CHAPTER 1

(1520 B.C.)

JOBS CHARACTER AND RICHES

¹There was a man in the land of Uz (probably located between Edom and Saudi Arabia), whose name was Job (the son of Issachar, which means that Jacob was his grandfather); and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and eschewed (hated) evil. (The word perfect here doesnt mean sinless perfection, but rather perfect in his efforts in doing all he could to please the Lord.

In fact, the Book of Job is the oldest book in the world. It was probably written by Moses [Lk. 24:27, 44]. It explains the problem of why good men are afflicted. It is in order to effect their Sanctification. It is interesting that this difficult question should be the first taken up and answered in the Bible.)

²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east (which means that he was one of the richest men in the world; in other words, God had blessed him greatly).

⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day (every one on his birthday); and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about (came around), that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered Burnt Offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (Before the giving of the Law, the father of the family was the Priest of the family. It was his responsibility to bless, purify, and offer Sacrifice.

The offering up of these Sacrifices, a ram for each Burnt Offering, and one for each son and daughter, proclaimed the fact that Job had placed his Faith and trust in the Sacrifice of Christ. However, the offering up of these Sacrifices, although a great blessing to him, could not atone for the sins of his sons and daughters, unless they personally placed their faith in such. There is no evidence they did!)

SATAN PERMITTED TO TEST JOB

⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD (used in this sense, it always speaks of Angels, whether righteous or fallen [Gen. 6:2]; this meeting took place in Heaven, at the Throne of God), and Satan came also among them. (In the Hebrew, the definite article is before Satan, meaning that it reads the Satan, specifying the leader of evil. This tells us that these angelic ministers appear at appointed seasons to give account of their actions to God. This is the first instance in the Bible of this mighty angel being named Satan, or the Adversary. Some time in eternity past, he led a revolution against God, with one-third of the Angels throwing in their lot with him [Rev. 12:4, 711]. From the time of that revolution unto the present, this war between good and evil, between righteousness and unrighteousness, has raged. However, it is not long before this battle will end [Rev. 20:13, 710].)

⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Where have you been? (Of course, the Lord already knew the answer to that.) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the Earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Pulpit says, Satan searches the whole Earth continually, never pausing, never resting, but going about, as Peter said [I Pet. 5:8], like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. As stated, the end of his darkness and destruction is very soon [Rev. 20:12].)

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and eschews (hates) evil? (While it doesnt say that Job at that time is the only one on Earth living for God, it does say that he is closer to God than anyone else. We learn from this of the minute attention given by the Lord of all those who love and follow Him. It is a sobering thought to realize that conversations may be conducted in Heaven, even by the Lord Himself, as it regards some of His children. What is He saying about me? About you?)

⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nought? (Satan insinuates that Jobs motive is purely selfish. He intimates that Job is serving God, not out of love for God, but for what he gets out of it. Regrettably, that just might be true concerning some, hence, Satan asking this question.)

¹⁰Have You not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land (this Verse proves how absolutely secure from Satanic malignity are the Children of God, unless the Lord purposely allows certain things; in other words, Satan can only do, whatever it might be, whatever the Lord allows him to do).

¹¹But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face (the Lord would not do this, but He gave Satan permission to do certain things; again, we state: Satan had to have permission).

¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the Presence of the LORD. (There were limitations placed on what Satan could do, as there are with all Believers. Concerning this, Williams says: Job does not symbolize an unconverted, but a converted, man. It was necessary that one of Gods children should be chosen for this trial; for the subject of the Book is not the conversion of the sinner, but the consecration of the Saint. It is evident that an unconverted man needs to be brought to the end of himself; but that a man who feared God, who was perfect, and who hated evil should also need this is not so clear.

We find in this Book that God uses Satan, calamity, and sickness to be His instruments in creating character and making men partakers of His Holiness. Such were the instruments; but the Hand that used them was Gods; and the facts of this Book explain to Christian people, who, like Job, are conscious of personal integrity, why calamities, sorrows, and diseases are permitted to afflict them.)

JOB LOSES HIS WEALTH, SERVANTS, AND CHILDREN

¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house (one of the birthdays, probably the eldest brothers):

¹⁴And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

¹⁵And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

¹⁶While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. (All of this shows that this is exactly what would happen to every Believer if the Lord allowed such. Satans hatred would demand this. But, as stated, the Evil One can only do what the Lord allows him to do.)

¹⁸While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house:

¹⁹And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. (The loss of property is one thing; however, the loss of ones family is something else altogether. Why did the Lord allow the latter?

The Lord did not choose to directly tell us. However, if it is to be noted, the only thing that was said about those sons and daughters was that they were eating and drinking. I think it is clear that the consecration of Job definitely was not their consecration. Having little, if any, desire for the Lord, they were taken away. This we do know:

Whatever the Lord does is right. Its not right just because He does it, but because, in fact, it is right.)

²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped (while this blow was almost enough to kill a man, still, we see here the depths of his consecration by his worship of the Lord, even at this terrible time; in times like these, only a few worship, while most blame God!),

²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither (return unto the earth): the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD. (Satan said that Job would curse God to His Face, if such calamity fell upon him. However, before the entirety of the spirit world, the Lord proved that this would not be the case. In fact, all of us are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses [Heb. 12:1]. What type of testimony are we giving to the spirit world?)

²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Some foolishly claim that Job was not showing faith regarding his words of Verse 21; however, the Holy Spirit says the very opposite!)