Things You Need to Know… from the Book of Job
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Grow in Grace 2022
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Why Wisdom literature in the Bible?
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Practical wisdom, songs of worship, theology wrapped in the events of everyday living
A. Homologoumena ("one word") -- books accepted by everyone. These include all the books found in your Old Testament except Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Ezekiel, and Proverbs.
B. Antilegomena ("spoken against") -- these are the books just mentioned which were included in the canon of the Jews, but about which a question at some time had been raised. The questions seem to stem from interpreting these books in ways that put them at odds with the rest of the O.T.
1. Song of Solomon was questioned because some thought it too sensual. In other words, it seems to be primarily about SEX. Some have attempted to ignore this and interpret the book as ONLY a reference to Christ and the church, but on the surface at least, it seemed pretty racy!
2. Ecclesiastes was questioned because some thought it too pessimistic. Some even considered it a work of skepticism. Superficially, at least, it could be understood as an attempt to claim that life is meaningless. (Although I think that is a device that is used to show just the opposite!)
3. Esther was questioned because the name of God is not mentioned in it. (Though some think it is found there in acrostic form.)
4. Ezekiel was questioned because some thought it contradicted the Mosaic law, although specific examples were never supplied (to our knowledge, at least).
5. Proverbs was questioned because some thought it contradicted itself. The Talmud says, "The book of Proverbs also they sought to hide, because its words contradicted one to another." The specific reference here is to Proverbs 26:4-5 and the question of whether or not one should "answer a fool."
C. Pseudepigrapha ("false writings")
The Book of Job is one of the most inspiring, most misunderstood, most read, most dreaded, most Christ honoring, most believer discouraging books in the Bible. It is a mystery and a revelation all in one. Written possibly by Solomon but taking place during the time of Abraham, the Book of Job tells the story of a man who was rewarded for his great faith and God honoring life with suffering.
Job takes place outside of Israel in the southeast location of Uz (part of Edom). The author of Job is Hebrew and knows thoroughly the Hebrew Scriptures. The author may be unknown but could be Job or Moses or Solomon
The book of Job draws upon a wealth of knowledge and experiences, mentioning constellations, meteorology, sophisticated mining, plant life, animals such as ostriches, mountain goats, eagles, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and war horses.
The Book of Job looks at the natural world and uses nature to defend and explain moral truths.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
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 have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
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?”
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
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.
But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.
But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
The Book of Job reminds us that we can only grow in grace when we realize that Christ is the reason for that grace.
In other words,
The Book of Job shows us that the Christ centered, Christ focused life can endure the struggles of life
(1) A man centered approach to Job
How to endure suffering in your life - the godliness of Job
The man centered and sinful advice of Job’s friends
Bildad, Zophar, Eliphaz, Elihu
God is good, man is sinful, you must have done something wrong
Suffering is the result of sin
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Four problems with a man centered approach to the bible
What’s in it for me?
God exists to make me happy
God is bad if my life isn’t good
I am bad if my life isn’t good
(2) A God centered approach to Job
Job and his friends did not know about the conversation in heaven
You do not know what is happening in heaven
The sovereignty of God, the glory of God
Though he slay me, I will hope in him
When he has tried me I shall come out as gold
Unless you are completely surrendered to the sovereignty of God, unless you allow the perfect goodness of the Trinity to wash away your doubts, until you are able trust in the Father’s plan as part of his perfection, the Son’s suffering as part of our life in Christ and the Spirit’s constant companionship and not health, wealth or prosperity as the evidence of God’s love, you will struggle with doubts about his love for you and you will struggle with the temptation of thinking that you are somehow a second rate Christian.
(3) A Christ centered approach to Job
We are sinful, we are self centered
Christ is the only one who is perfectly righteous (Job was not perfect) and suffered
Jesus fully entrusted himself to the will of the Father (not my will but yours be done) Luke 22:42
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
Only Christ is the one who can redeem
Only Christ is the one who lives
Only Christ is the one who will return for us that we might be with him forever
In 2022 I need:
What do you need in 2022? What are you asking God to give you more of of?
What do you need in 20022?: You need Jesus