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A question about Job.

brinny

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and i'm also going to post it here. In my study of Job, there are some crucial points that are worth delving into. The Book of Job is a treasure (this is something i would not have said a year ago or so, because it was too painful to read)

What i realize now, is that the more i delve into it, the more like a treasure it becomes.

Thoughts on Job, a response to accusations that Job deserved the suffering because he sinned, from another thread:

Job's suffering wasn't because he was getting what he "deserved". That was established in the very beginning of the Book of Job, by God Himself, so much so, that it was repeated for emphasis.

God wasn't out to "get" Job or to "punish" him" or "teach him a lesson". From the beginning of the Book of Job to end, Job was and remained God's servant. That status did not change.

In verses beginning 8 through 17 of chapter 36 Elihu is telling Job that he is getting what he deserved, most notably in verse 17. Here he is saying that God's judgement is upon Job because of Job's great wickedness, and that Job's great suffering is evidence of God's judgement on him.

"But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee."

What Elihu said here is the antithesis to what God Himself said in the very beginning about Job. He called Job His servant. He emphasized more than once that Job feared Him and eschewed evil (avoided evil). This established Job's standing before God. It is God Who defined Job, not Job.

Yet, in verse 2 of chapter 36 Elihu presumes to speak on God's behalf. This is right before he goes on to tell Job how wicked Job is and that Job is suffering because of His great wickedness and it is the judgement of God on him, and that justice is served by this suffering. In other words, Job is getting what he deserved:

The deaths of all his ten children
The sores from head to foot with worms in them
The tormenting of Job even in his dreams
His wife telling him to curse God and die
sitting day and night in an ash heap amidst dung hills
being spit on and taunted by children

When God appeared in a whirlwind and began speaking, it wasn't Job who had just been speaking, it was Elihu. It wasn't Job who God was referring to that "darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge." God had said to Satan in the very beginning that Job's suffering and great sorrow and catastrophes were done without cause.

It is recorded later in the book of James that Job persevered. "As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about." ~James 5:11

The wager with Satan was over. Job had persevered. That is why God showed up. God also put an end to all the false accusations and arrows coming at Job. He was ending Job's suffering and starting with the shutting of the mouths of Job's accusers.

Then He counsels Job. What He is, in essence saying is that He is God, and there is none like Him. He also was reminding Job that HE was in control of all that took place, even if it appeared Job could not sense His presence. Here was God, speaking to His servant Job. Here was God "counseling" Job on His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. It was His invitation, if you will, for Job to confess Who God was and to worship Him. And Job did, confessing that before God he is but dust, a mere man, and prone to weakness and limited vision. God opened up some of His glory before Job and Job was floored. He had never literally heard God's voice or seen God appear in a whirlwind. He was at the very least, overwhelmed, done in, thus the falling on his face and confessing WHO God is and who he is (but dust). God showed up on the scene to make things aright with Job. The wager had been won. God's servant had persevered. Job's God had shown up. Job was being lifted from all that had transpired. Restoration and healing begins. It was Job's heart that God saw then, and before all of this transpired. And it was the heart of Job that enabled him to forgive his three friends and pray to God on their behalf with sacrifices. This is one of the reasons God said what He did about Job (Job's heart). He was a righteous, compassionate, just man. He had compassion on the suffering and the oppressed. He cared for widows and orphans. And he was a "praying" man, who worshiped and feared God, thus eschewing evil. This is why God said to Job's friends that Job would pray for them and it was only Job's prayers that He would hear and would not destroy them. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." ~James 5:16

Job was in the beginning, and throughout the chapters of suffering, and in the conclusion of this wager, God's servant. His status as God's servant never changed.

Job had been in the "captivity" of Satan. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” ~Job 42:10.

Job persevered in the trial. "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." ~Job 23:10

He persevered, and came forth as gold.
 
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brinny

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"And he said to man, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” ~Job 28:28

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." ~Psalm 111:10

" The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." ~Proverbs 9:10

"As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit." ~Job 27:3-4

A study of Job called "Job--A Holy Man of God"

Job Holy Man of God LIVING HOLY Righteous Man EXAMPLE OF FAITH
 
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Setyoufree

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There was nothing in the above that mentioned Job's repentance. The author doesn't even touch on this. Why?

Also Eilhu was not mentioned. Why?

Here are things not mentioned by the author "Dan Corner":

Elihu was sent on God's behalf:

Job 36:1 Elihu continued: 2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf...

Job's claim to be without sin:

Job 33:8 "But you (Job) have said in my hearing-- I heard the very words-- 9 'I am pure and without sin'"...

Job's self-justification of himself before God:

Job 32:1 Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God.

Job's repentance:

Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said , 4 "Behold, I am vile..." Job 42:6 "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes"...
 
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brinny

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I disagree brother, but i ain't hatin' on ya'....God bless you as you continue searching His Word.

Thoughts:

My heart aches that Job (as well as soooo many in past, including Jabez, and others) have been, on top of everything else that they were suffering, were soooo misunderstood.

My opinion on Job's wife? She did not love Job....she KNEW him and she KNEW his heart, and that He was a man after God's own heart, and when he was at his lowest she kicked him as if to finish him off. I place her in the same category of Lot's wife, whose heart was not right. She was turned into a pillar of salt.
 
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Setyoufree

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In this thread i certainly invite Bible verses, and in addition, commentary and opinions.

But the Bible should not be based on opinions....

And my opinion is that Job's wife should've been turned into a pillar of salt, just like Lot's wife.

There's no record of Job's wife dying....Plus, as Christians, we are to love our enemies. Easier said then done, huh?
 
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brinny

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opinions are encouraged and legitimate...they are just opinions, and not stated with claims to be the inspired Word of God. John one of Jesus' disciples (along with James) had opinions too...he wanted to bring fire down from heaven on a town that rejected him and James. That's why Jesus called them "sons of thunder".

i agree...i don't see any record of Job's wife dying right then....what do you think happened to her? What i'm saying is that she should've been thankful she wasn't turned into a pillar o' salt. :p
 
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brinny

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Job 1:1-5

"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His 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. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, 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."


Wisdom for the Heart
 
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brinny

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Job 1:6-12

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

Wisdom for the Heart
 
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Rose_bud

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After God restores Job, what happens to his wife and his three friends?

God reconciles the two of them, she learns from his testimony, she also repents, and glorifies God.

The friends are ashamed of there attitude, they repent, and are the invited to spend holidays with the family:p
 
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brinny

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Job 1:13-22

"And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While 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, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, 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 thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Wisdom for the Heart
 
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brinny

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Originally Posted by brinny View Post
After God restores Job, what happens to his wife and his three friends?

God reconciles the two of them, she learns from his testimony, she also repents, and glorifies God.

The friends are ashamed of there attitude, they repent, and are the invited to spend holidays with the family:p

Job's wife's name is never mentioned, as far as i could see. Perhaps it was but i just missed it. If so, what was her name? If her name was not mentioned, why not? Any thoughts on it?

Thank you kindly.
 
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Seeking Him

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Studying the book of Job seems so important now, because there seems to be such a resistance in some parts of the church to the truth that God does allow suffering. As much as we hate it. The book of Job helps us understand, I think. The afflictions work an eternal weight of glory. The sufferings now can't be compared to the glory yet to be revealed. Although we can't see the glory yet, we can trust, as Job did, with much anger and tears, that we will see the glory, it will be revealed in us. In Him. For His glory. :clap:
 
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brinny

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i avoided the book of Job for the longest time because of the suffering Job endured in it. More lately however i am seeing the treasures embedded in this difficult-to-read book. What you said about Job trusting...yes, that is a crucial component to understanding this much-avoided book. And what you said about anger and tears......yes, that's involved as well with suffering (for all of us) and it is crucial that it be acknowledged and that the one in the midst of suffering needs to be embraced and prayed for. Thank you Seeking Him for your insightful post. It was edifying.
 
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brinny

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Job 2:1-10

"Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

Wisdom for the Heart
 
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