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lesson 15

 

JOB

 

I. BACKGROUND

 

       1. Author - unknown

       2. Date of Events - Patriarchal age, possibly 2200 - 1700 B.C.

 

       Date of Writing - unknown, though it could have been as late as the reign of  Solomon ( in tune with other poetic books)

 

       3. Setting - Job lived during a time when the family was the main institution and the father (patriarch) was the obvious head. 

          The Temple or the law of Moses are not mentioned in the book.  Job was a righteous man.  He was a historical person, not

          fictional:  Ezekiel 14:14;  James 5:11

 

II. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

       1. Key Verses:  1:21-22;  2:9-10;  16:18-19;  23:1-7;  42:1-6

       2 Theme:  Job suffered greatly even though he was innocent of wrong-doing (1:8). By talking with four friends, Job examined a

          principle that was held by all of them:  "Material prosperity follows the upright, but adversity comes upon the   evildoers." 

          Job came to the conclusion that the principle is false and that God is totally sovereign (the absolute power) and just.  God

          eventually upheld Job’s belief and blessed him for his great patience.  (42:7-17).

       3. Topics that are central to the book:

             1) The Justice and Sovereignty of God:

                    a.    God is in control:  1:1 - 2:13

                    b. God is judge:  21:22;  16:18-21

                    c. God is full of wisdom:  28:23-28

                    d. God is all powerful:  26:5-14;  38:1 - 42:6

                    e. therefore, who are we to question His actions and decisions?

             2) The Place of Suffering in the Way of Man

                    a. We are not appointed to physical possession, but rather to physical decline:  1:21;  1 Timothy 6:7;  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

                    b. God allows adversity and proserity to happen to all people: 2:10;  21:7-26;  Matthew 5:45;  Job 14:1-2

                    c.  God is righteous in his dealings with man:  23:10-13;  28:23-28;  42:1-6

             3) Wait for the revealing of God's way with patience:

                    a. Accept the good with the bad:  2:10

                    b. Realize that our Redeemer lives:  19:25-26

                    c. Commit your way to God who judges righteously:  31:35-40;   1 Peter 2:23;  4:19

                    d. All will work for good to those who love the Lord:  42:7-17; Romans 8:28

 

III.  ABOUT THE MESSIAH

          1. Job 19:25-26; indirect reference to the coming of the Lord

                 1) My Redeemer lives - Jesus is both our advocate and our saviour - 1 John 2:1;  Titus 3:6 - who redeemed us by His

                     blood - Titus 2:13-14; Ephesians 1:7;  Galatians 3:13

                 2) My redeemer lives - Jesus continues to live by God's power:  John 5:25-27 John 11:25-26;  1 Corinthians 15:20

                 3) "Then without my flesh shall I see God" - the resurrection:  1 Corinthians 15:20-23;  Colossians 1:12;  John 5:28029

 

IV.  APPLICATIONS - LESSONS

       1. God is our comforter (HOPE):  Romans 15:5;  13

             1) Job's wife gave bad and valueless advice:  2:9

             2) Job's friends did not have the right answers:  2:11-13;  16:1-5

             3) Even Job opposed himself in his thinking: 3:1-16;  40:1-5

             4) God is our only sure hope:  42:1-17;  1 Timothy 4:10

             5) Therefore, we should not completely rely on other people.

       2.    Earnestly Desiring to Stand Before God:  Psalm 42:1-2

             1) Confident in righteous living:  Job 23:10-12

             2) Confident in a righteous judge:  23:1-7

             3) Confident in a righteous reward:  19:25-29

             4) It is not necessary to understand everything completely to have this confidence:  42:1-6

 

JOB QUESTIONS

 

1. Multiple Choice:

             1)   The book of Job was written by:

                       a. Moses

                       b. Job

                       c. An unknown, inspired author

 

             2) The events recorded in the book probably occurred during:

                       a. The patriarchal age (possibly 2200 - 1700 B.C.)

                       b. Our present time

                       c. The reign of King David

  

             3) Job was:

                       a. A righteous man

                       b. A deceitful man

                       c.    Am impatient man

 

2. True or False

 

   ------------1) Job suffered greatly, but he was innocent of wrongdoing

   ------------2) "Material prosperity follows the upright, but adversity comes upon the evildoers."

   ------------3) God is totally sovereign and just

   ------------4) Job had four loyal and sympathetic friends

 

3. What did Job learn about God as he considered his own sufferings?

 

4. What one word did James (5:11) use to describe the character of Job?---------------

 

5. Which verses in Job indirectly refer to the coming of the Lord?  Explain.

 

6. Fill in the Blanks:

             1)   "Shall we receive good at the hand of ________________, and shall we not receive __________________?"  (2:10)

 

             2)   "As for me I know that my ___________________ lives."  (19:25)

 

             3)   "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is _________________; and to depart from evil is ___________________."  (28:28)

 

7. Name three (3) reasons in the book of Job that show we should not question God's actions and decisions:

 

             1)

             2)

             3)

 

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