Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?’
The book of Job speaks to man’s relationship with the Divine. It affirms God’s intent and promise that man find dominion in the Divine. It affirms that holiness is required of man. It contrasts
natural humanity against supernatural Creator. It affirms Job as clay in the Potter’s hand.
As Job encounters God in chapters 38-41, he acknowledges his full humanity and fallen nature before God. In the presence of God, Job’s broken and contrite spirit cries, ‘Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42.6). But in the darkness and desolation of horrific affliction…separated from God, Job asked, ‘‘Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?’ God who knows all things knew the heart of the perfect and upright Job. Thus, God ends the captivity of Job and demands blood be shed to cover the sins of the three elder accusers. (Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, Job 42:7 ‘My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath’). But the younger accuser, Elihu, is not mentioned. Did God not hold babe Elihu accountable? I don’t know. But beautiful is the end of Job’s suffering when God exalts Job and involves him in the forgiveness process of his tormentors. (Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job’).
God often puts thoughts of Job in my heart. I consider the time in which he lived. I consider the simple faith he lived by. I consider the fellowship Job had with God. I consider the full trust Job had in God. And I consider the resulting awe with which Job reverenced God and all His creation! Job was the type of
man whom our doctrines and traditions say does not exist….a man following God through relationship…through faithful obedience…a perfect and upright man.
Through fellowship with God, Job’s heart of Love was a keeper of the Great Commandment though he had no printed Bible. God’s Law was written in Job’s heart ((Matt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself). The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world was in Job’s heart as witnessed by the following scripture testifying to Job’s love for fellow man…to his charity to the poor…to his servitude.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Job’s relationship with God, like that of others, (Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Jonah) was the type spoken of by Christ as he communed with Peter about the foundation on which His church would be built….fellowship and communion with the Divine. …relationship! God revealed Christ to Peter. Christ acknowledged oneness with Peter because of the Divine fellowship with the Father. And the three were one (John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me).
Job believed God and worked the righteousness of God through obedience and servitude. Because of Job’s work of faith (obedience), God judged him perfect and upright. Faith will result in actions/deeds/fruits born of fellowship with the Divine. ( Ja 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?).
Jonah trusted God for deliverance from the belly of hell (…., I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. Jonah 2:2). Job, too, trusted God for deliverance from the pit of death…from the pit of humanity (Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.’ ) .
The Book of Job is one of the most gut wrenching texts in scripture. It’s verbal descriptions allow one to wallow in death with Job… to feel the desolation of Job’s soul as his flesh rots and falls from his body…to feel the anguish of pure suffering ….to feel the rejection and judgement from friends in ones darkest hour…to know the pain of losing every possession in life including family…to be stripped of all things human…and be brought to the end of self with hope only in God.
Job’s suffering is not even close to that of Christ who suffered the desolate horror of Second Death as Redeemer of those who accept His gift of Life. But it surely is a type and points in the smallest of ways to the incomprehensible desolation suffered by the innocent Christ who when separated from the Father was left to say “…… My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matt 27:46.’ God uses the natural circumstance of man to show spiritual truths!!
Like Job, Jonah found himself with nothing left…but hope in God. Jonah said, ‘Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. Jonah 2:4. Jonah’s death, burial, and resurrection by the purpose and permission of God is another type that glimpses the horror of being separated from God….and afterwards being resurrected/restored to Life. Christ used Jonah’s experience as a type of His own fleshly encounter with Death (Matt 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth). Job’s suffering, too, shows us the gut-wrenching pain of suffering and the gut-wrenching joy of resurrection….of moving from death to Life.
In the early days of Job’s sorrows, he defended himself against the wife and friends whose fiery ‘set on fire of hell’ tongues judged him as sinner and, thus, deserving of extreme suffering. And as God separated His divine protection from Job and as Satan’s arrows pierced more deeply by the mouths of his friends and accusers, Job was forsaken. Yet in the desolate place without understanding, Job knew who was at the control panel…knew he was clay in the potter’s hand. Job 7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.’ And Job’s suffering was increased by persecution from those who should have comforted and sustained him…his wife and friends.
One of the sharpest arrows was hurled from young accuser, Elihu, whose self-righteous indignation was aroused when the elder accusers left off punishing Job with words. Elihu says, 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.’ Oh my! Wow! Job is fully suffering the torment of Satan. And Elihu desires it to continue???? Wow! Where is the compassion? Where are the prayers for deliverance? Where is the loving neighbor as self?? Wow! Elihu chooses to torture Job with words!!! As I read the many words of Elihu recorded in Job chapters 34-37, I am amazed at the level of affliction Elihu is pouring on Job with accusation and cursing…in the the name of God (Ja 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God).
Elihu actually believes he is God’s representative. But in his deception he casts forth rantings and railings, not against a guilty man, but against Job who is perfect and upright before God. Elihu’s judgement of Job does nothing but earn his own judgement from God. Mt 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Have I been guilty of the same??? Ever??? Probably!! How often do we speak words without knowledge??? (Matt 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned).
Elihu’s affliction of Job is stopped when God revisits Job and judges Elihu’s audacity in speaking for God, ‘Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? The Godly reprimand continues through chapters 38-39. Chapter 40 begins with God asking Job concerning Elihu, ‘Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.‘ And Job who knows his ‘as dirty rags’ place before God knows there is nothing God needs to know from him. Job knows God’s words are jugement!!! Thus Job answers, Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.’ As Job lies helpless before God, chapters 40 and 41 records words of God as He affirms creation, good over evil, and affirms the lordship of Potter over clay…God over Mammon. Job’s response was that of a righteous man. The wicked curse God because of suffering. But righteous and upright Job lay limp, weak, broken, quiet, submissive and awestruck in His presence.
The last chapter of Job is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!! In it Job communes with God in contrition and gratitude. Job is restored and finds greater favor than before. The three elder accusers are offered forgiveness. But young Elihu is not included. Job 42: 7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job’. Only God knows. Only God is Judge! And one question remains. How does God see me???? Do I speak words without wisdom? Do my words increase suffering? Do I dare to have the audacity to speak for God??? Does God see me as He saw Job, ‘ a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?’
Religious doctrine and tradition gives me permission to serve mammon and God. And I have followed doctrine and tradition. But in the past year, God has convicted my heart about the seriousness of Christianity, of righteousness, of holiness…of following the Shepherd…of knowing His voice. I believe I am no different to generations before me who chose to obey or disobey. I believe the fruit of belief is obedience. I believe the fruit of obedience is righteousness. I believe loving God with heart, soul, mind, and neighbor as self is possible only in and through relationship and communion with Christ.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.’
Sadly, the Book of Job has been forgotten almost today! But here is a “theology” (if you will) of God’s certain sovereignty and providence!
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Job is a fastinating book. –> Last week I researched the word “whirlwind” that is in the scriptures of Job. I found that the word whirlwind is in the Bible many times and it also has different definitions. The only way to know it’s true meaning each time it is used is to read the verses that are before and/or after that word is used. Therefore, Job chapter 37 discribes the meaning of “whirlwind” which is in (Job 38:1).
–> Job had to live after the Flood (of Noah) because before the Flood it never rained and rain storms are described in (Job 37).
–> All lightening strikes go only and exactly where God directs (Job36:32).
–> Thunder is God’s voice we hear but we do not understand (Job 37:4).
–> The reasons for the floods these days (Job 37:13).
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Thanks for visiting, Bobby1968. Yes…Job contains a lot of divinely geological info. Beautiful. And you are correct that ‘whirlwind’ has different meanings in various contexts. Again, nice hearing from you.
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