Sermon Tone Analysis

Prayer

Last week we saw the opening and overview of the book of Job.

Today is entitled, “When All Hell Breaks Loose - Learning to Kiss the Wave”

“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

Even when all hell breaks loose, trusting Christ allows us to kiss the wave that throws us against the Rock of Ages.

These next sections can be best understood like shifting scenes in a play.

Two of these scenes, were not available to Job

but we get to see in behind the curtain for a moment into the throne room of heaven.

In the first scene, there is some kind of assembly before God.

Scene 1

“God Hands Job Over to Satan”

How the World is Governed

Now the expression, “the sons of God”, have been understood in other places as celestial beings or angels throughout the Old Testament.

The ESV translates “sons of God” is translated in other versions as “angels”

Picture if you will a President gathering his chief’s of staff.

He is gathering those who will receive their orders and to hear back from them on their progress.

This should be the picture we have in verse 6.

The Bible speaks in such a way for us to understand what is happening.

This should not be taken as though God has a big “Oval Office” in the sky

Rather it gives us language to understand the scene.

These beings in the presence of God are all created and subject to the Sovereign Lord over all.

The expression, “to present themselves” means for someone

“to attend a meeting to which one is summoned”

Or “to come before a superior ready to do his will.”

The last phrase there, “came among them” reveals an interesting character.

A figure which here is presented with a title; “the Satan”

“the accuser”

“the adversary”

A figure that we will later begin to refer to as Satan.

But here his is referred to by his actions.

He acts as one who comes to prosecute, or present evidence of impure motives.

He seeks to lay before the Lord accusations of people on the earth.

Now the natural question is, why is Satan listed among these heavenly beings?

Now depending on the way a person understands the world will shape the way they understand Satan’s role in it.

Different world views answer this question differently…

Polytheism

“Ying and Yang”

Poly is the prefix for the word many

Theism is the suffix for God

It’s simply saying “Many Gods”

And a view of the world in this way just sees a bunch of deities striving with one another.

This view of the world sees God and the Satan as equally striving for power and influence in the world.

This view is posited by Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Monism

“Circle of Life”

This view would see that the ONLY supernatural power is God and everything else is derived from him.

It is a view which sees everything as a big “Circle of Life”

This view sees everything as a little part of God.

But both of these “ism” extremes do not hold a clear picture of God and His ways.

Bible’s Portrait

“Sovereign and Governmental”

A more biblical picture is of the God who stands uniquely and sovereignly over all things.

Outside of His created order.

And yet simultaneously interacts with his created order.

The Bible portrays for us a world that lies under the absolute supremacy and sovereignty of the Creator, who has no rivals, who is unique, such that there is no god like him.

And yet he does not govern the world as the sole supernatural power.

He governs the world by the means of and through the agency of a multiplicity of supernatural powers, some of whom are evil.

One commentator helpfully pointed out a concept that is seen in British governance.

In British government they have something called, “Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition”

Which is something we would describe as the “devils advocate”

When someone plays the devil’s advocate, they are taking a contrary position.

They oppose the government, but they do so in ultimate and unquestioned subservience to the Crown.

Their opposition is a necessary and good part of British governance.

They in themselves are devoted to trying to bring the government down; and yet in spite of themselves their opposition serves a purpose in making the government better than it would be in the absence of opposition (as tyrannies attest)

This is a helpful understanding because it places Satan in his proper place within God’s government over the world.

Satan is opposed to God and all His purposes yet, God rule over all of His activity.

Primary Causes

“Sovereign”

What do we mean by primary causes?

The Bible teaches that God is the primary cause of every event in the happenings of the world.

He is infinitely all-powerful over every situation that exists.

Nothing will come to pass in this world apart from His Sovereign Will over it

So that means what we see happening here is God allowing something.

He is giving permission, not surrendering his throne.

Satan has no ability to touch Job apart from the Sovereign One’s oversight and permission.

God is the ONE

who sets the limits

who sets what will and WON’T be done

Secondary Causes

“Governmental”

What do we mean by secondary causes?

Secondary causes are the other actors in God's world who operate according to his sovereignty but are responsible for their own actions.

God oversees the world as the sovereign first cause of all that happens and is never charged with wrongdoing.

Secondary causes, such as sinful people and demons, are the ones who are held responsible for the evil in the world.

God is never the ONE who is held responsible.

“He [the Satan] cannot touch a hair upon the back of a single camel that belongs to Job, until he has Divine permission.”

The Satan does what he is told, no more and no less.

This is important because Satan has NO ability to touch Job outside of God’s providential hand.

Under God’s perfect sovereignty over all, God has granted or allowed Satan to harm Job’s life.

Now that you have this in your mind, lets look at a situation played out...

Job 1:7 (ESV)

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

Notice something from these next phrases, the Lord begins by asking Satan where he has come from.

Basically we are catching a glimpse of the Sovereign LORD of all asking for a status report from His adversary.

God is NOT confused to Satan’s whereabouts.

Just like he was NOT confused where Adam was in the garden.

He is asking a question with his face toward Satan and with one eye winking toward us.

He desires we see what is about to come

Listen to the way Satan replies...

Satan is asserting here that he has come from dominating and destroying things on the earth.