Bible in one year 7/24/2022 the book of Job introduction & chapter 1
By Rev. Katherine Liu
Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music;
Pastoral ministry & Counseling
Introduction to the book of Job
Author : uncertain Date:
uncertain
Author Though we know the title of
the book from its principal, and that Job was an historical person
(Ezek.14:14,20;James5:11), we do not know for certain who actually wrote the
book. Suggestions include Job himself, Elihu, Moses, and Solomon.
Date That date of the events in
the book and the date of the writing of the book are two different matters. The
events may have taken place in a patriarchal society in the second millennium
B.C., around the time of Abraham. Several facts support this dating: (1) Job
lived more than 140 years (42:16), a not uncommon lifespan during the
patriarchal period; (2) the economy of Job’s day, in which wealth was measured
in terms of livestock (1:3), was the type that existed in this period;(3) like
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Job was the priest of his family (1:5); (4) the
absence of any reference to the nation Israel or the Mosaic law suggests a
pre-Mosaic date (before1500 B.C.)
Three principal views exist concerning the
date of writing: (1) in the patriarchal age, shortly after the events
happened; (2) in the time of Solomon (950 B.C.); (3) at the time of the Exile
or after, though the mention of Job by Ezekiel (Ezek.14:4) negates such a late
date. The detailed report of the speeches of Job and his friends seems to argue
for the book’s being written shortly after the events occurred. On the other
hand, the book shares characteristics of other wisdom literature (Ps.88,89)
written during the Solomonic age, and should be regarded as a dramatic poem
describing real events, rather than a verbatim report.
Theme The book wrestles with the age-old question:
Why do righteous men suffer, if God is a God of love and mercy? It clearly
teaches the sovereignty of God and the need for man to acknowledge such. Job’s
three friends gave essentially the same answer: all suffering is due to sin.
Elihu, however, declared that suffering is often the means of purifying the
righteous. God’s purpose, therefore, was to strip away all of Job’s
self-righteousness and to bring him to the place of complete trust in Him.
Contents The book gives important insight into the
work of Satan (1:6-2:10). The best known verses in the book are 1: 21; 19:25-26
Chapter 1 The disasters of Job
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man
was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons
and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels,
five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of
servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. (vv.1-3).
The land of Uz. Job lived in the area to the SE of the
Dead Sea. In Lam.4:21 Uz is referred to as the same territory as Edom. This
area was also identified with Uz by Ptolemy, a Greek general under Alexander
the Great, in the third century B.C. Job. The meaning of Job’s name “
the one who turns back to God” or “ the assailed or persecuted one.” Blameless. Job was not perfect in the sense of being sinless. The
Bible teaches (and experience supports the fact) that every person falls short
of God’s standard of perfection (Rom.3:23). The writer is asserting here that
Job could not be justly charged with any moral failure by his fellow men. From
the human point of view he was without blame.
The greatest man among all the people of the East(v.3). Job’s greatness
consisted in his moral and spiritual qualities(v.1) as well as his wealth
(v.3).
His son used to take turns holding feasts in their homes,
and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a
period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified.
Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them,
thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”
This was Job’s regular custom. (vv.4-5).
Job’s calamities -Satan’s proposal
One day the angels came to
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord
said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From
roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (v.7)
Satan. It is clear from this passage that Satan is a person, not just an
evil influence. (1) He conversed with the Lord, which requires intellect. (2)
He was antagonistic toward Job (vv.9-110, showing that he has emotions. (3) He
purposed to destroy Job and disgrace God (1:11;2:4-5,7), thus demonstrating
Satan has a will. Satan’s activities, however, are limited by the sovereign
control of God (1:12;2:6). Consistently, throughout Scripture Satan is
presented as both a real person and a spirit being. His name means “adversary”
characterizing his basic nature, which is to oppose God’s person, His plan and
His people.
Through the earth. Satan had access to the
earth and freedom to roam around on it. He still has this freedom and will
continue to exercise it until he is bound for a thousand years during the
Millennium (Rev.20:2) and then cast into the lake of fire forever (Matt.25:41).
Then the Lord said to Satan, “ Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like
him; he is blameless and upright,
a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (v.8).
“ Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “ Have you
not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have
blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread
throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and
he will surely curse you to your face.” (vv.10-11).
God’s permission to test Job’s heart
The Lord said to
Satan. “ Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man
himself do not lay a finger.” (v.12)
Then
Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. One day when Job’s sons and
daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a
messenger came to Job and said, “ The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were
grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the
servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
(vv.13-15).
While he was still speaking,, anther
messenger came and said, “ The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the
sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
(v.16).
While he was still speaking, “The
Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and
carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who
has escaped to tell you.”(v.17).
While he was still speaking, yet
another messenger came and said, “ Your sons and daughters were feasting and
drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept
in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on
them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.”(vv.18-19).
.jpg)
Job tore his robe and shaved his head.(v.20). Expressions of grief common
at this time. grief and worship can often accompany one another. Satan’s first
attack was against Job’s possessions. It was designed to expose Job’s true
motives for serving God, which Satan contended were selfish. This test took
place only after God gave Satan permission to try Job. Job recognized God’s
hand in his affairs and evidenced a proper attitude toward his possessions.
They were a gracious gift from God, not things he had earned and therefore had
a right to keep.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
No comments:
Post a Comment