Read:
Chapters 2 and 42
Name____________________________________________Date______________________
Vital Statistics
PURPOSE:
To demonstrate God’s sovereignty and the meaning of true faith. It addresses the question, “Why do the righteous suffer?”
AUTHOR:
Possibly Job. Some have suggested Moses, Solomon, or Elihu.
DATE WRITTEN:
Unknown. Records events which probably occurred during the time of the patriarchs. Approximately 2000 - 1800 B.C.
SETTING:
The Land of Uz, probably located northeast of Palestine, near desert land between Damascus and the Euphrates River.
KEY VERSE:
“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? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against
him, to destroy him without cause.’” (2:3)
KEY PEOPLE:
Job, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Maamathite, Elihu the Buzite.
DID YOU KNOW........
that Job is the first of the poetic books in the Hebrew Bible?
many believe this to be the Oldest book in the Bible?
the book gives us insights into the work of Satan?
that Ezekiel 14:14,20 and James 5:11 mention Job as an historical character.
THE BLUEPRINT:
A.) JOB IS TESTED - (1:1 - 2:13)
B.) THREE FRIENDS ANSWER JOB - (3:1 - 31:40)
1.) First round of discussions
2.) Second round of discussions
3.) Third round of discussions
C.) A YOUNG MAN ANSWERS JOB - (32:1 - 37:24)
D.) GOD ANSWERS JOB - (38:1 - 41:34)
E.) JOB IS RESTORED - (41:1-17)
MAIN THEMES SEEN IN
JOB:
Suffering - Mental, Physical, Spiritual
Satan’s Attacks - Limited by what God will allow.
God’s goodness - God always answers, maybe not when and where or even how we want Him to, but He does answer.
Pride - Man’s pride and conceit lead him to make grievous errors when he judges another.
Trusting - Job kept his focus on God through it all.
QUESTIONS:
1.) Name as many of Job’s strengths as you can.__________________________________
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2.) What was Job’s occupation?_______________________________________________
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3.) Where was the Land of Uz?________________________________________________
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4.) Who were Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu? __________________________________
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5.) From where did God answer Job?___________________________________________
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SUMMARY:
Job, a godly man, suffered the loss of his fortune, family and personal health. He was baffled by his affliction not knowing that he was a target of a conflict between God and Satan. His three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, “comforted” him by trying to convince him that his suffering was punishment from God because of his personal sin. Elihu, having partial light on the situation, explained Job’s suffering as being chastisement sent to purify Job. Finally, God spoke putting Job and the others in place. Job’s suffering was designed, first of all, as a trial in which Job could prove himself in opposition to Satan, but since Job did not pass the trial entirely without blemish, it also had the effect of purifying him. In the end, Job was blessed with a double portion of all he had before.
**Note: There are rich Messianic prophecies in Job (9:32,33; 19:25-27)
**Note: Many principles of counseling can be gleaned from this book.
CHRIST SEEN:
Christ is seen as the Priest, whose patient suffering was inflicted by Satan but purposed by God.
Thank you for studying with us today. At this point you may choose to either save an unfinished assignment or submit it to the Pastor’s office for review and feedback.
See you next lesson J J J J J J J J J J J J