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Job
The wisdom of Proverbs describes how godly character generally leads to success. Ecclesiastes tempers this, warning that rewards are not guaranteed, since a kind of “crookedness” has come into our world. The book of Job goes further, exploring how righteous people sometimes suffer. The book of Job uses a common literary device from the wisdom traditions of the ancient world: an extended conversation based on poetic speeches.
Job is introduced as a good man. But “the adversary” (satan in Hebrew) points out an apparent problem in God’s moral oversight of the universe. If goodness is always rewarded, how can we know if it’s born from love of God or desire for gain? So God allows the adversary to bring suffering into Job’s life.
Job doesn’t curse God as the adversary predicted but ends up debating with three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Their overly rigid view of the moral universe convinces them that Job’s own wrongdoing has caused his suffering. A young man Elihu joins the conversation later, while Job continues to insist that he has done nothing wrong and deserves a hearing before God.
Finally, God reveals the power and wisdom shown in his oversight of creation. Job then humbly admits his own limited understanding. When God rebukes Job’s three friends, we see they are guilty of a far worse assumption than Job. In the end God blesses Job with twice as much as he had before. The book warns us to avoid reducing God’s moral rule to easy formulas.
www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/JOB.INTRO1.NIV
CHAPTER 1 (ESV)
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord….
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
REFLECTION:
- Satan was originally an angel but was fallen because of pride. He became wicked since he began to rebel against God. Satan is God’s enemy and he tries to stop God’s work in human. However, he is limited by God’s power and can only do things with God’s permission. Satan is called the accuser because he actively finds people and attacks them with temptation, lies and tricks in order to make them turn away from God. Job was an obvious target of attack by Satan because Job was a blameless and upright person who was greatly blessed by God. Anyone who commits to God should be psychologically prepared for Satan’s attack. Satan hates God and he hates God’s people. However, we don’t have to be afraid because God loves us and His power is far greater than that of Satan’s. God’s people will have God’s protection even when they are under Satan’s attack.
- Job lost his property and family members in the first round of Satan’s attack. However he responded correctly to God because he knew that God had sovereignty over everything He gave Job. Job did not hide his unbearable grief from his great lost but he did not lose his faith in God. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job withstood the test and testified that he loved God because He was God and not because of God’s blessings. If you encounter great lost, disappointment or hurt, admit your feelings and express your grief. God will be with you in your grief and He will comfort and heal your body and soul, and give you peace that surpasses all understanding.
PRAYER:
God, please examine whether I love You because of Your blessings or because You are God. Increase my faith so that even if I lose the things I value today, such as my job, money, or even health, I can be like Job who said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
HYMN:
All Flesh is Like the Grass – www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb4xp9XkKsk
