Job 42

THE RESTORATION OF JOB

VERSES 1-6 SPIRITUAL RESTORATION
1. Recognition of God’s power (2)
2. Recognition of man’s limitations (3)
3. Awe of God’s presence (4-5)
4. Genuine Repentance (6)

VERSES 7-9 SOCIAL RESTORATION
1. Both parties need to hear God (7)
2. Admission of guilt (8)
3. Forgiveness (9)
4. Reconnection (11)

VERSES 10-12 MATERIAL RESTORATION
1. A double blessing (10)
2. Gifts from family (11)
3. New animals (12)

VERSES 13-15 FAMILY RESTORATION
1. Assumed restoration of his marriage (13)
2. 10 Children (13)
3. Beautiful daughters (14-15)

VERSES 16-17 PHYSICAL RESTORATION
1. He apparently became very healthy (16)
2. Became a Great Great Grandfather (16)
3. Died when he was full of years (17)

Job 38-41

THE LORD QUESTIONS JOB

God’s First Speech (38:1-3)
A. Notice He answers Job V. 1a
B. Notice He speaks ‘out of the storm’ V. 1b
C. Notice His first words are rebuke V. 2
D. Notice He reverses the roles V. 3

Questions to broaden your perspective (38:4-39:30)
1. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? 38:4
2. Who marked off its dimensions? V. 5
3. Who stretched a measuring line across it? V. 5
4. On what were its footings set? V. 6
5. Who laid its cornerstone? V. 6-7
6. Who shut up the sea behind doors? V. 8-11
7. Have you ever given orders to the morning? V. 12-15
8. Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? V. 16
9. Have the gates of death been shown to you? V. 17
10. Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? V. 18
11. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? V. 19
12. Can you take them to their places? V. 20-21
13. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow? V. 22-23
14. What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed? V. 24
15. Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm? V. 25-27
16. Does the rain have a father? V. 28
17. From whose womb comes the ice? V. 29-30
18. Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons? V. 31-32
19. Do you know the laws of the heavens? V. 33
20. Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? V. 33
21. Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? V. 34
22. Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? V. 35
23. Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? V. 36
24. Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? V. 37
25. Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens? V. 37-38
26. Do you hunt the prey for the lioness? V. 39-40
27. Who provides food for the raven? V. 41
28. Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? 39:1-4
29. Who let the wild donkey go free? V. 5-8
30. Will the wild ox consent to serve you? V. 9-12
31. Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? V. 19-25
32. Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom? V. 26-30

Job’s First Answer (40:1-7)
1. I am unworthy
2. I cannot answer

Job’s Second Answer (42:1-6)
1. You are worthy
2. I was wrong
3. I have listened
4. I repent

God’s Second Speech (40:8-41:38)
1. Are you God (40:8-14)
2. Look at the Behemoth (40:15-24)
3. Look at the Leviathan (41:1-34)

Job 32-37

ELIHU THE BUZITE

When we speak out of anger…
1. We may say things that we later regret
2. We may say things that need to be said

Some info on Elihu’s (32)
1. He is angry (1-5)
2. He is young (6-9)
3. He was patient (10-14)
4. He is anxious (15-20)
5. He is unbiased (21-22)

Elihu’s First Point: God has not been silent! (33)
1. Listen to me Job (1-7)
2. You are wrong (8-12)
3. God has been speaking to you (13-22)
a. He speaks through dreams (15-18)
b. He speaks through pain (19-22)
4. Angels help us in these times (23-28)
5. God’s purposes are worth investigating (29-33)

Elihu’s Second Point: God has not been wrong! (34)
1. You have all been wrong (1-9)
2. God can’t do wrong (10-20)
3. God can’t be fooled (21-22)

Elihu’s Third Point: God can do whatever He wants (34-35)
1. He doesn’t have to examine us before judging (23-28)
2. He can remain silent towards us (29-30)
3. He doesn’t have to play by our rules (31-37)
4. He is not changed by us (1-9)
5. He does not have to answer or listen (10-16)

Elihu’s Fourth Point: God is Just and Powerful (36-37)
1. God does not despise mankind (1-21)
a. He punishes the wicked
b. He protects the righteous
2. God should be worshipped by mankind (22-33)
3. God is overwhelming to me (1-13)
4. Job should be careful what he asks for (14-24)

Job 25-31

TRUE HUMILITY

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied…(Chapter 25)
1. God is great (v. 2-3)
2. Man is not righteous (v. 4-5)
3. Man is comparable to a worm (v. 6)

Then Job replied…(Chapter 26)
1. Dismisses Bildad with sarcasm (v. 2-4)
2. Affirms God’s greatness (v. 5-14)
a. In hell (v. 5-6)
b. In space (v. 7)
c. In the sky (v. 8-11, 13)
d. In the seas (v. 12)
And these are but the out fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power? (v. 14)

And Job continued his discourse…(Chapters 27-28)
1. Defends his integrity (v. 2-6)
2. Affirms the fate of the wicked (v. 7-23)
3. Affirms that wisdom belongs to God (chapter 28)

Job continued his discourse…(Chapters 29-31)
1. The greatness of his past (29)
a. He longs for his former spiritual, social, and physical prosperity (v. 2-6)
b. He longs for the respect and honor that was given him (v. 7-17)
c. He didn’t expect anything to change (v. 18-25)

2. The agony of his present (30)
a. He no longer is respected. He is mocked instead (v. 1-15)
b. He no longer thrives spiritually, socially, or physically (v. 16-31)

3. He invites any just punishment (31)
a. He has been serious about holiness (v. 1-4)
b. He has avoided falsehood (v. 5-8)
c. He has avoided sexual sins (v. 9-12)
d. He has avoided unfairness to his servants (v. 13-15)
e. He has avoided denying the needy (v. 16-23)
f. He has avoided trusting in possessions (v. 24-28)
g. He has avoided hypocrisy (v. 29-37)
h. He has avoided greed and cruelty (v. 38-40)

The words of Job are ended

Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self. ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

There are two kinds of egotists: Those who admit it, and the rest of us. ~L.J. Peter

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are ~M. Forbes

None are so empty as those who are full of themselves. ~Benjamin Whichcote

Psalm 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation

Isaiah 2:17
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Isaiah 66:2
Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Matthew 18:4
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.


In heaven,
Some little blades of grass
Stood before God.
"What did you do?"
Then all save one of the little blades
Began eagerly to relate
The merits of their lives.
This one stayed a small way behind,
Ashamed.

Presently, God said,
"And what did you do?"
The little blade answered, "Oh my Lord,
Memory is bitter to me,
For, if I did good deeds,
I know not of them."
Then God, in all His splendor,
Arose from His throne.
"Oh, best little blade of grass!"
He said

Job 22-24

“Grace Under Fire”

Eliphaz makes 6 Accusations (Chapter 22)
1. Job is prideful (v. 1-3)
2. Job is blaming God (v. 4)
3. Job is wicked (v. 5-11)
4. Job has God in a box (v. 12-14)
5. Job only pretends to hate sin, he’s a hypocrite (v. 15-20)
6. Job needs to repent (v. 21-30)

What historical figure do you think was described in this way?
“A grotesque baboon”
“A third rate country lawyer”
“A coarse vulgar joker”
“A dictator”
“An ape”
“The craftiest and most dishonest politician that ever disgraced an office in America”
“Once split rails and now splits the Union”

ANSWER: Abraham Lincoln

What did this man do in response?
1. Most often, he just ignored it
2. He responded if it was important
3. He vented by writing letters and then ripped them up before sending them
4. Focused on the brighter side of things, kept a sense of humor

Biblical Example of Dealing with Accusers (2 Samuel 16:5-12)

The 2 Great Questions of Job
1. Why is God silent when the innocent suffer? (Chapter 23)
2. Why is God silent when the wicked thrive? (Chapter 24)

In other words….
1. He can’t find God’s presence (23:1-12)
2. He can’t see God’s plan (23:13-17)
3. He can’t understand God’s permission (24:1-17)
a. In the country (24:1-11)
b. In the city (24:12-17)
4. He would curse the wicked (24:18-25)

How to have ‘Grace Under Pressure’
1. Resist the temptation to explain everything
2. Focus on the future, not the present pain
3. Embrace the Sovereignty of God

Job 20-21

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

MY troubled thoughts prompt
ME to answer because
I am greatly disturbed.
I hear a rebuke that dishonors
ME, and
MY understanding inspires
ME to reply.

It’s all about Zophar

Zophar’s lies (Chapter 20)
1. The joy of the godless lasts but a moment (v. 5)
2. Job has oppressed the poor and left them destitute (v. 19)
3. Such is the fate God allots to the wicked (v. 29)

Job’s corrections (Chapter 21)
1. The wicked live on (v. 7)
a. With children (v. 8)
b. With homes (v. 9)
c. With animals (v. 10)
d. With entertainment/fun (v. 12)
e. With prosperity (v. 13)
f. With peace (v. 13)

“14 Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone!
We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?'

2. Such is NOT the fate God allots to the wicked (v. 17)
3. The good and bad lie side by side in the dust (v. 26)
4. Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood (v. 34)

How should we respond when someone makes a false accusation about us?
How should we respond when we find out someone is spreading rumors about us?

Job 18-19

Bildad’s 2nd Sermon to Job
1. Bildad is mad (18:1-4)
2. Bildad wants to describe death (18:5-20)
a. Death is like being in darkness (18:5-6)
b. Death is like being trapped (18:7-10)
c. Death is like being surrounded (18:11-15)
d. Death is like being an uprooted tree (18:16-20)
3. Bildad says that’s where Job is headed (18:21)

Job’s 2nd Reply to Bildad
1. Notice, Job uses the same opening question (19:1-2)

2. Job wants to describe his feelings about his friends (19:2-5)
a. He feels tormented
b. He feels crushed
c. He feels reproached
d. He feels attacked

3. Job wants to describe his feelings about his God (19:6-12)
a. He feels wronged
b. He feels trapped
c. He feels neglected
d. He feels blocked
e. He feels lost
f. He feels dishonored
g. He feels uprooted
h. He feels like an enemy
i. He feels surrounded

4. Job wants to describe his other family/friends (19:13-20)
a. He feels alienated
b. He feels estranged
c. He feels forgotten
d. He feels ignored
e. He feels ridiculed
g. He feels detested
h. He feels rejected
i. He feels bankrupt

5. Job concluding thoughts (19:21-29)
a. He should have been pitied
b. His worlds should have been recorded
c. He will see God
d. His friends will face judgment


When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man;
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part,
When he yearns with all his heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch his methods, watch his ways --
How he ruthlessly perfects
Whom he royally elects.
How he hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows, converts him
Into trial shapes of clay
Which only God understands

I saw them tearing a building down,
A group of men in a busy town,
With a hefty blow and a lusty yell,
They swung with zest,
And a side wall fell,
Asked of the foreman,
‘Are these men skilled? The kind you would hire if you had to build?’
He looked at me, and laughed, ‘No, indeed! Unskilled labor is all I need.
Why, they can wreck in a day or two,
What it has taken builders years to do.”
I asked myself, as I went my way,
Which of these roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder with rule and square,
Measuring and constructing with skill and care?
Or am I the wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the business of tearing down?

Job 15-17

Chapter 15:1-35
Eliphaz Takes the Gloves off

The Root of Meanness: PRIDE (15:1-3)
The Methods of Meanness (15:4-16)
1. Insult
2. Guilt trips
3. Condemnation
4. Sarcasm
5. Accusation
The Theology of Meanness: HEALTH and WEALTH (15:17-26)
The Hope of Meanness: Exceptions are TEMPORARY (15:27-35)

Chapters 16-17
Job’s Four Feelings

1. Disgust with his FRIENDS (16:1-6)
2. Disgust with his GOD (16:7-21)
3. Disgust with TODAY (17:1-9)
4. Disgust with TOMORROW (17:10-16)

The Missing Ingredient
Grace

1. Your sins are gone without a TRACE (Psalm 103:8-12)
2. It will show on your FACE
3. It will make a difference how we run this RACE (Galatians 3:3)
4. It will make a difference who we EMBRACE (Romans 5:8)
5. It will determine how we make our CASE
6. It alone will insure you make it to his PLACE (Ephesians 2:8-9)
*courtesy of Pastor John Symonds

Job 11-14

“FRIEND” #3
ZOPHAR THE NAAMATHITE

Chapter 11:1-20 Zophar’s Attack
Zophar: “But you can be sure of this, you haven't gotten half of what you deserve.”
1. Zophar rebukes Job’s attitude (11:1-6)
2. Zophar questions Job’s humility (11:7-12)
3. Zophar assumes Job’s sinfulness (11:13-20)

Chapter 12:1-13:19 Job’s Response to Zophar
1. Rebukes his friends (12:1-5)
a. Sarcasm (12:1-2)
b. Defense (12:3-5)
2. Rebukes their theology (12:6-12)
a. The wicked prosper (12:6)
b. This is obvious from nature (12:7-8)
c. God allows this (12:9-10)
d. They should know this (12:11-12)
3. Describes God’s sovereignty (12:13-25)
4. Quotes to consider (13:1-19)
“What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.” (13:2)
“You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! (13:4)
“If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.” (13:5)
“Would it turn out well if he examined you?” (13:9a)
“Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.” (13:13)
“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (13:15)
“Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.” (13:19)

Chapter 13:20-14:22 Job Speaks to God
1. Job’s two wishes (13:20-22)
a. That God would withdraw His hand (13:21)
b. That God would speak to him (13:22)
2. Job’s three key questions (13:23-28)
a. How many wrongs and sins have I committed? (13:23)
b. Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? (13:24)
c. Why do you torment a windblown leaf? (13:25)
3. Job’s three theological assumptions (14:1-12)
a. Man’s days are few and full of trouble (14:1)
b. Man’s days are determined by God (14:5)
c. Man’s days are all he has (14:10)
4. Job glimpses into God’s plan (14:13-17)

13"I wish you would hide me with the dead and forget me there until your anger has passed. But mark your calendar to think of me again! 14If mortals die, can they live again? This thought would give me hope, and through my struggle I would eagerly wait for release. 15You would call and I would answer, and you would yearn for me, your handiwork. 16For then you would count my steps, instead of watching for my sins. 17My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover over my iniquity."

5. Job returns to his prior beliefs (14:18-22)

Methods of dealing with mean people
1. Appraisal
a. Consider their complaints
b. Understand them
c. Realize that they probably won’t change
2. Avoidance
d. Ignore them if you’ll never see them again
e. Live with it if it’s not too big of a deal
3. Appeasement
f. Give them what they want
g. Let them vent every once in a while
4. Attack
h. Fight back if it’s a hill you’re willing to die on
i. Bluntly tell them why they’re wrong
j. Expose them
k. Be careful that you don’t become what they were

Remember. Speak the truth IN LOVE (Ephesians 4:15). Do what you have to do, but with GENTLENESS AND RESPECT (1 Peter 3:15). Mean people are real people. Jesus died for them too. Treat them as such. You may be surprised what you discover. It's like Dorothy discovering that the Wizard of Oz is nothing more than a small man with a microphone hiding behind a screen.

Job 8-10

“FRIEND” #2
BILDAD THE SHUHITE

Bildad’s Bad Sermon Idea

Look up Job! The character of God (8:3-7)
God does not pervert justice
God punishes sin
God restores the pure
God blesses the humble

Look back Job! The wisdom of the past (8:8-10)
We aren’t very smart
We don’t live very long

Look around Job! The evidence of nature (8:11-19)
Plants die without water
A spider’s web is not sturdy
Without deep roots, life withers

Conclusion (8:20-22)

Bildad’s Five Key Assumptions (8:1-22)
Your children died because of sin (4)
You aren’t looking to God (5)
You aren’t pure and upright (6)
You have forgotten God and are godless (13)
You are not blameless, you’re an evildoer (20)

* How do these assumptions compare with what we read about Job in chapters 1-2?

Job’s Five Key Questions (9:1-24)
How can a mortal be righteous before God? (2)
Who has resisted Him and come out unscathed? (4)
How can I find words to argue with Him? (14)
If it is a matter of justice, who will summon Him? (19)
If it is not He, then who is it? (24)

Job’s Sermon Without a Conclusion

Problematic Reality
Life is short and Not so sweet

Potential Remedies
Pretend everything is ok
Purge himself, try to make himself clean

Painful Realization
What is needed is something we don’t have
The only way was if God were a man, if there were a mediator

The Conclusion:
John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-7, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Hebrews 4:16

Job 4-7

“There are two kinds of speakers: Those who have something to say, And those who have to say something.”

“FRIEND” #1
ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE

7 unquotable quotes for counseling

“Who can keep from speaking?” (4:2)
“You (something good)…But (something bad)” (4:5)
“Who, being innocent, has ever perished?” (4:7)
“I have observed” (4:8, 5:3)
“A word was secretly brought to me” (4:12)
“If it were I, I would…” (5:8)
“We have examined this, and it is true” (5:27)

10 feelings Job was experiencing

“My anguish…my misery…outweigh the sand of the sea” (6:2)
“The arrows of the Almighty are in me” (6:4)
“My request…that God would be willing to crush me” (6:8-9)
“What prospects (do I have) that I should be patient (hope)?” (6:11)
“A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends” (6:14)
“Show me where I have been wrong” (6:24, 7:20)
“Be so kind as to look at me” (6:28)
“My eyes will never see happiness again” (7:7)
“Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak…I will complain” (7:11)
“Let me alone” (7:16)

Job 2:11-3:26

Outline for Job
1. Job’s first test (chapter 1)
2. Job’s second test (chapter 2)
3. Job speaks out (chapter 3)
4. Eliphaz and Job, part 1 (chapters 4-7)
5. Bildad and Job, part 1 (chapters 8-10)
6. Zophar and Job, part 1 (chapters 11-14)
7. Eliphaz and Job, part 2 (chapters 15-17)
8. Bildad and Job, part 2 (chapters 18-19)
9. Zophar and Job, part 2 (chapters 20-21)
10. Eliphaz and Job, part 3 (chapters 22-24)
11. Bildad and Job, part 3 (chapters 25-31)
12. Elihu speaks out (chapters 32-37)
13. God and Job (chapters 38-41)
14. Job is restored (chapter 42)

JOB SPEAKS OUT (CHAPTER 3)

“After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” (verse 1)

3 STAGES JOB GOES THROUGH
1. ANGER (verses 2-10)
2. QUESTIONING (verses 11-23)
a. Why Me (verses 11-19)
b. Why in General (verses 20-23)
3. DEPRESSION (verses 24-26)

5 STAGES OF GRIEVING
1. DENIAL
2. ANGER
3. BARGAINING
4. DEPRESSION
5. ACCEPTANCE

4 GOALS FOR THE GRIEVING
T-to accept the reality of the loss
E-experience the pain of the loss
A-adjust to the new environment w/o the lost object
R-reinvest in the new reality

Job 1:13-2:10

The physical suffering of Job
(2:7b-8) ‘and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.’

Inflamed, ulcerous sores (2:7)
Persistent itching (2:8)
Facial disfiguration, skin (2:12)
Loss of appetite (3:24)
Fears and Depression (Job 3:25)
Sores that burst open, scab over, crack, and ooze with pus (7:5)
Worms that form in the sores themselves (7:5)
Difficulty breathing (9:18)
Darkening of the eyelid (16:16)
Foul breath (19:17)
Loss of weight (19:20, 33:21)
Excruciating, continual pain (30:27)
High fever with chills and discoloring of skin, anxiety and diarrhea (30:30)

A call to give up (Job 2:9)
His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

“holding on to your integrity” = What God considered valuable
“Curse God and die” = What Satan wanted all along

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman…. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Job 2:10b
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

After 2 Rounds: Job 2 Satan 0

Job 1:1-12

Background:

Job is perhaps the OLDEST book of the Bible
Job is considered a LITERARY Masterpiece
Job is in mentioned in 2 other books of the Bible (Ezekiel/James)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job (verse 1a)
Job was PIOUS (verse 1b)
-What does it mean to be blameless?
-What does it mean to be upright?
-What does it mean to fear God?
-What does it mean to shun evil?
Job was PROSPEROUS (verse 3)
Job was a good PARENT (verse 2, 4-5)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them (verse 6)

Who initiates the conversation (verse 7)? GOD
Who makes the challenge (verse 8)? GOD
What was Satan accusing God of (verse 9-10)? FAVORITISM
What did Satan predict Job would do (verse 11)? CURSE GOD, SIN
Who made the rules for this event (verse 12)? GOD

LESSON:
Don't overestimate Satan, he can only do what God allows him to

Questions for Consideration
Do you think Job had any awareness of what was going on in verses 6-12?
What do you think Satan’s goal was?
Why do you think God allowed this?
Did Job deserve what he was about to get?

Job

This is a 14 part topical study through the book of Job

Job 1:1-12
Job 1:13-2:10
Job 2:11-3:26

Concise Commentary on the speeches in Job

Job 4-7
Job 8-10
Job 11-14
Job 15-17
Job 18-19
Job 20-21
Job 22-24
Job 25-31
Job 32-37
Job 38-41
Job 42