ESSENTIAL BOOKS 2 of 5

Job 1:8; 2:3

Key Verse: 2:3

Key Chapter: 42

42 chapters; 1,070 verses; 18,098 words

Grade level: 2.5

Theme: Why God’s People Suffer

Author: The Holy Spirit of God by inspiration (2 Tim 3:15) through either Moses or Job

Date Written: uncertain, but is pre-Genesis

Purpose:

To address the question of why innocent people suffer.

To promote faith and trust in God, whose ways are higher than those of humankind (Job 42:1-5; see Isaiah 55:9).

Comparison to other books:

Genesis:

Job's description of earth's early history (Job 38:4-11) provides a complementary parallel to Genesis 1.

Both use the Hebrew expression for "sons of God" (2; Genesis 6).

The ancient patriarchal name for God, El Shaddai ("the Almighty"), occurs in Genesis and Job more than in any other biblical books.

Ecclesiastes:

Job explores the meaning of suffering; Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life.

Outline:

I. Job before the Trouble. 1:1-5

II. Job In The Trouble. 1:6-41:34

III. Job After The Trouble. ch.42

Christ in Job:

Job acknowledges a Redeemer

Job 19:25–27 (KJV 1900)

For I know that my redeemer liveth,

And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

Yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself,

And mine eyes shall behold, and not another;

Though my reins be consumed within me.

Cries out for a Mediator

Job 9:33 (KJV 1900)

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,

That might lay his hand upon us both.

Job 25:4 (KJV 1900)

How then can man be justified with God?

Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Job 33:23 (KJV 1900)

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter,

One among a thousand,

To shew unto man his uprightness:

The book raises problems and questions which are answered perfectly in Christ who identifies with our sufferings

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV 1900)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ is the believer’s Life, Redeemer, Mediator, and Advocate.

Scientific Fact or Principle Bible reference Date of discovery by man

There is a place void of

stars in the North. Job 26:7 19th Century

Earth is held in place by

invisible forces. Job 26:7 1650

Radio astronomy

(stars give off signals). Job 38:7 1945

Oceans contain fresh

water springs. Job 38:16 1920

Snow has material

value. Job 38:22 1905, 1966

Air has weight. Job 28:25 16th Century

Light can be split up

into component colors. Job 38:24 1650

Plants use sunlight to

manufacture food. Job 8:16 1920

Arcturus and other stars

move through space. Job 38:32 19th Century

Lightning and thunder

are related. Job 38:25 19th Century

How To Pray For Your Friends

Job 42:10 KJV 1900

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Trouble can show up whether you live right or not.

Job 3:26 (KJV 1900)

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet;

Yet trouble came.

Be careful how you say, “They did wrong so God got them.”

Job 2:11 (KJV 1900)

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Say what you will his friends did show up!

Eliphaz the Temanite.

Bildad the Shuhite.

Zophar the Naamathite.

Philippians 1:4-6

I. Pray with Joy. v.4

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

II. Pray in Thankfulness. v.5

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

III. Pray for God’s Work in your Friend. v.6

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: