Category: 约伯记

Overview

After Job described his previous prosperous live, he now described his present live. He used parallelism to compare his present with his previous live.

1. He was well respected previously (29:8), presently he is being laughed at (v1), abhorred (v10) , and spitted at (v10).
2. He was enjoying blessings in life previously (29:6), presently days of affliction have taken hold of him (30:16)
3. He helped the needy previously (29:12-17), presently he cries for help and no one response to his plead (v24)
4. He had hope for the future previously (29:18-20), presently he had no hope (v26)
5. He brought encouragement to people with his words previously (29:21-25), presently he no longer has any words of encouragement, instead his music has turned from major to minor key (v31)

Life’s Lesson

If we are blessed with material prosperity today, we thank the Lord for His grace. However there is no guarantee God will continue to bless us in the future. So do not be too comfortable with what we have today. We need to learn to give thanks for the things the Lord has blessed us so far (1 The 5:16-18), be content with what we have today (Phi 4:11), and be prepared for any trials that may come into future. What is important is to live in the present of God. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33).

Overview

Job gave a closing statements of his debate in chapter 29 – 31. Chapter 29 focused on Job’s prosperity in the past, Chapter 30 focused on Job’s crisis in the present, and Chapter 31 focused on Job’s hope for God’s vindication in the future.

1. v2-6: How God has blessed him:
   1. God watched over him (v2)
   2. God’s lamp shone upon his head (v3)
   3. God’s light guided him in darkness (v3)
   4. God’s intimate friendship bless his house (v4)
   5. God’s was with him (v5)
2. v7-11: How he was well respected in the city
   1. respected by young men (v8)
   2. respected by old men (v8)
   3. respected by chief men (v9)
   4. respected by nobles (v10)
   5. respected by everyone (v11)
3. v12-17: How he was the help of the needy
4. v18-20: How he had great hope for the future
5. v21-25: How he spoke words of encouragement to men

Life’s Lesson

It is good to count God’s blessing in our life, however we should be careful not to focus to much on the glories past that we ignore the opportunities in the present, we may end up unprepared for the future. The past must be a rudder to guide us and not an anchor to hold us back.

Overview

This is a chapter about wisdom. Job discussed what is wisdom and where it can be found.

v1-11: Job described men intelligent and ability to perform many words. Men know about to mine silver and iron, refined gold and smelt copper (v1-2). Men are able to explore places no one has never been before (v4). Bird and beasts do not know what is hidden under the earth (v7-8), but men were able to turn over rocks (v9), tunnels through rock (v10), and searches the sources of rivers. Job’s point is men are able to discover new things, men are smarter then any animals, men can create tools, use technology, but none of these is wisdom.

v12-20: Then Job ask a rhetorical questions, “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? (v12). “WHere then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? (v20)? Men think money is everything. Job said no amount of precious stone can purchase wisdom (v15-19).

v20-28: God alone understands the way to wisdom (v23). In NT, we are told that the Lord Jesus is wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24). In Him is hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). Job finally gave the answer to his own question: “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” The is exactly God’s comment for Job in Chapter 1 and 2.

Overview

1. v1-6: Job was not convinced by his friends that he sinned against God. “…till I die, I will not deny my integrity.I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it”. Job continued to believe that he did not sin against God to deserve the punishment. Job was right because God declared before satan Job was blameless, upright, fear God and shunned evil.
2. v7-23: Job then described what would happen to wicked men. He did not directly point out his friends were wicked, but it was obvious that was his point. Job said: “May my enemies be like the wicked, my adversaries like the unjust!” (v7). At this point, his friends have turned into his enemies. Job thought his friends were wicked by because they wrongly accused Job for sins he did not commit.

Overview

• v1-4: Job rebuked Bildad for giving him no help.
• v5-6: Job used three different names for the place of the dead: the waters, sheol, and abaddon (Rev. 9:11)
• v7-13: Job described the power of God in creations
  • v7: Job described the earth is suspended over nothing. A remarkable description of the earth at a time most people think the earth is flat and standing on some foundation.

Bildad too described God’s power (25:2-3), and Job replied with many more descriptions of God’s power.

Overview

This is Bildad third and last speech. This is the shortest speech in Job, it seems he has came to a stalemate.

1. v1-3: Bildad talks about the power of God. God is in reign of this world. God has the forces of army in heavens that no one can numbered. God is light, can He can choose to shine on anyone. Bildad has pretty good understanding of God’s power.
2. v4-6: Bildad talks about there is no righteous man before God. Even the moon and starts are not perfect in God’s eyes, how much less are men, who are but maggots.

Previously Bildad accused Job of sinning, and thus God punished him with the tragedy that he deserved. Since he was not able to convince Job, now he is saying there is no righteous man before God. We can almost here Bildad telling Job: “stop saying that you have no sins, no one of us can claim to be a righteous man before God almighty.”

Overview

Job ignored Eliphaz’s accusation of his mistreating the misfortune, which is not true. He is tired of debating with his friends. He wanted to find God and state his case before God (v23:3) instead.

Job believes that when and if he can present his case to God, he would be delivered forever (23:7). This shows that Job believes he is sinless, and since God is righteous, God will surely deliver him.

When Job suddenly voiced out one of the most important lessons in this book in verse 10. [But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.]

God complement Job as [blameless and upright, a mon who fears God and shun evil] (1:8;2:3). However Job was not perfect. Job was good, but God desired even more from Job. God allows Job went through these sufferings so that Job can be purified even more, just like gold is purified in furnace to get became pure gold. God desires not only to justify us, but to glorify us (Rom 8:30).

God eternal purpose is for all his redeemed people to be conformed to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:29).

However, in the midst of suffering, Job is terrified before God (v23:15). Job afraid that the worst has not came yet, he said [He carries out His decree against me, and many such plans He still has in store] (23:14).

In the time of suffering, I felt that the best comfort I have are the promises of God in His words. [My grace is sufficient for your, for My power is made perfect in weakness] (2 Cor 12:9).

And then in Chapter 24, Job talked about the injustice in this world. The wicked men did injustice to the poor (24:2-4, 13-17). The poor lived a difficult life (24:5-12). But God charges no one with wrongdoing (v24:12).

If we look at today’s society, it surely look like the condition never changed from Job’s time. How should we look at these issues?

But then Job concluded that these wicked men will eventually receive the punishment they deserved (24:18-25). [For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.] (v24:24).

Overview

This is Eliphaz’s third and last speech. He bears down harder and harder on Job’s wickedness, claiming especially that Job has mistreated the poor.

Eliphaz’s speech can be divided into three parts.

1. v1-11: Eliphaz accused Job is a sinner
2. v12-20: Eliphaz accused Job is hiding his sins
3. v21-30: Job must repent of his sins

Overview

Job wanted his friends ears more than their mouth. [Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me] (v2). The friends motivated is to comfort Job and ended up attacking Job with their mouth. Often time, when our friend is in distress, he does not need us to give them lectures. What they need is us listening to them. That is why God gives men two ears and one month. We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19).

Job agrees that the wicked suffer in the end, but in the meantime they seem to be doing rather well. They grow old and increase in power, and their homes are safe and free from fear (v7-9). The prosperity of the wicked undermines the friends’ argument, there seems to be no necessary connection between suffering and wickedness (v34). Suffering seems to be a tool that Satan uses to deceive the righteous. The wicked area already lost souls, why would Satan waste anytime on them? Their self-centered lifestyle will likely keep them in Satan’s camp without any extra effort on his part.

Overview

Zophar is offended by Job’s words. He said :”[I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply] (v3). Assuming Job’s wickedness, he sets out to portray the deplorable fate in store for the wicked. This is the second and last time Zophar spoke.

Zophar makes three affirmations to prove that the fate of the wicked in indeed terrible:

1. their life is brief (v4-11)
2. their pleasure (using eating as the theme) is temporary (v12-19)
3. their death is painful (v20-29)