Job - Blessed Be the Name of The Lord

Job 1:1-5 Job was blameless and upright - not sinless, but "complete" meaning spiritually mature. And lived in line with God's will. He feared God and shunned evil. He was blessed with a large family and wealth.

"Sacrifice a burnt offering" - like the patriarchs, he acted as priest for his family. He took seriously the need for atonement for sins - even sins of the heart (not sinful action, but sinful attitude toward God). The matter of cursing God is a key theme in the book.

Job 1:6-12 We, the readers, get to hear two behind-the-scenes events in heaven between God and Satan that Job does not get to hear.

1. The angels present themselves to God, demonstrates His power and authority over them.

2. Satan, originally an angel of God, was corrupted by his own pride. He became an enemy of God and he wages war against God and God's people. His name means "Accuser". He prowls like a predator, looking for people to attack (1 Pe 5:8-9).

3. "My servant Job" implies more than just Job served God, but that Job and God are in a covenant relationship based on oaths. God brings up Job! God set the stage and allows Job to be tested.

The purpose is not just to test Job as an end in itself but to give him the opportunity to honor his Lord.

1. "Strike everything he has and he will surely curse you to your face"

Satan wants to prove that Job's allegiance to God is hypocritical. Satan wants to discredit God and His people by showing that God's people don't really love Him, they just love what He does for them.

The attack is on God, through Job.

Job 1:13-19 God grants Satan limited access to Job - first his possessions, then his family, and finally his own health.

Job 1:20-22 Gestures of violent grief in the biblical world.

"The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away" - Job recognizes God's sovereignty in both wealth and suffering. See 2:9-10.

Job recognized that his suffering was somehow the will of God. Then, he praised God.

The Accuser was foiled. Instead of cursing God, Job praised him.

This Job of unshakable faith and wisdom is the same Job who will question God and fall into despondency in the coming chapters. He is a feeling man.

If I am wealthy, I want to honor God with my wealth. If I am healthy, I want to honor God with my health. If I am to suffer, I want to honor God in my suffering.

The primary purpose of Job's suffering was that he should stand before other people and before angels and demonstrate the saving might of God.