Daily Readings (March 27-April 2)
Mon. Job 1:1-5 Blameless and Upright
Tue. Job 1:6-12 Does Job fear God?
Wed. Job 1:13-22 The Lord gives and takes away
Thu. Job 2:1-10 Job Praises God
Fri. Job 3:1-10 Job Curses His Day of Birth
Sat. Job 3:11-19 Job Desires Death
Sun. Job 3:20-26 Job Questions God’s Benevolence
The Good and the Bad
April 2, 2006
Lesson: Job 2:1-10 [Read 1:14–15, 18–19, 22; 3:1–3, 11]
Key Verse: Job 2:10
Introduction
The Lord testifies of His servant Job, telling Satan that there is nothing
like Job in all the earth, a perfect and an upright man, who fears God and hates
evil, a man of integrity (Job 2:3). We may ask why should such a man receive and
still holds fast his integrity (Job 2:3). Why then should such a man receive
such afflictions from the hand of the Lord? We know that Job was blessed with
"twice as much as he had before"; and that the "Lord blessed the
latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:10, 12). But why did Job
have to suffer such afflictions between the blessings? Why did Job have to bear
the wrath of God? Surely Job was a sinner and deserved some kind of discipline
from the Lord, as we all need the rod and staff of the Good Shepherd. Wisdom
teaches, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary
of his correction; For whom the Lord loveth he corrects, even as a father the
son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
One commentary considers the question of afflictions as "necessary to
raise the righteous to blessedness" (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary on
the Old Testament). Two answers are given: 1. "The afflictions of the
righteous are a means of discipline and purification; they certainly arise from
the sins of the righteous man, but still are not the workings of God’s wrath,
but of His love, which is directed to his purifying and advancement." 2.
"The afflictions of the righteous man are means of proving and testing,
which, like chastisements, come from the love of God. Their object is not,
however, the purging away of sin which may still cling to the righteous man,
but, on the contrary, the manifestation and testing of his righteousness."
In these studies of Job let us remember that God’s relationship with His
servant Job is one of kindness and mercy. Let us remember that the integrity of
Job lies in his relationship with God. Therefore, to condemn God would mean that
he would condemn himself. What then is the teaching of the Book of Job? It is
not that Job is cursed, or that he is doubly blessed. It is that God
acknowledges Job "as His servant, which He is able to do, after Job in all
his afflictions has remained true to God. Therein lies the important truth that
there is a suffering of the righteous which is not a decree of wrath, into which
the love of God has been changed, but a dispensation of that love itself" (Keil
and Delitzsch).
Discussion: Why would a righteous man receive affliction by the hand of the
Lord?
Standing Before the Lord 2:1-3
It is written of Job that he was "perfect and upright, and one that
feared God, and eschewed evil." Job was moral and just in the sight of the
Lord, poor of spirit and meek before Him, discerning and turning away from evil.
As Jacob spoke to his household, Job could say to them, "Put away the
strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments"
(Gen. 35:2). Job’s relationship with God speaks his faith, "Trust in the
Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own
eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil" (Prov. 3:5-7).
There was a time when the "sons of God" presented themselves before
God. These celestial beings or angels, were created to be close to the Lord,
enabled to meet with their Creator. The Lord is to be feared by both the
"assembly of saints" and the "sons of the mighty" (Psa.
89:6-7). In both meetings it is the Lord who raises the question of Job before
Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in
the earth." This question is asked of Satan who has come from the earth,
"from walking up and down in it." Are not the wicked of this world
like their father, the devil? For they would look upon the righteous as what
they are, moved to live righteously or unrighteously because of the benefits
received.
Satan had complained that Job’s integrity before God was based upon the
hedge that God had placed around him and his home (1:10). Satan had asked God to
put his hand forth and strike Job, and he would then curse God (1:11). God uses
the hand of Satan to carry out a measure of destruction. Job’s reply to the
destruction of his servants, crops, etc., is to fall down and worship God,
saying, "Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return
thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the
Lord" (1:20-21).
However, the wicked are never satisfied with the response of the righteous.
Their lies control their thinking. Satan continues to complain before God. For
Job still holds fast his integrity, though Satan moved God against him, "to
destroy him without reason."
Discussion: How did Job maintain his integrity before God?
Skin for Skin 2:4-7
The answer which Satan gives to God’s declaration that Job has maintained
his integrity before Him, is this: "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath
will he give for his life." This is the world view of the evolutionist, the
survival of the fittest. Man will give anything to for the survival of his body.
Job would be glad to give up the skin of his animals, as long he could save his
own skin. However, says Satan, "But put forth thine hand now, and touch his
bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face." Note that Satan
knows that it is God who must put out His hand. For Satan can do nothing against
Job unless it is in the will and purpose of the Almighty God.
The world denies the existence of God, yet must deal with Him as Satan does.
They believe that if they would take away the blessings of the Christian they
would see the Christian deny Him whom they say they worship. God has given us
the Book of Job that we might know that the Word of God is efficacious in the
life of His children. Grace is given in time of need, because the grace of God
is at work in His servants.
Satan is, therefore, sent from the presence of God to Job. And Satan smites
"Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown." God is
at the center of this historical parable. He is in complete control of the
situation. His will is carried out. Satan is sent out, not because Satan
challenges God, but that God challenges Satan. The righteousness of the child of
God challenges the world, before which the world will bow, to the glory of our
Lord! For it is the Lord who has said to Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but
save his life." Life and death are in the hand of the Lord, not in the hand
of Satan.
Discussion: How does Satan look at the integrity of Job?
3. Retain Your Integrity? 2:8-10
Job first responds to his boils in a very natural way. He takes a piece of
clay pottery and scrapes the scabs, sitting among the ashes for healing. The
itching is only relieved for a short time. There was the sorrow (sackcloth and
ashes) over the lost of his sons and servants, etc. His wife saw her husband’s
body being covered with these cancerous boils, saw his sorrow, and felt that
sorrow in her heart. She said to Job, "Dost thou still retain thine
integrity? Curse God, and die." It is not easy for Christian wives to stand
by and see affliction and sorrow, and the persecuting words and actions of those
around us. Their sorrow is no less, as they too meet the enemy. However, we
praise our Lord and thank Him for the grace He has given them. For they too,
would feel that death would be better than torment. However, remember that what
the child of God faces, come from the hand of God and is for our good and His
glory. Though we may not see it all as God does.
Job’s response reveals his understanding of God. We are not to speak
foolishly about such things, as if tragedy and persecution are of Satan, without
the hand of the Lord being upon it. There is only one God, and Satan, along with
his servants, are moved according to His will and purpose. Christ is still King
of kings and Lord of lords. His reign is secured. His law is binding to both the
righteous and the wicked. We shall then, as with Job, receive the good at the
hand of God, as we shall receive evil; for in all this Job did not "sin
with his lips." In the same manner we are to receive good and evil, that
our Savior King, Christ Jesus, rules over both. Therefore we will not fear
either, but God whose hand is always stretched out.
Discussion: What were the responses of Job to his troubles?
