an athlete under scrutiny—it was God Himself.

Satan entered the divine council, not just to accuse Job, but to accuse God of running a corrupt system. His challenge was clear: “People don’t serve You because You are good. They serve You because You bribe them with blessings. If You didn’t bless them, they would turn their backs on You.”

This was more than an attack on Job—it was an attack on the very character of God. Is God truly just? Is He truly worthy of worship? And so, the great controversy unfolds—not just in Job’s life, but in the cosmic courtroom where Satan has put God on trial.

Today, we will step into that heavenly courtroom and examine the accusation, the challenge, and what it means for us today.

Introduction

The book of Job offers us a unique glimpse into the unseen reality of the great controversy between good and evil. We often focus on Job’s suffering, but before his trials unfold, Scripture invites us into the divine courtroom, where God and Satan engage in a legal battle over the nature of true righteousness. The fundamental question presented in this passage is: Why do we serve God? Do we love Him for who He is, or only for what He gives?

The book of Job is not just about one man’s suffering; it is a theological masterpiece that explores the cosmic conflict between God’s justice and Satan’s accusations. Job 1:6-12 provides us with the setting for this spiritual battle, revealing that human experiences are deeply connected to unseen realities. This passage challenges us to understand suffering not just from an earthly perspective but from the broader context of divine justice.

The importance of this scene cannot be overstated. It shows that what happens in heaven has profound implications for life on earth. The trials we face are not random; they are part of a larger cosmic drama in which our faith is being tested, and God’s righteousness is being vindicated. As we examine Job 1:6-12, we will explore the heavenly courtroom, Satan’s accusations, the test permitted by God, and what this means for us today.

The Council of Heaven

Job 1:6 ESV

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

The scene before us is not one that takes place on earth. The author of Job lifts the curtain and allows us a glimpse into the heavenly court—a council where divine matters are deliberated. The “sons of God” present themselves before the Lord, an image that recalls other biblical passages describing God’s heavenly assembly. Psalm 89:6-7 asks,

Psalm 89:6–7 ESV

For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?

Similarly, in 1 Kings 22:19, Micaiah declares,

1 Kings 22:19 ESV

And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;

This divine council is not a pantheon of competing gods but a gathering of heavenly beings who serve under the authority of Yahweh. As Theodicy of Love explains, biblical monotheism does not eliminate the reality of other spiritual beings; rather, it places them under God’s sovereign rule. The council serves a divine purpose—to govern and administer God’s will in the universe. Yet, among them appears an intruder.

An Unwelcome Presence

Job 1:6 introduces us to haśśāṭān, literally “the adversary.” The Hebrew text does not use “Satan” as a proper name but as a title, indicating his function as an accuser or prosecutor in this heavenly court. This is not the first time Scripture portrays such a figure. In Zechariah 3:1-2, the prophet sees

Zechariah 3:1 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

yet the Lord rebukes him. Revelation 12:10 later identifies Satan as

Revelation 12:10 ESV

…the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

The role of haśśāṭān in this courtroom scene is not merely to observe but to challenge. The very fact that he “came among them” suggests that his presence is tolerated, but not welcomed. He is neither an equal participant in the council nor a rogue force outside God’s control. Instead, he operates within the divine framework, but his purpose is opposition.

The Cosmic Courtroom

This scene is crucial for understanding the broader biblical theme of the cosmic conflict. Peckham, in Theodicy of Love, describes a reality often ignored in modern theology: the existence of a real battle between God and the forces of evil. Some might ask, “If God is sovereign, why does He even allow Satan to be present?” The answer lies in the very nature of God’s rule. Unlike a dictator who silences all opposition, God governs in a way that allows challenges to be voiced—not because He is uncertain, but because the conflict must play out before the watching universe.

Jesus hints at this reality in His parable of the wheat and the tares:

Matthew 13:28 ESV

He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’…

Just as God does not immediately uproot the tares lest He harm the wheat, He allows Satan’s presence for a time. But make no mistake—Satan’s presence here is not a sign of his power, but a sign that he is under scrutiny. His accusations will be addressed, and his fate is already sealed (Revelation 20:10).

The Sovereign Lord

Despite Satan’s presence, there is no doubt about who reigns. Yahweh is not questioned; He is the one asking the questions. He is not on trial; He is the Judge. The adversary may roam the earth (Job 1:7), but he must report to God. He may seek to accuse, but he cannot act without divine permission.

What does this mean for us? It reminds us that the trials we face are not random. They are not outside God’s knowledge or control. In times of suffering, we are tempted to think that God is absent, that evil reigns unchecked. But the book of Job begins by assuring us: Even when Satan accuses, God is on the throne.

And so, as the scene is set in the heavenly courtroom, we are left with a question: Will Job prove that God is worthy of worship even when the blessings are stripped away? This is not only Job’s test—it is the test of all who claim to follow God.

The Accusation

As the heavenly court assembles, the LORD addresses Satan directly:

Job 1:7 ESV

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?”…

The question is not because God lacks knowledge—He is omniscient. Instead, it is a formal inquiry, a legal summons. Satan’s response is revealing:

Job 1:7 ESV

…Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

These words are not mere travel commentary; they are a claim of authority. The adversary presents himself as one who roams freely, as if to imply dominion over the earth. This echoes 1 Peter 5:8, where the devil is described

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The language suggests an intent to accuse, to challenge, and ultimately to destroy.

The Challenge to God’s Justice

The LORD does not wait for Satan’s accusation; He preempts it by presenting Job as an example of true righteousness:

Job 1:8 ESV

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

The wording in Hebrew implies more than a casual observation; it suggests scrutiny, as if Job has been under investigation. The statement affirms that Job is “blameless and upright, one who fears God and turns away from evil.” Here, God Himself testifies to Job’s integrity.

But Satan is unimpressed. His response in verse 9 is the first recorded accusation:

Job 1:9 ESV

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?

The adversary challenges the very foundation of righteousness. The phrase implies that Job’s devotion is transactional—that he serves God because of what he gets in return. This is the heart of Satan’s argument: that true faith does not exist apart from personal benefit.

This challenge is not just about Job. It is a direct attack on God’s justice. Satan implies that God’s governance is corrupt, that righteousness is nothing more than a product of divine bribery. If God’s followers only serve Him because He blesses them, then God’s rule is not based on love, but on self-interest. Theodicy of Love highlights this cosmic struggle, showing that Satan’s aim is not merely to discredit Job, but to discredit God’s entire moral government​

The Hedge of Protection

Satan continues in verse 10:

Job 1:10 ESV

Have you not put a hedge 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.

The imagery of a hedge suggests divine protection, an invisible barrier safeguarding Job’s life and prosperity. This concept echoes Psalm 34:7:

Psalm 34:7 ESV

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

God’s protection is real, but Satan twists it, implying that Job’s righteousness is manufactured by divine favoritism.

This accusation mirrors the broader cosmic conflict. It suggests that God manipulates His creation, that love for Him is not freely given, but coerced by blessings. Theodicy of Love describes how Satan’s accusations are not just about individuals but about the very nature of God’s rule​

If Satan is right, then righteousness is an illusion. If Job only serves God because of divine gifts, then worship is not about love, but about profit.

A Test of True Faith

Satan’s challenge forces a crucial question: What happens when the hedge is removed? If Job’s prosperity vanishes, will his faith remain? This question extends beyond Job—it is the question every believer must answer. Is our faith dependent on circumstances, or is it rooted in the character of God?

Jesus addressed a similar issue in John 6. After feeding the five thousand, He perceived the motives of the crowd:

John 6:26 ESV

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

True faith must go beyond seeking God for what He provides. This is the test Job is about to face.

As this heavenly courtroom scene unfolds, we see that the challenge is far greater than one man’s suffering. It is a cosmic trial of God’s justice and the nature of true worship. The adversary has made his accusation. The question now is: Will Job prove him wrong?

The Test

Job 1:11 ESV

But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

The accusation has been made. The adversary has thrown down the challenge, and it is a direct attack on both Job and God. He claims that Job’s devotion is conditional, that his righteousness is nothing more than self-interest wrapped in piety. Satan argues that if Job’s blessings are taken away, his faith will collapse, and he will curse God outright. The question is no longer theoretical. The test is now set.

The Heavenly Courtroom and Divine Justice

This is more than a dispute over one man’s character; it is a legal case in the courtroom of heaven. Theodicy of Love highlights that the great controversy is a moral and legal conflict in which Satan accuses God’s government of being unjust and manipulative. He is not merely questioning Job’s faith—he is questioning God’s entire way of ruling the universe.

If Job only serves God because of blessings, then God’s moral government is built on bribery rather than love. If, however, Job remains faithful even when stripped of everything, then righteousness is proven to be genuine, and God’s justice is upheld. This is why the test is permitted. The trial of Job is not a random misfortune but a deliberate and public demonstration of the nature of true worship.

The scene echoes Zechariah 3:2, where the Lord rebukes Satan’s accusations against the high priest Joshua:

Zechariah 3:2 ESV

And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

Likewise, in Revelation 12:10, we see that Satan’s accusations extend beyond Job to all of God’s people:

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And 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 have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Satan stands as the prosecutor, yet he is not an impartial one. He is the adversary—his goal is destruction. He does not believe in righteousness apart from reward because he himself operates by selfishness and manipulation.

God's Sovereign Permission

In verse 12, God responds: 

Job 1:12 ESV

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.”…

Here we must tread carefully. God does not inflict suffering on Job, but He does permit it. This is a critical distinction. God is not the author of evil, but He allows trials within the framework of the great controversy.

This principle is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Job is not given this test because he is weak, but because he is strong. God does not allow trials to destroy us but to refine us. Isaiah 48:10 declares:

Isaiah 48:10 ESV

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

God’s permission does not mean abandonment. Though Job will suffer, God sets the boundary: 

Job 1:12 ESV

…Only against him do not stretch out your hand…

Satan is not given unlimited power—he remains under divine restraint. This echoes Jesus’ words to Peter in Luke 22:31-32:

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Satan cannot go beyond what God allows. This is crucial for us to understand. In our trials, it may seem like God is silent, but He is always sovereign. He sets limits on what the enemy can do.

The Adversary’s Departure

The verse ends with a chilling statement: 

Job 1:12 ESV

…So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

This moment marks the transition from accusation to action. The adversary leaves the courtroom and descends upon Job’s life with full fury. Yet, we must remember: Satan’s attack is not about Job alone—it is a challenge to God Himself.

Here, Theodicy of Love makes a profound observation: the suffering of the righteous is not meaningless, but is part of the vindication of God’s character. It is in these moments of trial that faith is purified, and the love of God is proven to be greater than circumstances.

The question remains: Will Job prove Satan wrong? Will he worship God in the absence of blessings? Will he remain faithful even when the hedge is removed?

The test has begun.

The Cosmic Conflict and Our Lives

Job’s story is our story. The battle between faith and doubt, between trust and despair, plays out in our lives as well. The Bible repeatedly reminds us of the cosmic conflict we are part of. The heavenly courtroom scene in Job 1:6–12 is not an isolated event but part of an ongoing war between God and Satan—a war that touches every human life.

Theodicy of Love reminds us that this war is not about brute power but about the nature of God’s rule. If God were only about control, He could have ended the rebellion instantly. But because He is love (1 John 4:8), He allows freedom, even when it results in suffering. This is why Satan, the adversary, still has a role in the story. He is not an equal power competing with God, but a rebellious being whose accusations must be answered in a way that the universe can see and understand.

Jesus explained this conflict in Matthew 13:28 when He said,

Matthew 13:28 ESV

…An enemy has done this…

Just as in the parable of the wheat and the tares, evil is not from God—it is an invasion. The great controversy between Christ and Satan is a war over character, over the question of whether God is truly just and whether His followers serve Him out of love or selfish gain.

Satan’s Accusations Continue

Satan’s accusation in Job 1:9–10—

Job 1:9 ESV

…Does Job fear God for no reason?

—is the same challenge he raises against every believer. He argues that people only serve God because they receive blessings. This accusation extends beyond Job to you and me. Satan asks: Do they love God, or do they love what God gives them?

We see this echoed in Revelation 12:10, where Satan is called

Revelation 12:10 ESV

…the accuser of our brothers… who accuses them day and night before our God.

He continually seeks to cast doubt on the faithfulness of God’s people, claiming that righteousness is merely a transaction, not a true relationship of love and trust.

Jesus Himself faced this same accusation. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Him, saying:

Matthew 4:3 ESV

…“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

In other words: Prove your status by using your power for yourself. But Jesus refused, demonstrating that true righteousness is not based on what one can get from God but on complete trust in Him.

The Unseen Battle in Our Lives

Though we may not see it with our eyes, the cosmic conflict rages around us. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

This means that our trials are not random. When we face suffering, financial struggles, sickness, or loss, it is not merely the result of earthly circumstances. Like Job, we are caught in a larger battle where our faithfulness is part of God’s testimony to the universe.

We see this in Luke 22:31–32, when Jesus tells Peter:

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail…

If Satan had to ask permission to test Peter, just as he did with Job, then we know that even in our darkest moments, God remains in control. He allows trials, not to destroy us, but to refine us.

Faith That Stands

This is why James 1:2–3 encourages us:

James 1:2–3 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Satan wants to prove that our faith is conditional, but God allows us to go through hardship so that our love for Him can be revealed as genuine. This does not mean that suffering is easy or that we should seek it, but it does mean that our trials have meaning in the great controversy.

God does not promise that the road will be smooth, but He does promise that He will walk with us. Isaiah 43:2 gives this assurance:

Isaiah 43:2 ESV

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

This is the lesson of Job. He did not understand why he suffered, but he remained faithful. His story reminds us that our suffering is not just about us—it is about the character of God being revealed in the universe.

A Call to Trust

We may not see the heavenly courtroom, but we know it exists. The battle that Job faced continues in our lives. The question remains: Will we trust God even when we don’t understand? Will we remain faithful even when the hedge of protection is removed?

Job’s story calls us to a deeper faith, one that does not depend on blessings but on the unchanging goodness of God. And just as Job’s faithfulness vindicated God’s justice, our trust in Him—even in suffering—brings glory to His name.

Job 1:21 ESV

…The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

May this be our testimony, no matter what trials come.

Heartwarming Story Before the Appeal: The Judge Who Took the Penalty

In a small town, a young man was caught speeding through a school zone. The law was clear—there was a fine to be paid. When he stood before the judge, he had no excuse.

The judge, known for his integrity, listened to the case. There was no doubt—the young man was guilty.

Then, something unexpected happened. The judge stepped down from the bench, took off his robe, and walked to the clerk’s desk. He took out his wallet and paid the fine himself.

Why? Because the guilty young man was his own son.

He didn’t dismiss the penalty—that would have been unjust. But he also didn’t abandon his son—that would have been unloving. Instead, he upheld the law while paying the price himself.

This is exactly what the great controversy is about. Satan accuses God of being unfair—either too strict or too lenient. But God’s justice and love work together in perfect harmony. In the cosmic courtroom, He does not ignore sin, but neither does He abandon His children. And in the end, He takes the penalty upon Himself.

Appeal: The Accuser vs. The Advocate

Right now, in the heavenly courtroom, Satan is still making accusations. Revelation 12:10 says that he accuses us day and night. He whispers doubts:

You’re not really forgiven.

God isn’t fair.

Your faith is just a transaction.

But while Satan accuses, Jesus defends. 1 John 2:1 calls Him our Advocate—the One who stands in our defense. The cross is the ultimate answer to the accusations of Satan.

Today, you have a choice:

Will you believe the voice of the accuser or the voice of the Advocate?

Will you trust that God is good, even when you don’t have all the answers?

The great controversy is not just a theological debate—it’s a personal battle in your heart. Satan wants to shake your trust in God. But Jesus is calling you to stand firm, to trust His justice, and to believe that He is worthy of your worship—not because of what He gives, but because of who He is.

If you want to say, “Lord, I trust You. I trust that You are good, and I will follow You, even when I don’t see the whole picture,” I invite you to commit today.

In the courtroom of heaven, may our testimony be clear: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)