Category: 约伯记

Overview

The end of the book of Job is a beautiful ending.

1. God had victory over Satan. Satan challenged God that if Job lost everything that he has, he would surely curse God (1:11). Although Job had questioned God why he suffered, Job never curse God. At the end, Job came to a greater understanding and experience of the greatness and sovereignty of God. Job no longer wanted to know the reason of his suffering, and he no longer ask God for clearing his name (42:1-6). This happened before God blessed Job with double portion of blessings. This proved that Job was fearful to God because of who God is, not because of the blessings he received from God.
2. Job was vindicated. God finally did vindicate Job by telling his friend Eliphaz that God’s wrath was against them. God did not approve the speeches of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. On top of that, God approved Job’s speeches in front of his friends (42:7). Job must have felt with joy when his name was finally cleared. God even called Job His servant twice in front of his friends (42:7,8).
3. Job’s friendship with his friends restored. God asked Job’s friends to offer burn offering and asked Job to pray for them (42:8). God wanted Job to learn the lesson of forgiveness.
4. Job has grown spiritually. After Job had gone through all the sufferings, he now has first hand experience with God. He had a greater understanding of the characters of God. “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;” (Job 42:5).
5. Job received double portion of earthly blessings. Because of Job’s endurance, God blessed him with double portions of all that he lost. This shows that our God is full of compassion and is merciful (James 5:11).
6. Job forgave his wife. Although this is not explicitly mentioned, just the fact that God had blessed Job with ten more children hints that Job has forgiven his wife and continue to be the spiritual leader for his family.

Life’s Lesson

When we are in sufferings, we need to ask the question: “what does God want me to learn?”. Time of suffering is the greatest time for us to have first hand experience with the almighty God. We need to trust that the Lord is compassion and merciful (James 5:11). He is a faithful God, that means He would keep all His promises.

“… but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom 5:3)

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

It is God’s greatest desire to have all his children to be mold into the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Rom 8:28-29). I pray that it is my greatest desire as well to be more like my Lord Jesus Christ every time I experienced suffering.

Overview

After God has asked Job’s questions regarding the nature and animals, God told Job to answer Him (40:1). Job started to realize about his insignificant and was not able to answer God (40:4-5). However Job is not at the level of understanding of himself and of God where God wanted him to be. So God selected two animals out of all His creations to continue to show His majesty.

The reason why God asked Job questions about His creations was because Job was willing to condemn God by accusing God for being injustice to defense and justify himself (v8). God wanted to show Job that He is the creator of all things, His wisdom and power is infinitely higher than Job. God has the authority to govern His creations according to His perfect good will.

Since Job thought he was more righteous than God, God told Job why don’t he cloth himself with honor and majesty and judge the world by humbling the proud (40:12), by punishing the wicked (40:12)? In another words, God was telling Job: “Why don’t you try to be Me and do My job, and see if you have the wisdom and power to do the job (40:10-13). If Job could do that, God would confess Job’s own right hand could save himself (40:14).

God used two powerful and fearful creatures to challenge Job. The one in chapter 40 is called Behemoth, and the one is chapter 41 is called Leviathan (Job 3:8; Ps 74:14; 104:26; Is 27:1). Some people suggested Behemoth is referring to hippopotamus, and Leviathan is referring to crocodiles. However hippos have short tail, the Behemoth described in chapter 40 has a tail like cedar (40:17). As for Leviathan, the descriptions do not completely match a crocodile neither. 41:18-21 seems to suggest that this creature could breath fire out of its mouth!

These two creatures could possibly referring to dinosaurs.

God challenged Job to capture a Behemoth (v24)? How about could he subdue a Leviathan (41:1)? If Job could not conquer these creatures, on what basis he stood to challenge the Creator (41:10)?

Life’s Lesson

Have you ever questioned or accused God so that we ourselves could be justified? If we could spend time to observe God’s creations, we will surely marvel at His wisdom and power, which is infinitely higher than ours. We have not given anything to God, because whatever is under the whole heaven belongs to God (41:11-12).  Thus everything God has given to us are given by His grace. God knows what He is doing. Our job is to trust in Him.

Overview

God finally spoke to Job (v1). God was speaking to Job in the midst of a storm (v1). However instead of answering Job’s request to vindicate him, God asked Job a series of questions. Between chapter 38 – 41, God has asked 77 questions to Job.

God told Job to instruct Him (v3) and tell Him (v4, v18) if Job knew the answers to these questions.

The questions in chapter 38 and 39 are in two major categories. First is the nature, second is the animals, both are amazingly designed and created by God.

Nature: earth (v4), sea (v8), sun (v12), gates of death (v17), light (v19), snow (v22), wind (v24), rain (v26), land (v27), seeds (v27), dew (v28), stars (v31-33), clouds (v34), lightning (v35),

Animal: lion (v39), raven (v41), goats and deers (39:1-4), donkeys (39:5-8), ox (39:9-12), ostriches (13-18), horse (19-25), hawk (26-30)

The purpose of God asking these questions is so that Job would come to the revelation that God is infinitely more powerful than Job.

It is worth noting that God’s is referenced as Yahweh (H3068) between chapter 38-42. This name of God has not been used after chapter 2, except 12:9. God has been referred as Elowah (H433) or Almighty between chapter 3 to 37. Yahweh means “I am”. I think God wanted Job to know that God is the creator, He is above all. God has total sovereignty of all His creations. He does not owe anyone any answers.

Life’s Lesson

When you experienced hardship in life, do you often ask the Lord the why questions, or do you submit to the Lordship of Christ in our life, and ask the what questions. “Dear Lord, what do You want me to learn this time, teach me O Lord.”

Overview

This is the conclusion of Elihu’s speech. As Elihu was concluding his speech, a storm was forming in the horizon, wind was howling towards them, rain started to drip from the skies, lightning and thunder started to strike out of the cloud (v2-5). Elihu said storms were under the commands of God. God causes storms to punish men, or to water His earth and show His love(v13).

And then Elihu asked Job to listen, stand and consider the wonders of God (v14). He asked whether Job knew how God controls the clouds and makes lighting flash, whether Job knew about the wonders of one perfect in knowledge (v16), and can Job spread out the skies together with God?

Life’s Lesson

God frequently puts people in needs around us. Are you ready to guide them towards Christ? Elihu did not try to answer Job’s questions himself, and he did not try to draw Job to himself.

I don’t think Elihu knew God was preparing to speak to Job in the storm, but God used Elihu to prepare Job’s heart for God.

We do not need to know the answers to help people, our parts is to direct them to Christ, and Christ will do His part.

Overview

In this chapter, Elihu praised God’s power (v5, 24-30). Although God is all powerful, He does not despise men (v5). God is righteous, He punished the wicked (v6) and gives justice to the afflicted (v6). God has special purpose for people in affliction (v10, 11, 15). That purpose is for them to hear God.

Life’s Lesson

Do you hear God when you are in affliction? When Jesus was on the cross, He spoke to God the father. Our Lord Jesus went through the cross, and set the best example for us to fellow. He knows about affliction, for the sins of the whole world of all times was upon Him. Instead of complaining to God, or being self-pity, why don’t we concentrate in hearing God.

Overview

In this chapter, Elihu tried to give explanations to Job’s questions on the characters of God.

v1-8: Job had two questions about God. First, Job thought his righteousness is more than God’s (v2), because God punished an upright man like him. Second, he thought whether man is a good or bad man does not matter to God, because being fearful to God has no benefits compare to the ones who sinned (v3). Job is comparing himself and his righteousness against God and God’s righteousness.

Elihu explained to Job that God is higher than cloud, higher than heavens, of course higher than men (v5). Men are not even in the same level as God,  men righteousness and men wickedness affected men, not God. (v6-8)

v9-16: Job has been crying out to God but God did not answer him. Elihu explained that God does not answer empty cry (v13), but God did not forget him. Job’s case is before God, he told Job to wait for God (v14). Elihu comforted Job by saying God gives songs in the night(v10), and God teaches men more than any animal on earth (v11).

Life’s Lesson

Our understanding and experience of God’s characters is challenged when we go through hardship in life.

Nothing we do can add any righteousness to God, and nothing we do can subtract holiness from God. God characters are unchanging from eternity to eternity.

On the other hand, everything we do affect the heart of God. Because God desires to see us to be like Christ. If we are unlike Christ, we hurt God. We are more Christ like, we please God.

Overview

In Chapter 33, Elihu spoke to Job. In this chapter, Elihu spoke to Job’s friends. The main purpose of Elihu’s speech in chapter 34 is to vindicates God’s justice before Job and his friends(v1). Job defensed himself as one without transgression (v6), and thus accused God of being unjust for punishing him. Elihu set out to defense for God in this chapter.

The following are Elihu’s main points to show that God is righteous:

1. God pays a man according to his work (v11)
2. God alone has authority over this world (v13)
3. God judge men regardless of their positions (v19)
4. God see and know about everything about men (v21-23), thus God does not need to inquire men like human judges do (v24)

To defense God’s justice, Elihu criticized Job with the following sins:

1. drinks up derision like water (v7). In another word, laugh at others frequently
2. walks with wicked men (v8)
3. speaks without knowledge and wisdom(v35)
4. answers like wicked men (v36)
5. rebellion (v37)
6. multiplies his words against God (v37).

Life’s Lesson

There are times we need to be like Elihu to defense for God. Are you equipped with His words to defense for God? When the enemy attacks us, our weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is the words of God.

If we do not know the Lord, we cannot defense for Him. To know Him is to spend time with Him, in His words, in prayers.

Overview

Elihu is speaking to Job (v1). He comforted Job that his words are from the uprightness of his heart,  his lips speak knowledge sincerely (v3),  he desired to justify Job (v32), and to teach Job wisdom (v33).

Elihu referenced to the breath of the Almighty gives him life (v4) and he was formed out of clay (v6) suggests that the story of God’s creation in Gen 1 may have been know to people at that time.

In verse 8 to 11, Elihu quoted Job’s complaints (v13) to God. Job compliant to God why He did not give an account of all His doings (v13)?

Elihu then said God did speak, but no one notices it (v14). God speaks in dream, vision of the night, when men were as sleep (v15).

Then in v18 to v33, Elihu mentioned five times that God has a purpose in Job’s suffering, that is to deliver his soul from going down to the pit (v18, v22, v24, v28, v30).

Elihu said there is an angel as mediator, and reminds men God is gracious to men, God has a plan to deliver men from going down to the pit, and the plan involves a ransom. (v23-24).

What Elihu knew was a shadow of the things to come, 1 Tim 2:5-6 tells us the truth of God’s redemption plan: [For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.]

Life’s Lesson

No matter what kind of pit we could get ourselves in life, God’s has already paid the ransom to deliver us from these pits. All we need to do to receive the redemption is to trust His words by faith in Christ.

Overview

Job had the last word in his debate with his friends, so it seem that Job had won the debate. Elihu, a younger man has been listening to Job and his three friends’ debates. He didn’t interrupt until they are finished because he thought older men should have more wisdom (v7), which he found out it was not the case after listening to all their speeches (v9).

Then Elihu spoke something remarkable: [But it is a spirit in man. And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.] (v8). The breath of Almighty is the Holy Spirit, only Him can give us understanding of spiritual matters.

Elihu was in anger when he spoke, because Job justified himself before God (v2), and because Job’s three friends found no answer, but had condemned Job (v3).

Elihu said that he has a lot to say, because the Holy Spirit urges him to do so (v18).

He said he would not show partiality to anyone, and would not flatter any men, because that would displease God, and he would be taken away by God. (V21)

Life’s Lesson

The age of a believer does not always reflect how much he knows Christ. It is how much our spirit is yielding to the Holy Spirit in the years we follow Christ that dictate how much we know our Lord. May we all have the desire to grow in our knowledge and relationship with Him as we advance in age.

Overview

This is the final defense for Job. He recounted all areas in his life, and stand on his position that he has lived a righteous life as much as a man could live.

He said he was

1. faithful to his wife (v1-12);
2. treated his servants with respect (v13-15),
3. helped the poor, widowed and orphans (v16-23)
4. didn’t put his trust in gold (v24)
5. treated his enemies, men under his care, and aliens all with dignity (v29-32).
6. didn’t cover his sins (v33)

Job was willing to accept additional curses from God is any one of his claims was not true.

His purpose is so that God will hear his appeal. He has written this down and signed the document. Now he wanted God’s signature on the document to prove his friends indictment on him was wrong (v35). This is his only hope for the future.

[Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written] (v35)

Life’s Lesson

A man’s dignity is more important than his life. Job was able to wait for the Lord and praise his name when he lost his treasures, when he lost his children, when he lost the support from his wife, and even when he lost his health. But Job couldn’t keep silent when his dignity was intruded by his friends. At the end of this debate, all Job wanted was vindication from God, and proved his friends were wrong about him. He wanted his name to be cleaned.

How much do you watch for your own dignity? Are you willing to keep silent and wait for the Lord when people misunderstood you?

When you are being misunderstood, being “crucified” by others, meditate on how the Lord responded to people who mocked him: [“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”] (Luke 23:34)