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Motivated to Serve God: Job Chapter 1

Job Chapter 1

The first verse offers significant information about our main character. We see that he lived in Uz, which is east of the Jordan. The exact location of Uz is not specified and is debated amongst Bible scholars. The authors description starts with his character. He was blameless and upright; or perfect. This refers to the absence of certain observable sinful acts. Primarily, he was honest, faithful as a husband, generous, avoided idolatry, and a good father. This perfection is not the perfection in the theological NT sense. If he were perfect in this sense, he would not have to repent as he did at the end of the book. Elaborating on what Blameless and upright meant, the remainder of the verse tells us he “feared God” and “shunned evil.” Job knew there was a God and that He was far greater than he was. He reverenced and feared God so much that he stayed away from evil. He not only stayed away from evil or sinful things because he feared for his well being, but he did so because he honored God and reverenced God. He had wisdom and realized the importance of God in his life and in God’s relation to not only him, but the entire creation. Notice that the text does not include how he looked or his popularity, because ultimately in the grand scheme of things these things don’t matter. In the end its our character that we are measured by.

If our life could be summed up in one sentence, how would it read?

Fill in the blank: There was a _____ in the land of _____, whose name was _____; and that _____ was _____ and _____, and one who _____ and _____.

There is a man in the land of Wagram, whose name is Jonathan; and that man is imperfect and filled with shortcomings, and one who does his best to serve God and not sin.

Since Job possessed these characteristics, in turn he was very blessed. He had 7 sons and three daughters. Having more sons in those days showed favor. He had the perfect number as 7 is a number of completeness in the Bible. Also, 3 daughters is another number of completeness. Add them together and you get 10. Yet another number of completeness or importance.

He possessed more livestock than anyone around him. In some regards he had more than entire nations at this time. Sheep were used for clothing, camels for transporting and travel, oxen for farming, and donkeys for farming and travel. He was a business man of sorts and he had all the resources for a tremendous empire. He was the richest and wisest of all the people of the east.

He was also the spiritual leader of his family. After his children would hold their feasts in one of the brothers homes, Job would sanctify them and offer burnt offerings for each of them to God. He did so to exemplify the fullest reverence to God, not out of fear of punishment. He feared that they may have inwardly cursed God (not taken Him serious, pleased themselves instead of God).

BKC

His concern that they might have inwardly cursed God anticipates, ironically, Satan’s insinuation that Job would curse God (2:5).

Job is totally unaware of what is about to happen. He is at the center of a discussion in heaven and all he has is about to be given into the hands of Satan.

BKC

Satan’s going on the earth may also suggest his exercising dominion over it and its people. To walk on land often symbolized dominion over it (cf. ; ; ; ). Satan, of course, is “the god of this Age” (; cf. ) and “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” ().

God asks if Satan had considered His servant Job. God now describes Job the same way the author described him. His Character is seemingly flawless.

Pious definition is - marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship.

Satan can’t deny God’s assessment of Job’s godliness, so he attacks Job’s motives.

BKC

1:9–12. Satan responded by attacking Job’s motives: Does Job fear God for nothing? “For nothing” (ḥinnām) is rendered “without any reason” in 2:3 (see comments there). Because Satan could not deny God’s assessment of Job’s godliness, he questioned why Job was pious. The accuser suggested that Job was serving God not out of love but only because of what he got from God in return. If Job’s rewards were removed, out would go his reverence.

CCEPONTVIII:JI

CCEPONTVIII:JI

Satan. The tradition was widely spread that he had been the agent in Adam’s temptation. Hence his name is given without comment. The feeling with which he looks on Job is similar to that with which he looked on Adam in Paradise: emboldened by his success in the case of one not yet fallen, he is confident that the piety of Job, one of a fallen race, will not stand the test.

BKC

Satan’s subtle suggestion that worship is basically selfish hits at the heart of man’s relationship to God. The Book of Job does more than raise the question of the suffering of the righteous. It also, through Satan’s words, deals with the motives for godly living. Will anyone serve the Lord if he enjoys no personal gain from it? Is worship a coin that buys a heavenly reward? Is piety part of a contract by which to gain wealth and ward off trouble?

BKC

Job, Satan claimed, would no longer insert his coins of worship if nothing came out of the machine. Job, in other words, was worshiping for selfish reasons. This accusation also attacked the integrity of God, for it suggested that the only way He can get people to worship Him is to promise them wealth. Perhaps this indictment against His character is one of the reasons God let Satan buffet Job.

BKC

The assaults were alternately caused by human and “natural” forces: a Sabean attack (v. 15), “the fire of God” (v. 16), a Chaldean raid (v. 17), a great desert wind (v. 19). God permitted Satan to move both kinds of causes to accomplish his purposes—and to do so in rapid, precise timing.

BKC

In a few minutes, Job had plummeted from wealth and prosperity to grief and pauperism. Would he also plummet from loyalty to God to disloyalty?

BKC

Recognizing God’s sovereign rights (The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away), Job praised the Lord. It is truly remarkable that Job followed adversity with adoration, woe with worship.

The assaults were alternately caused by human and “natural” forces: a Sabean attack (v. 15), “the fire of God” (v. 16), a Chaldean raid (v. 17), a great desert wind (v. 19). God permitted Satan to move both kinds of causes to accomplish his purposes—and to do so in rapid, precise timing.