JOB - INTRODUCTION

Pastor Carolyn Sissom \ March 3th, 2010 (6898 views)

JOB – Introduction

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

 Wow!!!  As I have been preparing for this study, I am realizing this is a “Big Study”.  I will only do it justice by whatever Grace the Lord gives me. Hopefully in view of the present suffering of the people of Haiti and other suffering in the world, some will be comforted. After reading some of the comments written about Job as literature, I soon became intimidated.   

 

1. “The book of Job is perhaps the greatest masterpiece of the human mind>’ – Victor Hugo.
2. “I call this book, apart from all theories about it, one of the grandest things every written.  Our first, oldest statement of the never-ending problem: man’s destiny, and God’s way with him in the earth.  There is nothing written, I think, of equal literary merit.” –Thomas Carlyle.
3. “The book of Job rises like a pyramid in the history of literature and is without a predecessor and without a rival.” – Philip Schaff.
4. “Job is the Melchizedek among the O.T. books.” – Franz Delitzch.
5. “Job is the clear and unambiguous voice of humanity, which finds echo in the entire world.” – Genung.
6. ‘Job is the greatest poem in literature, whether modern or ancient.” – Tennyson.
7. “Job is magnificent and sublime, more than any other book in the Scriptures.” – Martin Luther.
8. “Job is a book of intense individuality, in which we see a man learning the lesson of his own nothingness, in the fierce fire of deep affliction by “messenger of satan”---through loss, bereavement, and disease---fighting single-handed against the crude philosophy and cruel attacks of his friends; above all, with his own proud, un-subdued self-righteousness and unbelief, until an “interpreter” is heard, who leads him to the point where he listens to God and learns the lesson of all the ages, that HE alone is God…therein lies his blessing.” –Ridout.

   The literature of the ancient Near East has not yielded another Job, and not one can be considered seriously as a possible source or model for Job.  This book stands far above its nearest competitors, in the coherence of its sustained treatment of the theme of human misery, in the scope of its many-sided examination of the problem, in the strength and clarity of its defiant moral monotheism.  In the characterization of the protagonists, in the heights or its lyrical poetry, in its dramatic impact, and in the intellectual integrity with which it faces the “unintelligible burden” of human existence, in all this Job stands alone.  Nothing we know before it provided a model, and nothing since, including its numerous imitations, has risen to the same heights as this book.  Comparison only serves to enhance the solitary greatness of the book of Job.  (Taken from Francis Anderson’s book on “Job”) There are in excess of 100 words which appear in Job that are used nowhere else in the bible.   The Prologue and Epilogue are prose (the name Jehovah is used), and the rest of the book is poetry (the name El is used).  Job is a hero in the prologue and a sinner in the epilogue.   The fact that Job is pictured as a city-dweller and a farmer is resolved by semi-Nomadic.  The book exerts and overall unity and has a basic integrity. 

 It is the Book of the Mystery of Suffering or the book of Blessing through Suffering.  My approach will be to teach, “Blessing through Suffering”. This book was probably written by Job himself (Job. 19-23-24), “Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book!  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!    The words were written and are now eternal in the Heavens. 

 Job lived 140 years after these events took place. (42:16) “After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and say his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.  So Job died being old and full of days.” Some have suggested that Moses or Elihu as possible authors.  The author(s) is (are) unknown. Jewish tradition ascribes Moses as the author, having written it at Midian.  If this is correct, it would be the oldest Biblical book.  Moses’ compilation would have been made from the records of the conversations made by Elihu (32: 10-18).  This view is drawn from the following” : 

1. The story of Job comes from before Moses’ day.  Job was probably written during the time of the patriarchs (though the story itself is pre-Abraham).
2. Some of the words and phrases of the book are characteristically Mosaic, such as “sons of God” (1:6; 2:1), “fire from God” (1:16). “But” (ulam), “hawk” (netz), “judge” (pelil), and “Almighty”.
3. An early Talmudic tradition ascribes Job to Moses (Baba Bathra 14b).
4. The theme of suffering fits with Moses’ concern for the suffering Israelites in Egypt.
5. The land of Uz where Job lived is adjacent to Midian, where Moses spent forty years.
6. Moses possessed the authority and interest to commend this non-Hebrew story to Israel. 

 Some feel that Job’s plight lasted a full year in view of the fact that all the seasons of the year are mentioned in the book. The Book of Job cries out for a mediator, someone who could plead his cause with God and unfold the mystery of his calamities. (9:33) “Neither is there any days-man between us that might lay his hand upon us both.”  This was answered and confirmed in Jesus.  (1 Ti. 2:5) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” He acknowledged outwardly a coming Redeemer (19: 25-26) “For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” ---answered and confirmed in Jesus – (Heb. 7:25) “”Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.” He inwardly aspired for Christ in the perplexity of his pain and his plea for both understanding and deliverance. Jesus Christ is seen in the book of Job as:

 

 

1. The Priest, whose patient suffering was inflicted by satan, but purposed by God. (Heb. 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 3:18).  Job is a type of the suffering Savior, the iniquity-bearer, the pattern Son.
2. The perfect and upright One. (Job. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 4:12; Heb. 6: 19-20).
3. The Greats of all. (1:3)
4. The Man Child (3:3)
5. the Instructor and the strengthener (4:3-4)
6. The one in Covenant with the Stones (5:23) ---“for you shall be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.”
7. The one with a Great Seed. (5:25) “You shall know also that your seed shall be “great and your offspring as the grass of the earth.”
8. The Heavenly Orion. (9:9)---“Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 
9. The longed for Days-man. (9:33)
10. The One who is mocked. (12:4)
11. The One with the Print on the Heels of His Feet. (13:27) “you put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly unto all my paths; you set a print upon the heels of my feet.”
12. The tree that sprouted again (14: 7-9) “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.  Though the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.”
13. The First-begotten Son of God. (15:7)
14. the smitten One turned over to the wicked (16: 10-21)
15. The Heavenly Worm (17:14)
16. The One who was stripped of His Glory (19:9)
17. the One Who was forgotten and betrayed (19:14)
18. The Redeemer. (19:25)
19. The Path which the vulture’s eye has not seen. (28:7) “There is a path which no fowl knows and which the vulture’s eye has not seen; the lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.”
20. The Wisdom of God (18: 12-28) ---“Where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man knows not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.  The deep says, it is not in me, and the sea says, it is not with me.  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither; neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.  It cannot be valued with the gold of OPhir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.”
21. The Latter Rain (29:23) “And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.”
22. The One who becomes like dust. (30:19)
23. The One without fault (31: 1-32; 4 ;)
24. The Heavenly Interpreter (33:23) “If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness.”
25. The Heavenly Ransom or atonement. (33:24)---“Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from gong down to the pit.  I have found a ransom.
26. The Heavenly Bright Cloud (37: 11) “Also by watering he wears the thick cloud; he scatters the bright cloud.”
27. the Creator (38: 1-29)
28. The Heavenly Arcturus (38:32): Can you bright forth Mazaroth in his season? And can you guide Arcturus with his sons?
29. The Heavenly Horse (39: 19-25) “Have you given the horse his might?  Have you clothed his neck with quivering and a shaking mane?  Was it you (Job) who made him to leap like a locust? The majesty of his (snorting nostrils is terrible).  He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; he goes on to meet the armed men.  He mocks at fear, and is not frightened neither turns he back from the sword.  The quiver rattles against him the glittering spear and the shield.  He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage; neither does he believe it is the sound of the trumpet.  He says among the trumpets, ha, ha: and he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”
30. The Rock and the Strong Place. (39:27-30) “Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make her nest on high?  She dwells and bides on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.”
31. The One who hooked leviathan (41:2)
32. the One who prayed for His friends (42:10)
33. The One with the Double Portion (42:10)
34. The One with a New family. (42: 13-15)

  The book reveals the deeper principle of patience and endurance unto the end of our course.  James 5:11 reveals how Job found one of the keys to happiness. "Behold, we count them happy which endure. 

  This goal, of course, is the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:1-14).  Simply stated, he is the end, the goal, and the prize.  We are to partake of His divine nature.  When he shall appear, we shall be like Him. (1 Jn. 3: 1-3) There is a principle of the End of the Lord which we shall only briefly explore, but would be a study unto itself. This principle is based upon Job 42:12 and Jas. 5:11:    (1)   “So the Lord blessed the latter End of Job more than his beginning.”

(2)   “Behold we count them happy that endure.  You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord.”

 It is interesting that the book of Job is quoted or referred to in over 60 other places in the Bible. The Hebrew word for “end” in Job 43:12 is Achariyth” (3319, 310, 309) which means “the last or end, hence the future; also posterity; latter end, hinder or uttermost, length, remnant, residue, reward, the hind part, or after; to loiter (be behind).” The word used in the Septuagint for “Latter end” is “Eschatos” (#2078) and means “farthest, final; ends of last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.”  It is also used 58 times in the N.T. The Greek Word for “end” in James 5:11 is “Telos” and means to set out for a definite point or goal; the point aimed at as a limit; the conclusion of an act of state (termination); result (immediate, ultimate, or prophetic) or purpose, Simply stated, the End of the Lord means that He is Lord at the End.  It also meant the end of Job’s wisdom and strength! --- Death to self that others might live.  It is the principle of John 3:30 – “He must increase…I decrease.” 

 It is obvious from the word study that Job was perfected through suffering.  The principles of perfection, the full growth of the new creation man (the overcomer) are seen in Job.  He reveals the full purpose of god for His people at the end of the race.  The Lord Himself is the end, the goal, and the prize of our high calling (Phil. 3: 1-14).  It seems that Job found this place in the Lord.  It is the place of Life In Christ. He received the blessing of the “double Portion”.  This is the “portion of the firstborn.” (11 Kg. 2).  Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren.  The firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18), and the Beginning or Head of the New Creation Man (Rev. 3:14) “And unto the angel of the church: of the Laodiceans write:  These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”   Who was Job? He was a real person, historically.  The Bible itself establishes this in Ezek. 14:14, 20 and James 5:11. (1)    Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, says the Lord God.(2)    Behold, we count them happy which endure.  You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.Thus the bible reveals Job to be a man of righteousness and of patience.  The Greek word means cheerful (or hopeful). 

  Four statements are given in Job 1 that describes his character:

 (1)   Job was perfect---wholeheartedly given over to pleasing God.

(2)   Job was upright ---walking right with God and man.

(3)   Job feared God ---reverentially trusting God and hating evil.

(4)   Job eschewed evil---turning away from (abstaining, shunning) evil.   Job” was the greatest of all the men of the East.”(1:3). He was of the stature of royalty, perhaps a prince or even a king. His age would have been 70+140=210 years (3 x70).  Accordingly, he was born after Joseph was sold, and died 119 years after the death of Joseph.  When Joseph died, Job, according to this view, would have been 91, and his affliction took place 21 years before when he was 70.  his removal from the land of Egypt to Uz must therefore have taken place earlier still.  When Job died, Moses was 55, and had been in Midian 15 years (25 years before the Exodus).  This would account for Job being a worshipper of the God of Abraham, and explains how Moses could have been the author of the book, and perhaps and eyewitness of the events it records. No man in the Old testament is portrayed as sinless or faultless but three times over Job is declared to be blameless and upright.  At once we become aware that the book of Job is different.  For from the very first verse we are confronted with a man whose character is already mature.  Next, we see his prosperity and his piety.  Yet the crowning quality about Job was shown in what he was at home.  He took a serious view of sin:  he acted as the family’s priest, and offered an atoning sacrifice for sin.  Peace reigned. This chieftain of the land of Uz was tried in a most severe manner by: 

1. Unprecedented misfortune of long duration.
2. a most painful and loathsome disease.
3. The despair of his wife.
4. The cruel accusations of his friends.
5. the insulting language and actions of youth.
6. The baffling silence of God.
7. The cunning power and wiles of the devil.

 Stripped of possessions, deprived of children, afflicted by an incurable disease, abandoned by relatives, accused by his friends, calumniated by satan, Job in the end had reached a height of triumph commensurate with the depth of his trial.  As a consequence of his ultimate triumph, Job became a light to many who have groped their way through the dark recesses of a most complex labyrinth of most perplexing circumstances, insuperable difficulties or problems admitting of neither explanation nor solution.   The book of Job is an astonishing mixture of almost every kind of literature to be found in the Old testament.  Many individual pieces can be isolated and identified as proverbs, riddles, hymns, laments, curses, and lyrical nature poems. This great dramatic poem heads the so-called “Poetical Books” of the O.T. in the English order, coming before Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.   This poem is widely recognized, even in secular circles, as one of the most magnificent dramatic poems every written.  The sublimity of its theme, the majesty of its thought patterns, and the grandeur of its literary sweep are unexcelled.  This piece of Hebrew poetry is also highly figurative, rich in imagery, simile, metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, personification and alliteration.  Halley speaks of this book as a “poetic-philosophic meditation of the ways of God.”  Let us begin the journey and like Job let us discover the mystery of the Lord of the End which is really the beginning of the revelation of His Great Glory. 

We have just begun.  It will be fun.

 Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com

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Scripture quoted from K.J.V. Bibliography:  Principles of Present Truth from:  Job by: Kelley Varner.