Job 2:7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Unlike chapter one where there seemed to be somewhat of a delay from the time that God gave Satan permission to strike Job until that horrible day of tragedy arrived (vss. 1:12-13), here there doesn’t seem to be any delay. The Satan was determined to strike Job, and he did so with fury.
Hartley says that “in a moment Job’s body was covered with sore boils.” Others think that the disease took some time to progress to an acute state. However long it took to manifest itself, Job’s disease was horrible. The word “boils” in 2:7 is I believe in the singular, indicating that Job’s body was simply one universal and hideous sore. One writer describes a boil as “an angry inflammation.” An angry ulcer from an angry devil?
We are not given enough detail to accurately diagnose Job’s disease. Nor are we sure if it was terminal (in the ancient world though there wasn’t much of delineation between curable and incurable). If you have time (and if you can stomach it) google "elephantiasis" or "leprosy" or "small pox" or "boils." And look at the attached images. They aren’t pretty.
Other chapters in Job describe some of the symptoms of his affliction. They include painful and pus-filled sores that scabbed over and then cracked and oozed, disfiguration, sores infected with worms, fever with chills, a shriveling of the skin, diarrhea, sleeplessness, retched breath, emaciation, fits of depression, weeping, sleeplessness, nightmares, rotting teeth, and excruciating pain throughout the body. And all this lasted for months!
I like Swindoll’s commentary on Job. But the picture on the book jacket is far from accurate. The cover shows a man who is somewhat on the thin side with a scruffy beard. The problem is that if you were to put an accurate picture of Job on the cover of the book, you probably wouldn’t sell any copies. People would turn their heads away in disgust whenever they saw it in a bookstore.
2:8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.
It’s hard to envision how appalling Job looked. In just a couple of verses we learn that his friends hardly recognized him. And the contrast from chapter one and verses 1-3 to this scene could not be more dramatic. From the richest and most influential man in his portion of the world to being relegated to “the place of discarded things” as a piece of human trash.
The ash heap was literally the town dump – it was where the garbage was burned. Hartley says “the ash heap was a collection of the ashes from the city’s ovens, broken pots, and other refuse. It was the abode of outcasts.”
Warren Wiersbe says, “The city’s leading citizen was now living in abject poverty and shame. All that he humanly had left were his wife and three friends, and even they turned against him.”
“He took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself.” That was Job’s medical plan! A shard of pottery to scratch the incessant and tormenting itching. It was probably more like a really rough file/rasp that could be used to scrape away the dried pus and give momentary relief to the intolerable itching.
2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"
This is the only occasion in the entire book where Mrs. Job enters the picture. Tradition says that her name was Dinah; some go so far as to say that this is the "daughter-of-Jacob-and-Leah" Dinah.
Note that in verse 2:3 God admires Job when he says to Satan, “He still holds fast his integrity.” But Mrs. Job says to him in verse 9, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?” Satan’s temptation to Job came to him through the care and concern and solicitude of a loving wife.
Some say that perhaps she spoke in sarcastic tones, “Keep on blessing God…all you get for it is dying!” Or maybe it was, “Do you still believe in God’s Word? Look at what your faith has done for you? Just renounce God and die.” But I don’t believe her words should be interpreted in either of these two ways.
She does not see the possibility of recovery as possible for her husband and she sees death as the only good remaining for him. Hartley says this, “Her view? To compromise one’s faith in God in order to ease an intolerable burden is the wisest course to follow.”
FIA says this of Mrs. Job, “Christians have generally been much harder on her than Jews and Muslims.” Calvin and Augustine certainly didn’t have the nicest things to say about her. An early church writer by the name of Chrysostom says this, "Why did the devil leave him this wife? Because he thought her a good scourge, by which to plague him more acutely than by any other means. Moreover, the thought is not far distant, that God left her to him in order that when, in the glorious issue of his sufferings, he receives everything doubled, he might not have this thorn in the flesh also doubled.”
I frankly think Chrysostom, Calvin and Augustine missed the boat on this one. And I honestly think we’ve been way too hard on Mrs Job. Remember, she lost her ten children and now her husband is in such a horrible condition she hardly recognizes him! His torment was her torment. Seeing a loved one tortured day after day with excruciating pain is tough for anyone to go through, let alone a spouse. These two deeply loved each other, and perhaps she just couldn’t take it any more. In heaven I’m going to ask Mrs. Job about those dark days. It’s easy to sit in a Lazy Boy recliner in an ivory tower and shoot theological bullets at someone. I’ll bet if they could talk with her, some theologians would change their tune. To paint an entire biblical picture of Job’s wife from these 11 words seems to me to be a bit much.
2:10a But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"
K&D says this about Job’s response to his wife, “The answer of Job to his wife is strong but not harsh.”
His answer to Dinah was tough, but it was velvet glove tough. Mrs. Job probably shouldn’t have said what she said. But you know what? In about 5 verses Job is going to say some things that will blow your theological socks off. So I think we should just cut her a little slack.
2:10b In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job passed the test with flying colors. FIA writes, “Some rabbis split verbal hairs and argue that Job began to waver in his heart.” But Hartley reminds us, “To say that Job did not sin with his lips is to state unequivocally that Job did not commit the slightest error.” This phrase says in a nutshell what 1:22 just took a few more words to say.
We need to remember that when a couple goes through a “dark night of the soul” it can put a terrible strain upon their relationship. Perhaps it’s the loss of a job or a chronic illness; perhaps it’s a child that’s on drugs or ongoing troubles with the in-laws. Don’t let the enemy drive a wedge between you and your spouse! Remain tender before the Lord, confess any bitterness and unforgiveness. Your battle may be tough, but God’s grace is sufficient.
NLT = New Living Translation
NASV = New American Standard Version
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch (from PC Bible Study)
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (from PC Bible Study)
Adam Clarke = Adam Clarke Commentary (from PC Bible Study)
Barnes = Barnes Notes (from PC Bible Study)
Vine = Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (from PC Bible Study)
Hartley = The New International Commentary on the Old Testament:
The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
Swindoll = Job, Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll
FIA = Tyndale OT Commentaries: Job by Francis I. Anderson
Eugene Peterson = Introduction to Job, "The Message"
Warren Wiersbe = Be Patient, quoted from Swindoll's Commentary on Job
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
One Year Later...
Pastor: Hi Mrs. Job, I just wanted to call and see how you and your husband are getting along.
Mrs. Job: Oh, hi Pastor. Job is out helping one of the families that were employed by us or I would put him on the phone. To be honest, it’s been awfully tough Pastor – losing all ten of our children like we did. Our life seems so empty at times.
Pastor: I can’t even imagine how difficult it’s been. It was one year ago today that tragedy struck, isn’t it?
Mrs. Job: Yes, one year ago exactly. We still love God, Job still gets up real early to pray and read his Bible and worship. But needless to say it’s been hard. We emptied out our savings to help the families that were employed by us. A lot of homes lost the bread-winner in the family, so we’re trying to help out. Job has started a couple of new businesses, so we’ll see how things work out. We are just trusting in God that this coming year will be better…
The most difficult time after a funeral may be those one to two to three months afterward. Family and friends that came to comfort have gone back home and life is trying to find some semblance of normalcy. Remember those that are grieving…visit or call or write to them not only at the time of funeral, but also the weeks and months that follow.
Job 2:1-6 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth, and walking around on it." 3 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause."
Although we aren’t given the exact time-line, Jewish tradition and commentators seem to indicate that it was either seven months or one full year from the General Council of 1:6 until this second heavenly assembly. I think most lean toward one year. Again the angels appeared before God to report on last year’s assignment and to receive new orders. And as happened in chapter one, Satan himself came to give an account. The language of verses 2:1-3a is almost identical to the language of 1:6-8.
It is not without significance that in less than two chapters, our main character is thrice called “blameless, upright, one who feared God, and one who turned away from evil. Twice God says in these two chapters, “There is no one like him on the earth.” Hartley notes that “not a single flaw has been discovered in Job’s character.”
God adds this at the end of verse three, “And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause." Jehovah says to Satan, “He is still loyal to Me, he still loves Me with ALL of his heart, he is still sitting on the front pew every Sunday raising his hands in worship – although you persuaded Me to take a course of action I wouldn’t normally have taken, to ruin him (swallow him up) without cause!”
This is perhaps the strongest affirmation of Job’s stellar character. Hartley again says that “Job had endured all the losses without compromising his blameless and upright character in any angry outburst against God.” Satan’s skepticism about Job and his slander that he “only worshipped God because of what he could get out of it” proved utterly false. Job received an A+++ on his first test.
(Note that by saying this, God takes full responsibility for what happened to Job. There are some things presented to us in these first two chapters that are exceedingly difficult to get our arms around theologically. More on this later on when we get into the dialogue between Job and the three “comforters.”)
2:4 “And Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.”
“Skin for skin” is a perplexing proverb. Perhaps it was a saying from the market place meaning, “pelt for pelt” (i.e. bartering or exchanging something). Perhaps it meant “outer skin for inner skin” – outer skin referring to a man’s possessions and family members and the inner skin referring to one’s life or health. Or perhaps it meant something like “holding up the arm (a lesser skin) to protect the head (more valuable skin).”
Barnes in his commentary says that it refers to “property for person – the skin forming property for the skin forming person. And it seems to refer to some kind of barter or exchange and means that a man would give up one thing for another or one piece of property of lesser value in order to save a greater. In other words – a man would give up his religion in order to purchase life. He would give the ‘skin of his sons and daughters’ to save his own skin!”
Satan is saying this: that a test of adequate severity had not been applied to Job to really try his faith and to show his true character. What Satan is doing here is implying that Job is so selfish that he would gladly sacrifice all he had (even his kids!) to save his own skin or to preserve his own life. The Bible is certainly correct when it calls Satan the “Accuser” or the “Slanderer!”
2:5-6 “However, put forth Thy hand, now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse Thee to Thy face." So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life."
Again it is shown that Satan has only as much power as Yahweh allows him to have. The Satan lost round one, but he now wants to afflict Job with a disease that would devastate our main character and bring him close to the threshold of death. “If you do that,” he sneers, “He will shake his fist at You and stop serving You!”
Quoting from page 81 of his commentary, Hartley says this, “Although Yahweh rejected the Satan’s reasoning, He released Job into the Satan’s power for further testing. But again he set a boundary to the affliction by prohibiting the Satan from taking Job’s life. This concession reveals the full extent of God’s confidence in Job, namely, that Job’s basic commitment is to God alone. This means that Job, being ignorant of this dialogue, is about to experience the most dire circumstances. The shadow of death will fall over him so heavily that he will think that he is afflicted by a terminal illness with no hope of recovery. In this way God allows Job’s faith to be tested to its innermost core.
Are you going through a particularly difficult time in your life? The trial you are going through may not be because you are doing something wrong, it may be that you are doing something right!!! Remember, God has tremendous confidence in you (and He has a wonderful plan for your life no matter how dark your circumstances may be).
NLT = New Living Translation
NASV = New American Standard Version
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch (from PC Bible Study)
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (from PC Bible Study)
Adam Clarke = Adam Clarke Commentary (from PC Bible Study)
Barnes = Barnes Notes (from PC Bible Study)
Vine = Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (from PC Bible Study)
Hartley = The New International Commentary on the Old Testament:
The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
Swindoll = Job, Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll
FIA = Tyndale OT Commentaries: Job by Francis I. Anderson
Eugene Peterson = Introduction to Job, "The Message"
Mrs. Job: Oh, hi Pastor. Job is out helping one of the families that were employed by us or I would put him on the phone. To be honest, it’s been awfully tough Pastor – losing all ten of our children like we did. Our life seems so empty at times.
Pastor: I can’t even imagine how difficult it’s been. It was one year ago today that tragedy struck, isn’t it?
Mrs. Job: Yes, one year ago exactly. We still love God, Job still gets up real early to pray and read his Bible and worship. But needless to say it’s been hard. We emptied out our savings to help the families that were employed by us. A lot of homes lost the bread-winner in the family, so we’re trying to help out. Job has started a couple of new businesses, so we’ll see how things work out. We are just trusting in God that this coming year will be better…
The most difficult time after a funeral may be those one to two to three months afterward. Family and friends that came to comfort have gone back home and life is trying to find some semblance of normalcy. Remember those that are grieving…visit or call or write to them not only at the time of funeral, but also the weeks and months that follow.
Job 2:1-6 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth, and walking around on it." 3 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause."
Although we aren’t given the exact time-line, Jewish tradition and commentators seem to indicate that it was either seven months or one full year from the General Council of 1:6 until this second heavenly assembly. I think most lean toward one year. Again the angels appeared before God to report on last year’s assignment and to receive new orders. And as happened in chapter one, Satan himself came to give an account. The language of verses 2:1-3a is almost identical to the language of 1:6-8.
It is not without significance that in less than two chapters, our main character is thrice called “blameless, upright, one who feared God, and one who turned away from evil. Twice God says in these two chapters, “There is no one like him on the earth.” Hartley notes that “not a single flaw has been discovered in Job’s character.”
God adds this at the end of verse three, “And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause." Jehovah says to Satan, “He is still loyal to Me, he still loves Me with ALL of his heart, he is still sitting on the front pew every Sunday raising his hands in worship – although you persuaded Me to take a course of action I wouldn’t normally have taken, to ruin him (swallow him up) without cause!”
This is perhaps the strongest affirmation of Job’s stellar character. Hartley again says that “Job had endured all the losses without compromising his blameless and upright character in any angry outburst against God.” Satan’s skepticism about Job and his slander that he “only worshipped God because of what he could get out of it” proved utterly false. Job received an A+++ on his first test.
(Note that by saying this, God takes full responsibility for what happened to Job. There are some things presented to us in these first two chapters that are exceedingly difficult to get our arms around theologically. More on this later on when we get into the dialogue between Job and the three “comforters.”)
2:4 “And Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.”
“Skin for skin” is a perplexing proverb. Perhaps it was a saying from the market place meaning, “pelt for pelt” (i.e. bartering or exchanging something). Perhaps it meant “outer skin for inner skin” – outer skin referring to a man’s possessions and family members and the inner skin referring to one’s life or health. Or perhaps it meant something like “holding up the arm (a lesser skin) to protect the head (more valuable skin).”
Barnes in his commentary says that it refers to “property for person – the skin forming property for the skin forming person. And it seems to refer to some kind of barter or exchange and means that a man would give up one thing for another or one piece of property of lesser value in order to save a greater. In other words – a man would give up his religion in order to purchase life. He would give the ‘skin of his sons and daughters’ to save his own skin!”
Satan is saying this: that a test of adequate severity had not been applied to Job to really try his faith and to show his true character. What Satan is doing here is implying that Job is so selfish that he would gladly sacrifice all he had (even his kids!) to save his own skin or to preserve his own life. The Bible is certainly correct when it calls Satan the “Accuser” or the “Slanderer!”
2:5-6 “However, put forth Thy hand, now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse Thee to Thy face." So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life."
Again it is shown that Satan has only as much power as Yahweh allows him to have. The Satan lost round one, but he now wants to afflict Job with a disease that would devastate our main character and bring him close to the threshold of death. “If you do that,” he sneers, “He will shake his fist at You and stop serving You!”
Quoting from page 81 of his commentary, Hartley says this, “Although Yahweh rejected the Satan’s reasoning, He released Job into the Satan’s power for further testing. But again he set a boundary to the affliction by prohibiting the Satan from taking Job’s life. This concession reveals the full extent of God’s confidence in Job, namely, that Job’s basic commitment is to God alone. This means that Job, being ignorant of this dialogue, is about to experience the most dire circumstances. The shadow of death will fall over him so heavily that he will think that he is afflicted by a terminal illness with no hope of recovery. In this way God allows Job’s faith to be tested to its innermost core.
Are you going through a particularly difficult time in your life? The trial you are going through may not be because you are doing something wrong, it may be that you are doing something right!!! Remember, God has tremendous confidence in you (and He has a wonderful plan for your life no matter how dark your circumstances may be).
NLT = New Living Translation
NASV = New American Standard Version
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch (from PC Bible Study)
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (from PC Bible Study)
Adam Clarke = Adam Clarke Commentary (from PC Bible Study)
Barnes = Barnes Notes (from PC Bible Study)
Vine = Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (from PC Bible Study)
Hartley = The New International Commentary on the Old Testament:
The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
Swindoll = Job, Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll
FIA = Tyndale OT Commentaries: Job by Francis I. Anderson
Eugene Peterson = Introduction to Job, "The Message"
Sunday, January 17, 2010
And The Score At Halftime Is: Job 1, Satan 0
On their way to the funeral home to pick out the ten caskets for their ten children, Job asked his wife to stop by the church first. His problems engulfed him and it seemed the world had suddenly turned against him. He entered the sanctuary and put in a CD by Casting Crowns. With the music of “Praise You in this Storm” filling the air and with tears streaming down Job’s face, he worshipped. For an hour he wept, at times sobbing deeply. Over and over he repeated, “God I don’t understand, but I love You and I will praise You in this storm! In his agony he simply worshiped God.
The score is: Job – 1, Satan – 0. The devil’s belief that Job served God with ulterior motives was totally blown away.
The only problem? Job doesn’t know its only halftime, and he is totally unaware that there’s even a game going on!
In one swift and horrendous moment, the richest and perhaps most influential person in that portion of the world was penniless and all of his children were dead.
Job 1:20…Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
FIA says, “Job’s response was magnificent.” He doesn’t blame the Chaldeans or the Sabeans or the weather man on channel six or the government for a lousy storm warning system. To Job, those were only secondary causes. He didn’t cry out, “If God loves me so much how come my life is in ruins?” Without negating his humanity or any of his deep feelings, to him it was as simple as “the Lord took away.” What Job was doing at the beginning of the day (loving God and seeking His face) he was doing at the end of the day.
Adam Clarke wonderfully puts Job’s reaction, “I owe him gratitude for the time he has permitted me to enjoy these gifts.” Not only does our stuff belong to God, so do our kids.
He does not act like a man in despair. Even though his heart was shattered and his children were dead, there was tremendous dignity witnessed on this tragic day in Job’s life. (We also need to remember that there were a LOT of other families of Job Inc that had lost a loved one on that day).
Swindoll points out that in verse 20 there are five verbs or action words: He arose…he tore…he shaved…he fell…he worshipped. “Rising up” speaks to the intensity of his feelings; “tearing the robe” symbolizes his torn heart; “shaving the head” is symbolic of great sorrow; he then “fell to the ground” in humility and “worshipped” or adored God. Barnes says, “A godly man has no where else to go in time of trial.”
1:21...And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
FIA says that God has given Job a rehearsal for death. GIGO is an acronym for “Garbage In, Garbage Out” and refers to computer programming (and human programming as well!). There was another acronym for Job on this day. “NINO” – “Naked In, Naked Out.” What a simple philosophy of life. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “Naked (without possessions) came I into this world from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!”
Hell Week for the Navy Seals only reveals the character of those soldiers; the crucible only reveals the purity of the metal. Job’s storm only revealed the metal within him. At the end of the day you simply saw Job’s faith boiled down to its essence. Job never put on airs; he never pretended to be something he was not (something I admire in both of my brothers). Naked in, naked out. The truth of Job 1:1 shone brilliantly.
“The Lord gave, the Lord took.” Everything I had was God’s – my businesses, my 401K, my kids – all belonged to God.
Blessed be the name of the Lord! Something amazing? The ONLY one cursing was the Satan! There was no blame on the part of Job, just praise and adoration.
1:22…Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Note the word “through…” It wasn’t really an inspiring speech, but one of my Bible school professors liked to say, “God will pull you through, if you can stand the pull!” Successful people are plodding people. When the going gets tough, the tough…go shopping!” Ok, you know what I mean :>). From time to time we just have to do the Winston Churchill thing and, “Never, never, never give up!”
And the “through stuff,” as difficult as it may be, is not always about you and me. Let me say that again. What’s happening to you (and to me), what we are going through may not ultimately be about us. Yes we are being tested and molded and shaped into His image for His glory, but did you ever stop to consider the people that are being impacted either positively or negatively? Whether we like it or not, we are leaving a legacy. And our response to what we are going through now may have an impact on generations to come.
Verse 22 continues, “Job did not sin…” The Hebrew word is “chatah.” It simply means to miss the mark or to miss the goal or to miss the target or to wander from the path. Its basic meaning is illustrated in Judges 20:16, “Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (chatah).” Vine says, “From this basic meaning comes the word's chief usage: to indicate moral failure toward both God and men, and certain results of such wrongs.” In other words, Job’s reaction “through the loss of his employees, businesses, and children” was right on target. FIA says “He did not accuse God of anything monstrous. Satan’s jibe proved false. Job did not worship God for the side-effects of prosperity.”
Chapter one closes with an interesting phrase. “…nor did he blame God.” It’s a little obscure, but the Hebrew word “tiplah” could mean tastelessness, unperfumed, an indiscretion, or a vengeful act.” But it could also come from a word meaning “something to be spit out” (spitting in the Bible refers to moral abhorrence). Job did not regard God’s will for his life (what had happened to him) as something to be spit out!
Perhaps in your life it seems that lately it’s been “one thing after another,” and God seems to be so distant. And through everything that’s happened its hard to see the hand of God. It’s obviously harder to say “PTL!” when He takes away than when He gives. I encourage you, no matter how hard it may be, to spend some time worshipping God with all of your heart. Get alone with, let Him know how much things hurt, but also thank Him for the wonderful plan that He has for you (even though you may not see it unfold for quite some time).
PS: Remember to pray for Haiti
NLT = New Living Translation
NASV = New American Standard Version
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch (from PC Bible Study)
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (from PC Bible Study)
Adam Clarke = Adam Clarke Commentary (from PC Bible Study)
Barnes = Barnes Notes (from PC Bible Study)
Vine = Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (from PC Bible Study)
Hartley = The New International Commentary on the Old Testament:
The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
Swindoll = Job, Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll
FIA = Tyndale OT Commentaries: Job by Francis I. Anderson
Eugene Peterson = Introduction to Job, "The Message"
The score is: Job – 1, Satan – 0. The devil’s belief that Job served God with ulterior motives was totally blown away.
The only problem? Job doesn’t know its only halftime, and he is totally unaware that there’s even a game going on!
In one swift and horrendous moment, the richest and perhaps most influential person in that portion of the world was penniless and all of his children were dead.
Job 1:20…Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
FIA says, “Job’s response was magnificent.” He doesn’t blame the Chaldeans or the Sabeans or the weather man on channel six or the government for a lousy storm warning system. To Job, those were only secondary causes. He didn’t cry out, “If God loves me so much how come my life is in ruins?” Without negating his humanity or any of his deep feelings, to him it was as simple as “the Lord took away.” What Job was doing at the beginning of the day (loving God and seeking His face) he was doing at the end of the day.
Adam Clarke wonderfully puts Job’s reaction, “I owe him gratitude for the time he has permitted me to enjoy these gifts.” Not only does our stuff belong to God, so do our kids.
He does not act like a man in despair. Even though his heart was shattered and his children were dead, there was tremendous dignity witnessed on this tragic day in Job’s life. (We also need to remember that there were a LOT of other families of Job Inc that had lost a loved one on that day).
Swindoll points out that in verse 20 there are five verbs or action words: He arose…he tore…he shaved…he fell…he worshipped. “Rising up” speaks to the intensity of his feelings; “tearing the robe” symbolizes his torn heart; “shaving the head” is symbolic of great sorrow; he then “fell to the ground” in humility and “worshipped” or adored God. Barnes says, “A godly man has no where else to go in time of trial.”
1:21...And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
FIA says that God has given Job a rehearsal for death. GIGO is an acronym for “Garbage In, Garbage Out” and refers to computer programming (and human programming as well!). There was another acronym for Job on this day. “NINO” – “Naked In, Naked Out.” What a simple philosophy of life. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “Naked (without possessions) came I into this world from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!”
Hell Week for the Navy Seals only reveals the character of those soldiers; the crucible only reveals the purity of the metal. Job’s storm only revealed the metal within him. At the end of the day you simply saw Job’s faith boiled down to its essence. Job never put on airs; he never pretended to be something he was not (something I admire in both of my brothers). Naked in, naked out. The truth of Job 1:1 shone brilliantly.
“The Lord gave, the Lord took.” Everything I had was God’s – my businesses, my 401K, my kids – all belonged to God.
Blessed be the name of the Lord! Something amazing? The ONLY one cursing was the Satan! There was no blame on the part of Job, just praise and adoration.
1:22…Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Note the word “through…” It wasn’t really an inspiring speech, but one of my Bible school professors liked to say, “God will pull you through, if you can stand the pull!” Successful people are plodding people. When the going gets tough, the tough…go shopping!” Ok, you know what I mean :>). From time to time we just have to do the Winston Churchill thing and, “Never, never, never give up!”
And the “through stuff,” as difficult as it may be, is not always about you and me. Let me say that again. What’s happening to you (and to me), what we are going through may not ultimately be about us. Yes we are being tested and molded and shaped into His image for His glory, but did you ever stop to consider the people that are being impacted either positively or negatively? Whether we like it or not, we are leaving a legacy. And our response to what we are going through now may have an impact on generations to come.
Verse 22 continues, “Job did not sin…” The Hebrew word is “chatah.” It simply means to miss the mark or to miss the goal or to miss the target or to wander from the path. Its basic meaning is illustrated in Judges 20:16, “Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (chatah).” Vine says, “From this basic meaning comes the word's chief usage: to indicate moral failure toward both God and men, and certain results of such wrongs.” In other words, Job’s reaction “through the loss of his employees, businesses, and children” was right on target. FIA says “He did not accuse God of anything monstrous. Satan’s jibe proved false. Job did not worship God for the side-effects of prosperity.”
Chapter one closes with an interesting phrase. “…nor did he blame God.” It’s a little obscure, but the Hebrew word “tiplah” could mean tastelessness, unperfumed, an indiscretion, or a vengeful act.” But it could also come from a word meaning “something to be spit out” (spitting in the Bible refers to moral abhorrence). Job did not regard God’s will for his life (what had happened to him) as something to be spit out!
Perhaps in your life it seems that lately it’s been “one thing after another,” and God seems to be so distant. And through everything that’s happened its hard to see the hand of God. It’s obviously harder to say “PTL!” when He takes away than when He gives. I encourage you, no matter how hard it may be, to spend some time worshipping God with all of your heart. Get alone with, let Him know how much things hurt, but also thank Him for the wonderful plan that He has for you (even though you may not see it unfold for quite some time).
PS: Remember to pray for Haiti
NLT = New Living Translation
NASV = New American Standard Version
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch (from PC Bible Study)
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (from PC Bible Study)
Adam Clarke = Adam Clarke Commentary (from PC Bible Study)
Barnes = Barnes Notes (from PC Bible Study)
Vine = Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (from PC Bible Study)
Hartley = The New International Commentary on the Old Testament:
The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
Swindoll = Job, Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll
FIA = Tyndale OT Commentaries: Job by Francis I. Anderson
Eugene Peterson = Introduction to Job, "The Message"
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Its Friday, But Sunday's Coming!
(Just a note: This one is a little longer...I try to keep these shorter and not get "stuck in the weeds." But in order to gain a feel for what happens to the Job family and provide a framework for the other chapters its necessary to take time to set the scene.)
Job had just come home from an early morning prayer meeting at church. After remarking to his wife about the wonderful sense of the presence of God that he had experienced, he was eager to start the work week. As he entered his office on that beautiful summer morning he was filled with joy. His businesses were growing rapidly and he was able to provide for over 500 employees and their families. And he also thought about the birthday party that was taking place a few miles south at the home of their eldest son. Both Job and Mrs. Job were particularly grateful the way that all ten of their children were getting along so well together. He couldn’t wait to see them (and laugh with them) at the end of the day.
But then it began. As he and his wife sat down together for lunch the phone rang. In a loud and agitated and jumbled message from one of his employees, he learned that the Sabeans had stolen all of the donkeys and the oxen and killed all of the employees! And he had just barely escaped with his life. Job couldn’t believe it – the Sabeans had never attacked him before.
With that conversation just barely ending the fax machine began to whir. Job grabbed the fax and read it in disbelief. He handed it to his wife. As she read it she was horrified. Something about 7,000 sheep being horribly consumed by “the fire of God.” And all of the shepherds were dead!
They hadn’t more than finished reading that when Job’s cell phone rang. Another employee screamed something to him about the Chaldeans sending in three squads of Special Forces and capturing all of the camels and killing all of the employees of his desert shipping company. But he had somehow escaped detection and made it out alive.
But the worst news was yet to come. While Job and his wife were reeling from these three messages, they didn’t notice the car that had pulled up out front. When the doorbell rang they were astonished to see the sheriff and their pastor. With a very somber tone they informed them that a killer tornado had come out of nowhere. But before the kids could do anything the home literally exploded. The collapsing roof immediately killed all ten of their children.
Both of them collapsed to their knees,
By 1:00 Job had lost EVERYTHING except for his wife and four of his servants.
Nothing was left.
In Job chapter one the scenes shift from earth (vss. 1-5), to heaven (vss. 6-12), and then back to earth (vss. 13-19). We as the audience get to see scene two – the dialogue between Satan and Jehovah. But Job doesn’t. In fact, that scene is not even in his script. What happens comes without warning and hits him like a kick to the stomach. As Alexander Whyte said, “Sorrows came to Job by the battalion.” Swindoll says, “One day it was delightful, the next day it was dreadful.”
It seemed to be a “usual day.” He had just made intercession for his family and had made peace with his Lord. The unfolding of the events stand in stark contrast to the serenity of the pastoral scene of the sheep grazing, the oxen plowing and the children celebrating.
Four Messengers come with news of four tragedies. It was diabolical. On 9/11, whether it was done by design or done simply to make a course correction, when the terrorists flew the airliners into the twin towers the wings were tilted to have the most horrific impact. That is what Diabolos did here. The Satan had planned for the events to unfold so rapidly and so horrifically so as to not to give Job time to recover. The worst news was saved for last.
There is a sinister symmetry to what takes place. Tragedies caused by man (vss. 14/15 and 17) alternate with those caused by nature (vss. 16 and 18/19). There is no reason to what has happened, there is only ruin.
1:13-15…Now it happened on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, that a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Trafficking in precious stones, gold and incense, the Sabeans apparently roamed far north (1,000 miles!) from their base in the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula (the area of present day Yemen…a base of terrorism then and a base of terrorism now). They were made famous by the Queen of Sheba that visited Solomon in I Kings 10. Adam Clarke says, “(The Sabeans were) predatory banditti who made sudden incursions and carried off men, women and children.”
The second, third and fourth tragedies begin with “While he was yet speaking…” and all four end with the same poignant words, “I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Implying ‘just barely and with great difficulty’).” K&D calls these escapees the “four messengers of misfortune.”
Barnes says, “The words ‘while he was yet speaking’ indicate the rapidity of the movement of Satan, and his desire to overwhelm Job with no time to recover.”
1:16…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
In a bit of irony the Satan uses the fire of God to destroy the servants of the man of God. “The fire of God” could perhaps indicate lightning (FIA says that something unusual would be needed to consume 7000 sheep). They weren’t electrocuted as would happen in a normal lightning strike, they were consumed in fire! Adam Clarke says, “The prince of the power of the air was permitted now to arm himself with this dreadful artillery of heaven that he might easily direct the zigzag lightning…” A “Tom-Cruise-War-of-the-Worlds” type of fire?
1:17…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Hartley says the attacks of the Chaldeans were so swift that nothing could be rescued. Widely known for their horsemanship, they were a fierce, predatory and warlike people from northern Mesopotamia and the area of Armenia. Gesenius believes the people group known as the Kurds (present day northern Iraq) are descendants of the Chaldeans. They were the forerunners of the great Babylonian Empire. Experts at war, they quickly divided into three companies – the three pronged attack was brutally successful in capturing all of the camels and butchering the employees.
1:18-19…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
The most tragic news came last. Chuck Swindoll relates that perhaps Job thought at this point, “Well, at least I’ve got my kids.”
But the final messenger rushed in. A great wind (probably some sort of tornado) swept in suddenly, engulfed the home and killed all ten children. Perhaps the home next door was barely touched – but the house of Job Jr. was just splinters! The NLT puts it this way, “The wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides.” The “wilderness” indicated here would have a geographical look like our Great Plains. The word “struck” in verse 19 is the same as “touch” in verse 11. God gave the Satan permission to “touch” all that Job had. Satan did – with hatred and venom he gleefully “struck” what was dearest to the man of God.
The number “four” in Scripture symbolizes totality or full measure. Job was devastated in totality: four messengers, four tragedies, the satanic tornado hit the “four” corners of the house.
There isn’t much that we can glean from these seven verses as far as “that-will-get-your-spiritual-motor-going!!!” is concerned. But it’s necessary to take time setting the scene so that we can really sense Job’s heart and get a feel for the tragedies that have overwhelmed Mr. and Mrs. Job.
Mr. and Mrs. Job are now penniless and childless. EVERYTHING IS GONE! But the blackness of this passage only serves to underscore the remarkable reaction that Job had to these four tragedies.
Evangelist Tony Campolo once preached a message titled, “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming!” As bad as things were for the disciples on Good Friday, Easter was coming!
And as dark as it is right now for Job, we need to remember that chapter 38 is coming!
Just another note: Chuck Swindoll preached a series of messages on Job that lasted almost an entire year. When he announced that “this would be the last message on Job”, the congregation stood and cheered! I think that’s funny. Just so you know, once we get past chapter two things will move a lot quicker and we won’t be going “verse by verse.” In some instances we will comment on just a portion of an entire chapter. That’s the plan anyway, but who knows. :>)
NLT = New Living Translation
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch
FIA = Commentary by FI Anderson
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Job had just come home from an early morning prayer meeting at church. After remarking to his wife about the wonderful sense of the presence of God that he had experienced, he was eager to start the work week. As he entered his office on that beautiful summer morning he was filled with joy. His businesses were growing rapidly and he was able to provide for over 500 employees and their families. And he also thought about the birthday party that was taking place a few miles south at the home of their eldest son. Both Job and Mrs. Job were particularly grateful the way that all ten of their children were getting along so well together. He couldn’t wait to see them (and laugh with them) at the end of the day.
But then it began. As he and his wife sat down together for lunch the phone rang. In a loud and agitated and jumbled message from one of his employees, he learned that the Sabeans had stolen all of the donkeys and the oxen and killed all of the employees! And he had just barely escaped with his life. Job couldn’t believe it – the Sabeans had never attacked him before.
With that conversation just barely ending the fax machine began to whir. Job grabbed the fax and read it in disbelief. He handed it to his wife. As she read it she was horrified. Something about 7,000 sheep being horribly consumed by “the fire of God.” And all of the shepherds were dead!
They hadn’t more than finished reading that when Job’s cell phone rang. Another employee screamed something to him about the Chaldeans sending in three squads of Special Forces and capturing all of the camels and killing all of the employees of his desert shipping company. But he had somehow escaped detection and made it out alive.
But the worst news was yet to come. While Job and his wife were reeling from these three messages, they didn’t notice the car that had pulled up out front. When the doorbell rang they were astonished to see the sheriff and their pastor. With a very somber tone they informed them that a killer tornado had come out of nowhere. But before the kids could do anything the home literally exploded. The collapsing roof immediately killed all ten of their children.
Both of them collapsed to their knees,
By 1:00 Job had lost EVERYTHING except for his wife and four of his servants.
Nothing was left.
In Job chapter one the scenes shift from earth (vss. 1-5), to heaven (vss. 6-12), and then back to earth (vss. 13-19). We as the audience get to see scene two – the dialogue between Satan and Jehovah. But Job doesn’t. In fact, that scene is not even in his script. What happens comes without warning and hits him like a kick to the stomach. As Alexander Whyte said, “Sorrows came to Job by the battalion.” Swindoll says, “One day it was delightful, the next day it was dreadful.”
It seemed to be a “usual day.” He had just made intercession for his family and had made peace with his Lord. The unfolding of the events stand in stark contrast to the serenity of the pastoral scene of the sheep grazing, the oxen plowing and the children celebrating.
Four Messengers come with news of four tragedies. It was diabolical. On 9/11, whether it was done by design or done simply to make a course correction, when the terrorists flew the airliners into the twin towers the wings were tilted to have the most horrific impact. That is what Diabolos did here. The Satan had planned for the events to unfold so rapidly and so horrifically so as to not to give Job time to recover. The worst news was saved for last.
There is a sinister symmetry to what takes place. Tragedies caused by man (vss. 14/15 and 17) alternate with those caused by nature (vss. 16 and 18/19). There is no reason to what has happened, there is only ruin.
1:13-15…Now it happened on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, that a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Trafficking in precious stones, gold and incense, the Sabeans apparently roamed far north (1,000 miles!) from their base in the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula (the area of present day Yemen…a base of terrorism then and a base of terrorism now). They were made famous by the Queen of Sheba that visited Solomon in I Kings 10. Adam Clarke says, “(The Sabeans were) predatory banditti who made sudden incursions and carried off men, women and children.”
The second, third and fourth tragedies begin with “While he was yet speaking…” and all four end with the same poignant words, “I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Implying ‘just barely and with great difficulty’).” K&D calls these escapees the “four messengers of misfortune.”
Barnes says, “The words ‘while he was yet speaking’ indicate the rapidity of the movement of Satan, and his desire to overwhelm Job with no time to recover.”
1:16…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
In a bit of irony the Satan uses the fire of God to destroy the servants of the man of God. “The fire of God” could perhaps indicate lightning (FIA says that something unusual would be needed to consume 7000 sheep). They weren’t electrocuted as would happen in a normal lightning strike, they were consumed in fire! Adam Clarke says, “The prince of the power of the air was permitted now to arm himself with this dreadful artillery of heaven that he might easily direct the zigzag lightning…” A “Tom-Cruise-War-of-the-Worlds” type of fire?
1:17…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Hartley says the attacks of the Chaldeans were so swift that nothing could be rescued. Widely known for their horsemanship, they were a fierce, predatory and warlike people from northern Mesopotamia and the area of Armenia. Gesenius believes the people group known as the Kurds (present day northern Iraq) are descendants of the Chaldeans. They were the forerunners of the great Babylonian Empire. Experts at war, they quickly divided into three companies – the three pronged attack was brutally successful in capturing all of the camels and butchering the employees.
1:18-19…While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
The most tragic news came last. Chuck Swindoll relates that perhaps Job thought at this point, “Well, at least I’ve got my kids.”
But the final messenger rushed in. A great wind (probably some sort of tornado) swept in suddenly, engulfed the home and killed all ten children. Perhaps the home next door was barely touched – but the house of Job Jr. was just splinters! The NLT puts it this way, “The wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides.” The “wilderness” indicated here would have a geographical look like our Great Plains. The word “struck” in verse 19 is the same as “touch” in verse 11. God gave the Satan permission to “touch” all that Job had. Satan did – with hatred and venom he gleefully “struck” what was dearest to the man of God.
The number “four” in Scripture symbolizes totality or full measure. Job was devastated in totality: four messengers, four tragedies, the satanic tornado hit the “four” corners of the house.
There isn’t much that we can glean from these seven verses as far as “that-will-get-your-spiritual-motor-going!!!” is concerned. But it’s necessary to take time setting the scene so that we can really sense Job’s heart and get a feel for the tragedies that have overwhelmed Mr. and Mrs. Job.
Mr. and Mrs. Job are now penniless and childless. EVERYTHING IS GONE! But the blackness of this passage only serves to underscore the remarkable reaction that Job had to these four tragedies.
Evangelist Tony Campolo once preached a message titled, “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming!” As bad as things were for the disciples on Good Friday, Easter was coming!
And as dark as it is right now for Job, we need to remember that chapter 38 is coming!
Just another note: Chuck Swindoll preached a series of messages on Job that lasted almost an entire year. When he announced that “this would be the last message on Job”, the congregation stood and cheered! I think that’s funny. Just so you know, once we get past chapter two things will move a lot quicker and we won’t be going “verse by verse.” In some instances we will comment on just a portion of an entire chapter. That’s the plan anyway, but who knows. :>)
NLT = New Living Translation
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch
FIA = Commentary by FI Anderson
JFB = Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Satan Gets His Permission Slip
The British statesman Sir Robert Walpole contended that “every man has his price.” I would like to think that is not the case. The Satan believed differently.
Job 1:10-12 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (KJV)
The version called “The Message” puts it this way, “Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose! But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what." God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.”
Forgoing any sense of proper court etiquette by speaking to God in such an accusative manner (Satan uses the pronoun “You” instead of the courteous “my Lord”) the Adversary continues his venomous conversation with Jehovah. FIA says his speech is “mocking and insolent.” (Throughout this dialogue the Devil uses the imperative tense as though he was giving orders to God.)
The Evil One’s assumption? “Why shouldn’t Job serve You? You’ve made it easy for him to be good and you’ve won his devotion by bribery!”
“You’ve made a hedge about him…” God had asked Satan earlier if he had considered Job. It turns out that Diabolos probably had not only considered him, he had made numerous attempts to destroy him. But the divine hedge of protection (a wall of angelic warriors?) prevented him from laying a finger on Job. The word “hedge” is used in only a handful of places in the OT and could be translated wall, fence, or a palisade of protection (a palisade is a fence of stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense). The NLT puts it this way, “You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property.” One ancient version reads, “Hast thou not protected him with Thy Word?” That’s interesting.
Adam Clarke writes, “Thou hast fortified him with spikes and spears. Thou hast defended him as by an unapproachable hedge. He is an object of thy peculiar care; and is not exposed to the common trials of life.”
Once we get to heaven we will probably be astounded to find out the number of times that our earthly lives have been protected (or “hedged in”) by the ministry of angels from the destructive attempts of the Evil One.
Notice the progression in verse 10…“Hast not thou made a hedge…
about him
about his house (home and family)
about ALL that he has on EVERY side”
The totality of everything was under the watchful eye of God. Adam Clarke writes, “Satan cannot deprive a man even of a donkey, a sheep or a pig but by special permission of God. His power and malice are ever bounded and under control.”
People face some very, very difficult circumstances. Events happen that shatter our lives and break our hearts. But in those times it is comforting to know that our Heavenly Father has everything under control and “all things are working together for good...” (Romans 8:28).
The Satan continues, “You have blessed the work of his hands (Job wasn’t lazy), and his substance has increased in the land.” The word “bless” here is the same word as “curse” in vs. 11. In verse five I explained how this one word “baarak” could mean totally opposite ideas (perhaps in the sense of “Aloha” meaning both hello and goodbye).
“And his substance (his material goods or his businesses) has increased in the land.” The word “increased” means “to burst forth, to break through the bounds.” It is used of a flood covering the land. Job’s businesses burst out beyond Job’s wildest dreams. They spread rapidly across the land in the way that the Red River flooded the valley around Fargo/Moorhead in the spring of 2009. There was just a phenomenal growth to Job’s wealth.
“But now,” says the cynic-in-chief, “Put forth your hand and touch (violently) all that he has, and he will curse (baarak) Thee to Thy face.” He will not only say, “Goodbye!” to You, he will also say, “Good riddance!” K&D state, “He will say farewell to Thee arrogantly and shamelessly.”
“You’ve protected all, now destroy all! And he will curse Thee to Thy face!” The implication? Job’s devotion was caused by his prosperity; if you take away his prosperity, you will take away his loyalty and love for God. FIA states, “God has secured Job’s devotion by bribery.” And Adam Clarke says, “He will bless Thee only in proportion to the temporal goods You bestow upon him…If You are gracious he will be pious.”
The angelic host gathered at that General Council had to be appalled at the Satan’s insolence. But perhaps more so by the fact that it seemed that the Heavenly Father was going to do what he asked! Remember, Job not only loved God, but God also had an incredible love for Job! And yet…verse 12 from the NIV, “The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” (Note that in verse 11 Satan commands, “You touch all that he has with Your hand,” but in verse 12 the Creator of the Universe replies, “All that he has is in your hand!”).
FIA writes, “So the basic questions of the book are raised. God’s character and Job’s are both slighted. Is God so good that He can be loved for Himself, not just for His gifts? And can a man hold onto God when there are no benefits attached?”
In the movie “The Hunt for Red October” Captain Ramius (Sean Connery) had just concluded a meeting in his quarters with the officers of the submarine. In the meeting he went over their plans to defect to the US. But he also informed the men that he had written a letter to the Russian Premier informing him of their plans. The men were aghast. After the officers were dismissed, Vasily (Sam Neill) said to Sean Connery: “Captain, I would never disagree with you in front of the men; you know that. But in this case, Viktor is right: it would have been better if you had not informed Moscow!”
I wonder if, once the angelic host was dismissed, one of the archangels stayed behind and said something like, “My Lord, I would never disagree with you in front of any of the angels. Your wisdom is far beyond our comprehension. But You do realize that he is going to totally destroy everything Job has, don’t You?”
With a tear in His eye, God responded, “I know…I know….but I trust Job.”
Perhaps you are facing a heart-wrenching situation. God cares about you! Pour out your heart to Him…He longs to hear and answer your prayers!
NLT = New Living Translation
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch
FIA = Commentary by FI Anderson
Job 1:10-12 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (KJV)
The version called “The Message” puts it this way, “Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose! But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what." God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.”
Forgoing any sense of proper court etiquette by speaking to God in such an accusative manner (Satan uses the pronoun “You” instead of the courteous “my Lord”) the Adversary continues his venomous conversation with Jehovah. FIA says his speech is “mocking and insolent.” (Throughout this dialogue the Devil uses the imperative tense as though he was giving orders to God.)
The Evil One’s assumption? “Why shouldn’t Job serve You? You’ve made it easy for him to be good and you’ve won his devotion by bribery!”
“You’ve made a hedge about him…” God had asked Satan earlier if he had considered Job. It turns out that Diabolos probably had not only considered him, he had made numerous attempts to destroy him. But the divine hedge of protection (a wall of angelic warriors?) prevented him from laying a finger on Job. The word “hedge” is used in only a handful of places in the OT and could be translated wall, fence, or a palisade of protection (a palisade is a fence of stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense). The NLT puts it this way, “You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property.” One ancient version reads, “Hast thou not protected him with Thy Word?” That’s interesting.
Adam Clarke writes, “Thou hast fortified him with spikes and spears. Thou hast defended him as by an unapproachable hedge. He is an object of thy peculiar care; and is not exposed to the common trials of life.”
Once we get to heaven we will probably be astounded to find out the number of times that our earthly lives have been protected (or “hedged in”) by the ministry of angels from the destructive attempts of the Evil One.
Notice the progression in verse 10…“Hast not thou made a hedge…
about him
about his house (home and family)
about ALL that he has on EVERY side”
The totality of everything was under the watchful eye of God. Adam Clarke writes, “Satan cannot deprive a man even of a donkey, a sheep or a pig but by special permission of God. His power and malice are ever bounded and under control.”
People face some very, very difficult circumstances. Events happen that shatter our lives and break our hearts. But in those times it is comforting to know that our Heavenly Father has everything under control and “all things are working together for good...” (Romans 8:28).
The Satan continues, “You have blessed the work of his hands (Job wasn’t lazy), and his substance has increased in the land.” The word “bless” here is the same word as “curse” in vs. 11. In verse five I explained how this one word “baarak” could mean totally opposite ideas (perhaps in the sense of “Aloha” meaning both hello and goodbye).
“And his substance (his material goods or his businesses) has increased in the land.” The word “increased” means “to burst forth, to break through the bounds.” It is used of a flood covering the land. Job’s businesses burst out beyond Job’s wildest dreams. They spread rapidly across the land in the way that the Red River flooded the valley around Fargo/Moorhead in the spring of 2009. There was just a phenomenal growth to Job’s wealth.
“But now,” says the cynic-in-chief, “Put forth your hand and touch (violently) all that he has, and he will curse (baarak) Thee to Thy face.” He will not only say, “Goodbye!” to You, he will also say, “Good riddance!” K&D state, “He will say farewell to Thee arrogantly and shamelessly.”
“You’ve protected all, now destroy all! And he will curse Thee to Thy face!” The implication? Job’s devotion was caused by his prosperity; if you take away his prosperity, you will take away his loyalty and love for God. FIA states, “God has secured Job’s devotion by bribery.” And Adam Clarke says, “He will bless Thee only in proportion to the temporal goods You bestow upon him…If You are gracious he will be pious.”
The angelic host gathered at that General Council had to be appalled at the Satan’s insolence. But perhaps more so by the fact that it seemed that the Heavenly Father was going to do what he asked! Remember, Job not only loved God, but God also had an incredible love for Job! And yet…verse 12 from the NIV, “The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” (Note that in verse 11 Satan commands, “You touch all that he has with Your hand,” but in verse 12 the Creator of the Universe replies, “All that he has is in your hand!”).
FIA writes, “So the basic questions of the book are raised. God’s character and Job’s are both slighted. Is God so good that He can be loved for Himself, not just for His gifts? And can a man hold onto God when there are no benefits attached?”
In the movie “The Hunt for Red October” Captain Ramius (Sean Connery) had just concluded a meeting in his quarters with the officers of the submarine. In the meeting he went over their plans to defect to the US. But he also informed the men that he had written a letter to the Russian Premier informing him of their plans. The men were aghast. After the officers were dismissed, Vasily (Sam Neill) said to Sean Connery: “Captain, I would never disagree with you in front of the men; you know that. But in this case, Viktor is right: it would have been better if you had not informed Moscow!”
I wonder if, once the angelic host was dismissed, one of the archangels stayed behind and said something like, “My Lord, I would never disagree with you in front of any of the angels. Your wisdom is far beyond our comprehension. But You do realize that he is going to totally destroy everything Job has, don’t You?”
With a tear in His eye, God responded, “I know…I know….but I trust Job.”
Perhaps you are facing a heart-wrenching situation. God cares about you! Pour out your heart to Him…He longs to hear and answer your prayers!
NLT = New Living Translation
OT = Old Testament
K&D = Commentary by Keil and Delitzsch
FIA = Commentary by FI Anderson
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