Bible Study PH

Job 1

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Keynote
Study Guide (HL)
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Introduction

  • 1st – Poetic books…
  • 1st – Our desire to is to teach through the whole Bible…
    • Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
      • Rather than coming to the Bible with a topic – we just teach through the Bible…
      • Because of TWO main benefits to verse-by-verse teaching!
    • We get the whole counsel of God…
      • If we only teach certain passages – or certain books – we miss out…
      • We will tend to teach on certain topics we LIKE and overlook ones we DISLIKE…
      • When was the last time you heard a teaching from Obadiah or Habakkuk!
      • But every part of the Bible is inspired Word – all of it is necessary…
      • By teaching through the whole Bible – book by book – chapter by chapter…
      • We learn ALL of the Word – focus on the topics God deems important!
    • We learn the Bible in context…
      • One of the most common ways to teach the Bible is by picking out a few verses…
      • The danger of doing that is you do NOT know the CONTEXT of those verses…
      • It is easy to change the meaning of a single verse when taken out of CONTEXT!
  • 2nd – Styles of Writing…
    • We know the Bible is broken up into TWO main sections – OT / NT…
      • But the Bible is further divided by STYLES of writing…
      • FOUR main styles of writing in the Bible: History / Poetry / Prophecy / Doctrine…
      • The OT and NT are not organized Chronologically – they are laid out by these styles!
    • There are SIX poetic books in the Bible – all in the OT…
      • Job / Psalms / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes / Song of Solomon / Lamentations…
      • Poetry does not tell a STORY – or tell us what to DO – it shares the EMOTION of the Bible!
      • The Bible is not a textbook – God is not only interested in telling us about Him…
      • Books of poetry speak to our EMOTION – stimulate our imagination!
  • 2nd – Who wrote the book of Job…
  • Ultimately inspired by the Holy Spirit – the written Word of God – II Timothy 3:16
  • As for the human author – we are NOT sure…
  • The Jewish Talmud says that Moses was the one who wrote the book – but no verification…
  • The book is quoted TWICE in the NT – Romans 11:35 / I Corinthians 3:19
  • We do know Job was a REAL person – Ezekiel 14:14 / James 5:11
  • 3rd – Theme of the book…
  • There are TWO main THEMES in the Book of Job…
  • 1st – BAD things happen to GOOD people…
    • Job was a VERY good man – but he lost EVERYTHING – his wealth / his family / his health…
    • One might question why God would let such hardships come on someone He loves…
    • Before the trials Job only knew about God – after He saw God with his own eyes!
    • Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
    • We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
    • But the truth is God lets bad things happen to good people – those whom He LOVES…
    • Because it is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!
    • Hebrews 12:6 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son He receives…”
  • 2nd – Bad things are NOT always a result of sin…
    • Though we will see the THREE friends of Job try and convince him otherwise…
      • They believed the ONLY reason BAD things happened – was because of BAD choices…
      • Job did NOTHING wrong – we will see this from the perspective of HEAVEN in Chapters 1-2!
    • Jesus Disciples had the same assumption…
      • They saw a man who was born blind…
      • John 9:2 – “His disciples asked Him, saying, “[Jesus], who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
      • They were not suggesting the man had sinned before he was even born…
      • The idea is God knew the sins the man would commit – so punished him beforehand!
      • This is a hard question – why are some babies born with defects / or miscarried…
      • It is true that BEFORE sin came into the world there was no pain and sickness…
      • And that sin is the ROOT cause of all suffering and disease – Genesis 3
      • It does NOT mean that God punishes babies for the sins they might one day commit…
      • What it does mean is that God has a plan that we do NOT always understand…
      • A plan that is not focused on this life – but on ETERNAL life with God in heaven!
    • Jesus told his disciples – so the power of God could be seen…
      • Too often we limit God with our options – assuming God has to use our choices…
      • We often assume BAD things only happen because of SIN – you get what you deserve…
      • But the truth is God lets BAD things happen to innocent people…
      • Because God has plans – we would never have imagined – His ways are not our ways…
      • When we assume God is limited to our options – we will either be confused…
      • Or we will miss out on the work that God is trying to do in our lives!
      • Isaiah 55:8-9 – “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways…”
  • 4th – Location of Job…
  • Job 1:1 – tells us this all takes place in the land of Uz…
  • Uz – [עוּץ]8x in OT – means a wooded place…
  • First mentioned in Genesis 10:23 – Uz was the grandson of Shem (son of Noah) …
  • But other than that we do NOT know where Uz is located!
  • On a funny side note – if you watch the Wizard of Oz in Hebrew – it is called the Land of Uz!
  • 5th – when Job written…
  • We are NOT sure – but this may be the OLDEST book of the Bible…
  • Some believe Jobab – is another name of Job – Genesis 10:29
  • Also Job lived to be 140 years old – Job 42:16
  • The length of his life seems to correspond to the lives of men just AFTER the flood… 
  • That would make Job a contemporary of Father Abraham!
  • 6th – Why was Job written…
    • When we put our FAITH in the Lord – we can overcome ANY trial!
    • We are ALL going to go through hard times in our lives…
    • The question becomes what our FOUNDATION is – where we have put our FAITH…
    • Matthew 7:24 – “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…”
    • Storms come quite unexpectedly – giving us no time to prepare…
    • The only hope we have is that we have built our life on a solid foundation!
    • Then if we lose EVERYTHING – we know God provides for us…
    • Or if we get SICK – the doctor gives us bad news – we know the Great Physician…
    • Not matter what life throws at us – we have nothing to fear – Romans 8:28
  • 7th – Outline of Job…
    • 42 chapters / 1070 verses – in the book of Job
    • Outline – we will TRY and cover 1-4 chapters each week…

1. Chapters 1-2 – A conversation in Heaven…

2. Chapters 3-37 – The wisdom of men…

3. Chapters 38-42 – The wisdom of God!

Losing everything… (4 points)

  • 1st – About Job… vs. 1-5
    • 1st – Hated was his name… vs. 1
      • The name JOB [אִיּוֹב] – mean HATED – the Hebrew literally reads – HATED was his name…
        • Now the question becomes – who he was HATED by…
        • At first glance we might assume God did NOT like him much…
        • As we will see – God allowed VERY BAD things to happen to Job!
        • But Job was NOT the enemy of God – he was HATED by Satan – because Job was…
      • BLAMELESS and UPRIGHT – he lived a GOOD life – as a MAN [emphasized in Hebrew] …
        • He FEARED [adjective] God – meaning it was his character to reverence God…
        • He stayed away [participle] from EVIL – he always did his best to avoid sin!
        • Although it is worth NOTING – the word GOD is the generic term [אֱלֹהִים] …
        • Job will NOT use the personal name for God [יְהוָה] until after he is TESTED!
      • To be a FRIEND of God…
        • John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
        • Those who live a GOOD life – are HATED by our enemy…
        • We need to know – when we live for Jesus – we are a TARGET!
        • Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
        • And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of…
        • He wants to try and discourage – get us to walk away from Jesus!
    • 2nd – Absent Father… vs. 2 / 4-5
      • Job had SEVEN sons and THREE daughters…
        • The sons would take turns preparing a FEAST at their homes – and invite their sisters
        • FEAST – [מִשְׁתֶּה] – from a root word that means to DRINK or get DRUNK…
        • The suggestion is that his children liked to PARTY!
        • Reinforced by the statement – vs. 5 – the PARTIES could last for DAYS!
      • Job would PURIFY his children…
        • PURIFY – [קָדַשׁ] [piel] – he would offer BURNT offerings for each child…
        • PERHAPS – they had been drunk – and cursed God in their hearts…
        • It is UNFORTUNATE that Job tried to save his kids by offering sacrifices for them…
        • Rather than teaching them to know and love the God who could SAVE them!
        • I know a lot of parents who SACRIFICE for their kids – to give them the BEST in this life…
        • But they miss the greatest GIFT they can give them – to KNOW Jesus!
    • 3rd – Greatest man… vs. 3
      • Job was RICH – he had a LOT of animals…
      • 7000 sheep / 3000 camels / 500 teams of oxen / 500 donkeys…
      • The richest [גָּדוֹל] / GREATEST man in the east – in human terms [emphasized in the Hebrew]
      • But as we are about to see – money is NOT something we should put our trust in…
      • Money can disappear as quickly as it comes – only the Lord is an unchanging ROCK!
      • Proverbs 11:28 – “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.”
  • 2nd – The question… vs. 6-12
    • 1st – Sons of God… vs. 6-7
      • The Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord…
        • SONS of God [בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים] – a term used exclusively to describe ANGELS…
        • Only used in Job 1:6 / 2:1 / 38:7 – and in Genesis 6:2-4
        • Included with them was SATAN [הַשָּׂטָן] – THE ACCUSER!
        • SATAN [שָּׂטָן] – only used 14x in OT to describe our ENEMY – 11x in the book of Job!
      • Who is SATAN…
        • The impression most have of satan is a red horned – pitchfork wielding – ugly monster..
        • But that description actually comes from the Greek God Pan – god of the underworld…
        • Likely satan spread this description of himself – so people would not recognize him!
        • Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty…
        • Ezekiel 28:12 – “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…”
        • Paul would go on to say that satan can appear as an Angel of light – II Corinthians 11:14
        • It is possible he was even the worship leader in heaven – for a short time – Ezekiel 28:13
      • When LUCIFER – rebelled against God – Isaiah 14:12-14
        • 1/3 of all the angels [stars] rebelled along with satan against God – Revelation 12:4
        • How many angels are there – we do not know – but innumerable – Hebrews 12:22
        • As a result – God cast them out of heaven – they were banished to the earth!
        • Luke 10:18 – “[Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven…”
        • He and the angels that followed him suffered quick reprisal for rebelling against God…
        • Satan is not the equal of God – God has no equal – God has absolute power over satan!
      • Apparently – SATAN is allowed to come back and VISIT…
        • God asked SATAN – where did you come from…
        • His answer – I have been patrolling the earth – watching everything that is going on…
        • He was watching – and looking – for opportunities to ACCUSE us!
        • Satan is our adversary – like a roaring lion he seeks to devour us – I Peter 5:8
        • Satan is accusing us – wants to see us condemned to hell – Revelation 12:10
        • He has all the evidence he needs – all our sins – long list of failures…
        • But Jesus STANDS up for us – comes to our DEFENSE – He points out a simple fact…
        • All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are found NOT guilty!
        • Colossians 2:13-16 – “Having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
    • 2nd – Wall of protection … vs. 8-10
      • The Lord asked SATAN – have you NOTICED my servant Job…
        • NOTICED [שׂוּם] – question – have you laid your hands violently on Job yet…
        • Because – he is the finest man in all the earth – blameless – a man of complete integrity…
        • He FEARS God [אֱלֹהִים] and stays away from evil!
        • In other words – God knew that Job had a TARGET on his back!
      • Job has good reason to FEAR the Lord – it benefited him…
        • SATAN pointed out God had put a WALL of protection around Job…
        • WALL [verb] – God WALLED job in on EVERY side – SATAN could NOT touch him!
        • The result was God BLESSED [piel] everything Job touched – made him VERY wealthy!
        • This answers a VERY important question – can SATAN get to us / harm us…
        • The AMAZING answer is NO – He is NOT allowed to TOUCH us…
        • Because God is for us – our enemy does NOT stand a chance – Romans 8:31
        • Because Jesus is in us – NO one can harm us – I John 4:4 / Isaiah 54:17
    • 3rd – The test… vs. 11-12
      • Take away EVERYTHING he has [imperative] – and he will surely curse you to your face…
        • The TEST satan demanded – was to prove the MOTIVE of the loyalty of Job…
        • Job was NOT a GOOD person – he just followed God for the benefits…
        • If God took away the BLESSING – Job would immediately CURSE God!
      • You may TEST him…
        • Satan was allowed to do ANYTHING [put his hand] to EVERYTHING Job POSSESSED…
        • But Satan could NOT harm Job physically – that would be for another day!
        • Do NOT miss this – NOTHING could happen to Job – ACCEPT what God allowed…
        • Meaning EVERYTHING that happens to us – must first filter through the fingers of God!
        • There are NO accidents – nothing happens by chance – God is SOVEREIGN over it all…
        • We might want to BLAME satan – get upset with people around us…
        • But the truth is the only way anything gets to us – is by PERMISSION from the Lord!
  • 3rd – Losing everything… vs. 13-19
    • 1st – Loss of wealth… vs. 14-17
      • Satan did not waste any time…
        • A messenger arrived at the house of Job with BAD news…
        • The SABEANS [שְׁבָא] – stole all his oxen and donkeys – killing his farmhands [servants] …
        • This Job could have blamed on MEN – wicked men who did NOT know the Lord!
      • A SECOND messenger came while the first was STILL speaking…
        • FIRE from HEAVEN fell and burnt up all the sheep and all the shepherds…
        • This Job could NOT blame on MEN – this appeared to be from GOD [heaven]!
      • A THIRD messenger came while the second was STILL speaking…
        • Three bands of CHALDEANS [כַּשְׂדִּים] came and stole all the camels – killed his servants!
        • In a matter of moments – Job lost EVERYTHING – all his riches were GONE!
        • It came in a variety of ways – but it was all from ONE source – SATAN!
        • Ephesians 6:12 – “We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world.”[NLT]
        • So often in life we miss who the real ENEMY is – we get caught up looking at the people…
        • But they are just puppets – being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
        • The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
        • Taking on the real problem by breaking out the big guns – prayer and the word!
        • II Corinthians 10:3-5 – “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…”
    • 2nd – Loss of family… vs. 13 / 18-19
      • A FOURTH messenger came while the third was STILL speaking…
        • The TEN children of Job were having a feast [drinking wine] in the oldest brothers home…
        • A great wind [רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה] came from the wilderness – we might say a tornedo…
        • The house collapsed and all of the children of Job died!
      • Losing all your possession is one thing – but to lose all your children…
        • Invariably we have a hard time accepting this – that God allowed it…
        • Money and possessions can be replaced – and ultimately were – Job 42:12
        • But children CANNOT be replaced – though Job had TEN more – John 42:13
        • How could a God who loved Job – allow satan to kill his children!
        • We have no guarantee any of us tomorrow – life is SHORT – James 4:14
        • We may die 50 years from now – or today might be our day – we do NOT know…
        • Ultimately life is not about living – it is not about the short time we have here…
        • Life is about a choice – it is about deciding where we spend our eternity!
        • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
  • 4th – Praising God… vs. 20-22
    • 1st – Naked… vs. 20-21
      • What comes next is an amazing progression…
        • Job stood up [sequential] – tore his robe in grief [sequential] – shaved his head [sequential] 
        • The he fell down [sequential] – and worshiped [sequential]!
        • He was devastated by the news of the loss of all his POSSESSIONS in this world…
        • But he understood the most important thing could NOT be taken from him…
        • No one could take God from him – he still could worship the Lord!
      • Life is NOT about what we POSSESS…
        • I came naked from my mothers womb – and I will be naked when I leave…
        • The Lord gave me what I had – and the Lord has taken it away…
        • Praise the name of the Lord!
        • It is worth noting – for the first time we see Job use the NAME of the Lord [יְהוָה] …
        • It was in the loss of everything – he was able to get CLOSER and call on the name of God!
        • When we were born – we had nothing – when we die – we will bring nothing with us…
        • So even if we had all the possessions – money in the world – it does not last…
        • That does not mean we are not to work hard – it means we work hard for God…
        • Strive after the eternal riches that come through living your life for God!
        • Ecclesiastes 5:15 – “People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.”
    • 2nd – Job did NOT sin… vs.22
      • In all of this – Job did NOT sin by blaming [foolishly charging] God…
        • Do not MISS this – if Job had blamed God for ALLOWING all this EVIL in his life…
        • It would have been SIN – foolishly charging God!
        • But – we ARGUE – God WAS to BLAME for everything that happened to Job…
        • If he had not given Satan permission – none of it would have happened!
      • Yes – but God was NOT tempting Job to sin…
        • James 1:13 – “Let no one say when he is tempted – I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
        • God allowed calamity to come to Job – so he could get to KNOW God…
        • The hardships God allows into our lives are not meant to HARDEN us…

They are meant to HUMBLE us – so we learn to call on the name of the Lord!

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