Job
Job’s Calamities
In Satan’s first assault on Job he loses his property and children (vv. 13-19). While his 10 children were feasting in the eldest brother’s house the first tragedies, engineered by Satan, to hit Job came by both human and natural attacks. The first was a Sabean attack ( …
Job is Chastened by God
All three of Job’s friends made the mistake of assuming that Job had committed a great sin that was causing his suffering. Neither they, nor Job, knew of Satan’s conversation with God (1:6). Eliphaz spoke of Job as a fool who had begun to prosper, but was cursed by God, a …
When God Seems to Ignore Evil
After a strong defense of his integrity and the questioning of God’s sovereignty, Job raises some questions about what he believed to be God’s indifference to wickedness in the world. The entire chapter focuses on the seeming injustices that God permits in this world. …
Eliphaz Accuses & Exhorts Job
Eliphaz made three serious accusations against Job. Job is a sinner (vv. 1-11). He accuses Job of the sin of pride (vv. 1- 5). He accuses Job of covetousness (v. 6). He accuses Job of lack of mercy and compassion (vv. 7-9). He says Job is suffering great trials because of his many sins…
The First Speech of Zophar
Job has heard two points of the sermon from his friends: Man is sinful (Eliphaz), and God is just (Bildad). Zophar, the youngest of Job’s three friends, now finishes the sermon with the third point. God punishes sin, but He gives us less punishment than we deserve. Zophar i …
God Will Take Care of the Wicked
This chapter centers around a debate between Job and Zophar concerning prosperity. After appealing for their understanding and sympathy Job refutes Zophar’s idea that evil people never experience wealth and happiness (vv. 1- 6). But first, he says, “If you really want t …
Elihu is Upset with Job’s Friends
Elihu was polite in his waiting, and kind in his speaking, but he was an angry young man (vv. 1-5). He was angry with the three friends for failing to convince Job of his sins, and for Job justifying himself rather than God. He agreed with the friends that Job was a sinner, but h …
God’s Closing Rebuke And Challenge to Job
The big question is – Do I want justice or do I want mercy? God finally gave Job the one thing he wanted most, the opportunity to meet Him in court and defend his case (vv. 1-2). But Job had no case to present. His first words were, “Behold, I am vile!†(vv. 3-4) which …
Job is Sick at Heart
Job launches into a complaint about his sufferings. His friends mock him (vv. 1-15), his body hurts him (vv. 16-19), his God has deserted him (vv. 20-23), and his hope has fled from him (vv. 24-31). To suffer extreme loss as Job did was humiliating. Job had lost his family, posse …
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
Job had been wanting a man to represent him before God. This young man, Elihu, is willing to do just that. He wants to enlighten Job with his great wisdom (vv. 1-2). He says he is going to speak by the Spirit of God (vv. 3-4). Peter in his epistle wrote, “If any man speaks…