Ralph Porter

© 2003

AUTHOR

    The book of Job gives no indication of who may have written it.

    Long list of candidates:

        Job--Detailed knowledge of events indicates that the author was an eyewitness.

        Elihu--another eyewitness--seems to understand what God is doing.

        Moses--the writer for other biblical records from this period--proximity of Uz to Midian.

        Solomon--wrote other similar wisdom literature.

    God did not intend for us to know who wrote it. The message shows its divine source.

DATE

    Suggested dates range from 2000 to 200 B.C.

    The date will be determined by who wrote the book.

    Job probably lived during the patriarchal age, around 2000 B.C.

        Job's age--After restoration, Job lived another 140 years (42:16-17).

        If the Genesis record provides basis for determining the normal life span, this would place Job

            at about the time of Terah, Abraham's father (Gen. 11:32).

                The lifestyle was that of an agricultural society.

                Wealth was measured by number of cattle owned, rather than by silver and gold.

                The basic societal unit was the family.

                Job functioned as the family priest.

                Absence of any reference to the Mosaic law or to Israel is also significant.

BACKGROUND

    Similar to Melchisedek, Job arrives and leaves without reference to his ancestors, nor to the

        future of his descendants.

    When God called Abraham, other people were trusting God apart from the descendants of

        Abraham.

            No record is given of how they came to their relationship with God.

            Some may have learned of Him in their homes, through parents who remembered the

                experience of their ancestor Noah and remained faithful to his God.

THEME AND PURPOSE

    Job was written to answer the question: "Why do the righteous suffer?"

        Job's "friends" answer that suffering is the result of sin.

            This doesn't explain Job's suffering.

        Sometimes suffering comes to perfect God's people and to teach them to trust Him more.

    While God never directly answers the question, He changes the perspective.

        When a person sees God as He is, he still may not understand, but he is willing to trust Him

            and His purposes for His people.

        Job no longer needs to know why.

    Job is as much a book about God and the way He deals with His people, as it is a book about

        suffering.

            The book reveals Him and His dealings with those who love Him.

            It will also help us to learn what our attitude should be in the light of God's revelation of

                Himself.

    In addition to the problem of suffering and the revelation of God, Job presents a concrete

        example of the spiritual conflict existent in the universe.

            Although Job was never aware of his role, he was part of a larger conflict between God and

                Satan, for control of the lives of men.

            When Satan saw a man faithfully and voluntarily submitting to God's rule over His life, he

                set out to cause his fall.

            In spite of all Satan's efforts against him, Job remained faithful to God.

            Job's example is a warning to all God's people of Satan's purposes and method of attack in

                their lives.

DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTION

    Identify what each of the following believe about God.

    Then identify their view of suffering.

        Satan        Job (first)        3 friends        Elihu        God        Job (end)

PRACTICAL LESSONS

    What lessons do we learn about our own lives today from studying Job?

Ralph Porter

"Why do bad things happen to good people?"

    This is an issue people have struggled with since the beginning of the race!

         Popular answers:

              "That's just the way it is!"

              "Life isn't fair!

Job was written to give us a glimpse of God's perspective on the issue.

AUTHOR

    The book of Job gives no indication of who may have written it.

    A long list of candidates has been suggested.

          Job himself is a likely candidate.

              Detailed knowledge of events indicates that the author was an eyewitness.

              Biblical authors frequently tell their own story using the third person.

        Elihu is another eyewitness candidate.

              He appears to have the best understanding among those present of what God is

                   doing.

    Other known biblical authors have been suggested:

        Moses was the writer for other biblical records from this period.

              He could have written this story as well.

              Similar to other stories, God may have revealed to him what He was doing that Job

                   didn't realize.

              This theory is strengthened by the proximity of Uz to Midian, where Moses resided

                   for forty years.

        Solomon is suggested as a possible author because of his role in writing other wisdom

            literature.

              The poetical structure employed is similar to that which he used.

              The existence of parallel ideas also supports this possibility.

    The above named candidates are only some of those mentioned.

    Any of these could have written the book.

    Obviously God did not intend us to know with certainty who wrote the book.

    The message of the book gives clear evidence of its divine source.

DATE

    Since the author cannot be identified with certainty, neither is the date in which the book

         was written clearly defined.

         Suggested dates range from 2000 to 200 B.C.

         The date suggested will be determined largely by who we believe wrote the book.

    Date of the events

         The conditions described in the book give evidence that Job probably lived during the

            patriarchal age, around 2000 B.C.

              The clearest evidence is found in Job's age.

                   After his restoration, Job lived another 140 years (42:16-17)

                   Added to his previous circumstances, he would have had to have lived

                        approximately 200 years.

                   If we accept the Genesis record as a basis for determining normal life span, this

                        would place Job at about the time of Terah, Abraham's father (Gen. 11:32).

                   While the decreasing age span mentioned in Genesis can't be used to identify exact

                        dates with certainty, it does seem to indicate the general trends of that era.

              The lifestyle was that of an agricultural society.

              Wealth was measured by number of cattle owned, rather than by silver and gold.

              The basic societal unit was the family.

              Job functioned as the family priest.

              The absence of any reference to the Mosaic law or to Israel is also significant.

BACKGROUND

    Little is known about the background of Job.

    Similar to Melchizedek, he arrives on the scene and leaves quietly, without reference to

         his ancestors, nor to the future of his descendants.

    At the time when God called Abraham, there were men who were trusting God apart from

         the descendants of Abraham.

    Like Abraham, and Melchizedek, no record is given of how they came to their relationship

         with God.

              Some of them may have learned of Him in their homes, through parents who

                   remembered the experience of their ancestor Noah and remained faithful to his

                   God.

              Job is apparently one of those who came to be remembered along with other great

                   men of faith.

THEME AND PURPOSE

    The story of Job was written to answer the question:

        "Why do the righteous suffer?"

              Various solutions are offered for the problem.

              The simplistic answer of Job's three friends that suffering is the result of sin, while true in

                   many cases, is not the only explanation for all suffering.

              Sometimes suffering comes to perfect God's people and to teach them to trust Him more.

         While God never directly answers Job's question, He changes Job's perspective.

              When human answers fail to satisfy the questioning mind of the sufferer, he needs a

                   new vision of the sovereign God in control of the universe.

            When we see God as He is, we may not yet understand, but we're willing to trust Him and His

                purposes for us!

              Job has seen Him and that is enough. He no longer needs to know why.

         Job, then, is as much a book about God and the way He deals with His people, as it is a book about

            suffering.

              The book reveals Him and much about His dealings with those who love Him.

              It will also help us to learn what our attitude should be in the light of God's

                   revelation of Himself.

         In addition to the problem of suffering and the revelation of God, Job presents a concrete

            example of the spiritual conflict existent in the universe.

              Although Job was never aware of his role, he was part of a larger conflict between

                   God and Satan, for control of the lives of men.

              When Satan saw a man who was faithfully and voluntarily submitting to God's rule

                   over His life, he set out to cause his fall.

              In spite of all Satan's efforts against him, Job remains faithful to God.

               Job's example is a warning to all God's people of Satan's purposes and method of

                   attack in their lives.

                   He will attempt to cause us to fall.

                   Job's faithfulness and subsequent restoration should stimulate us to follow his

                         example and to remain faithful to God.

              By continued voluntary submission to God, we contribute to the victory of God's

                   kingdom over that of Satan.

ORGANIZATION

    The book begins with a description of the spiritual conflict of which Job's story forms a part 1-2

         The heavenly events which caused his suffering are described.

    The majority of the book (3-37) deals with the human debate over the causes for suffering.

         Three cycles of dialogue between Job and his three friends discuss the relationship

              between sin and suffering (3-31).

                    Job's "friends" insist that only sinners suffer.

                    Job protests that he is innocent, yet suffering.

         When that debate proves unfruitful, Elihu argues that suffering is a means God uses for

              our edification and purification (32-37).

    Finally, God settles the discussion.   38-42:6

         He never answers the question.

         When Job sees Him as He is, Job is satisfied; he needs no further explanation.

              People often comment: "When I get to heaven, I'm going to ask about ..."

                    Based on Job's experience, I think that when we get there, it won't matter!

    The story concludes by describing the restoration of Job and the blessings God gives him when

        the test is over (42:7-17).

ARGUMENT

    The book begins with an explanation of the true nature of the events in Job's life.

    This is the part of the story which Job was never told.

    It explains why a just God would be willing to allow children He loves to pass through such a time of

        suffering.

JOB'S CIRCUMSTANCES   1:1-5

         Job is introduced and his circumstances described.

    His character   1:1

        His character was spotless.

         He had recognized God's authority over his life and submitted to it.

         He sought to please God and to avoid evil.

    His prosperity   1:2-3

         As a result, God blessed him and sent great prosperity.

    His family   1:4-5

         His submission to God and the resultant blessing extended to his family as well as to

              himself.

         He faithfully exercised his priestly responsibilities in their behalf.

JOB'S AFFLICTIONS   1:6-2:10

         Job's faithfulness did not escape neither God's nor Satan's attention.

        In the spiritual conflict between God and Satan, God presented Job's life as an example of a man

            who voluntarily submitted to Him.

              How many times do you suppose this dialogue between God and Satan has taken place?

    First series of afflictions   1:6-22

            Satan, seeking an opportunity to destroy that testimony, accused Job of serving God because of

                the benefits he received.

         Satan's proposition   1:6-11

              If God were to test him by taking all he had, he would reject God.

         God's permission   1:12

              God gave Satan permission to test Job.

         Job's perseverance   1:13-22

                   In spite of the loss of family and wealth, Job remained faithful to God.

                   He continued to praise Him.

              His suffering   1:13-19

              His faith   1:20-22

    Second series of afflictions   2:1-10

              When the first test was complete, God again presents Job's life to Satan as an example.

            Satan argues that Job remains true because he's still comfortable.

                   He experienced no personal pain.

         Satan's proposition   2:1-5

              If God would let him afflict Job's body, then he would turn from God.

         God's permission   2:6

              Again God accepts the challenge and gives Satan permission for this second test.

         Job's perseverance   2:7-10

                   In spite of personal pain, Job remains faithful to God.

                   Even his wife stops encouraging him and turns against his faithful stand.

                   Nevertheless he remains true to his God.

              His suffering   2:7-9

              His faith   2:10

JOB'S FRIENDS   2:11-13

    When his friends heard about his trouble, they came to comfort him.

    For seven days they realized that their best comfort was to be there with him.

    They said nothing.

    Then Job began a dialogue with his friends.

    The majority of the book presents the reasoning of Job and his friends as they seek to

         understand Job's affliction from a human perspective.

JOB'S LAMENT   3

         Job begins the conversation as he laments his present condition.

    Protest against his birth   3:1-10

         He protests the fact that he was born.

    Protest against initial life   3:11-19

         If he had to be born, he wishes that he could have died at birth so as not to experience

              life's suffering.

    Protest against continuity of life   3:20-26

         Finally, recognizing that God has given him life, he protests the fact that death continues

              to escape him.

         He has suffered the loss of everything but life itself.

         Now, when he wants to die, that is denied him.

FRIEND'S DIALOGUES   4-31

         Once Job begins the conversation, his friends feel that they ought to respond.

         A prolonged dialogue between Job and his friends follows.

         The dialogue is developed through three series of interchange between each friend and

              Job.

    First cycle   4-14

         Dialogue with Eliphaz   4-7

              Eliphaz' argument: Law of compensation   4-5

                   The innocent don't perish.

                   What a person sows, he will also reap.

                   The solution is to seek God.

              Job's response: Innocence and doubt expressed   6-7

                   Job responds to Eliphaz' message with sorrow.

                   He regrets that Eliphaz has interpreted the situation in this way rather than seeking

                        to help his friend.

                   He protests his innocence and challenges his friends to reveal his sin.

                   He concludes his response with an expression of doubt.