INTRODUCTION TO JOB

The book of Job is very old. No one knows who wrote it, but it is set in the time of the patriarchs. It deals with a timeless question--'Why does God allow good people to suffer?' (Is God good? Is God almighty?) When Job, a righteous man, suffers the loss of everything, his friends come to comfort him. They offer reasonable answers from their human perspective. They don't know about the great spiritual conflict that is raging between God and Satan. They do not know God, nor do they know the depth of his love and mercy, so their words only burden Job. In seeking the answer to this question, Job discovers who God is and who he is. He struggles with doubt and comes to a personal relationship with the Sovereign Creator, the Lord of heaven and earth. And he learns that he is a sinner. May we also meet the Sovereign God morning by morning as we study this book.

The book may be divided into 5 parts:

I. Satan's challenge; Job's test--1:1-2:13

2. The three friends explain--3:1-31:40

(There are three cycles of arguments.)

3. Elihu's answer--32:1-37:24

4. God meets Job; Job repents--38:1-41:34

5. God blesses Job--42:1-17

The key verse is 2:3. '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. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.''

1. Job's blessed life (1-5)

Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. God blessed him with every blessing, and put a hedge of protection around him. His home was full of children's laughter. He was rich and famous. His success did not make him proud; rather, he was more zealous to serve God. He prayed and offered sacrifices for his children.

2. Satan's challenge (6-12)

'Satan' means 'accuser.' Satan challenged God. He said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing?' He accused Job of being faithful only because he received benefits. If tragedy struck, Job would curse God. The Lord accepted the challenge.

3. 4-fold tragedy strikes (13-22)

Job's wealth and his beautiful children were snatched away in one day. When Job heard the successive bad news, climaxing in the death of his children, he was in agony of soul. But he did not curse God. He praised the name of the Lord who gives and who takes away.

Application: Lord, help me to fear and praise you and, humbly accept your sovereignty.
One Word: Naked I came; naked I will go