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the book of job
Haystack bible commentary"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."
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==job 1:1-3:
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In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. |
This does not mean that he was absolutely sinless. It means that he was a God-fearing man who sought to do what was right before the Lord. Job's awareness of his own sins is acknowledged by the fact that he sacrificed animals to the Lord as atonement for his sins in chapter 1. "Uz" probably refers to a place in or near Edom, the territory to the southeast of the Dead sea, in what is now the southern part of the Kingdom of Jordan. The exact location is less important for literary appreciation of the book than the fact that it is non-Israelite territory. By making Job a foreigner, the author hints that the story will treat a theme of universal interest.
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Bruce Ashford Files
The biblical writer introduces Job as a wealthy and powerful Gentile living far away from the promised land, yet one who “feared God and shunned evil” (1:1). When Scripture speaks of “fearing” God, it is referring essentially to living wisely under God’s reign. Job is also described as “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (1:3).
The fact of Job’s wealth and power is significant to note. The Bible says of wealthy people that it is harder for them to genuinely trust God than it is for a camel to crawl through the eye of the needle. In other words, there is something about affluence that tends to corrupt a man. Yet, the writer of Job makes clear that Job did not fit the stereotype. Job genuinely trusted God, which is a remarkable characteristic.. -Bruce Ashford; 4.10.22
The fact of Job’s wealth and power is significant to note. The Bible says of wealthy people that it is harder for them to genuinely trust God than it is for a camel to crawl through the eye of the needle. In other words, there is something about affluence that tends to corrupt a man. Yet, the writer of Job makes clear that Job did not fit the stereotype. Job genuinely trusted God, which is a remarkable characteristic.. -Bruce Ashford; 4.10.22
==job 1:4-5:
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.
5 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.
5 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.
==job 1:6:
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One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
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God is not threatened when Satan appears among the "angels" (or some translations use "sons of God") at heaven's council. Without an invitation, Satan intrudes upon heavens council meeting. Satan, however, comes to disrupt, not to learn. How so with many Bible critics.
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Oscar Amaechina Files
In 2 Corinthians 11:26, Paul mentions false brethren in the list of dangers he faced on his missionary journeys. There are many of us who have escaped their manipulations, but the dangers they pose to the faiths of many are a daily phenomenon. I personally have suffered so much in the hands of false brethren who claim to be custodians of the Gospel. I have been wounded so severally that sometimes I resort to solitude and even contemplate quitting my ministry. Many in the Church have been deceived because they’ve been often taught that everyone in the visible Church is a true believer. "One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them" (Job 1:6). Sadly, the devil oftentimes attends church services. Every believer should ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of discernment.
--Oscar Amaechina; president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. 2.24.22
--Oscar Amaechina; president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. 2.24.22
==job 1:7:
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The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
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Rather than banishing him from heaven, God calls him into accountability. Satan's confession is of a vagabond spirit, pacing the earth with frustration of a caged lion and preying upon unsuspecting victims. In stark contrast to God's orderly and meaningful nature, Satan epitomizez the ultimate of evil, when alienation, aimlessness, and anxiety--the essence of hell--obsess the soul.
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==job 1:8-9:
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The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
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God recognizes Job’s faithfulness. He remarks to his Satan (a Hebrew word meaning simply “accuser”), “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8). The accuser spots an opening for mischief and replies, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9). That is, does Job love God only because God has blessed him so richly? Is Job’s praise and his burnt offerings “according to the number of them all” just a calculated scheme to keep the goods flowing? Or to use a modern image, is Job’s faithfulness nothing more than a coin fed into the vending machine of God’s blessing?
We could apply this question to ourselves. Do we relate to God primarily so that he will bless us with the stuff we want? Or worse yet, so that he won’t jinx the success we seem to be achieving on our own? In good times, this may not be a burning issue. We believe in God. We acknowledge him — at least theoretically — as the source of all good things. At the same time, we work diligently, so God’s goodness and our work go hand in hand. When times are good, and we do in fact prosper, it is natural to thank God and praise him for it. -Theology of Work |
William Henry Green Files
Under the pressure of intense affliction men are in danger of falling into one of two extremes, either of which is inconsistent with fidelity to the Lord's service. The first is that of repining and murmuring at the divine allotment. The other is that of bearing it in a spirit of hardened indifference. The wise man warns us against both. "My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction: For whom the Lord loves He corrects..."(Prov 3:11-12). Job avoided both of these dangers in that subdued but noble demeanor which has been in all ages since the model of submissive resignation. The stricken patriarch, bowed with grief, adopts the token of the most profound humiliation and sorrow: he rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground. Not to sit in the sullen silence and brood despondently over the terrible losses which he had sustained, not to complain of the providence of God which had dealt so hardly with him, no, he prostrates himself in reverential worship; he bows with meek submission to Him who had smitten him, and his only language is that of grateful adoration to the Source of all blessings, who in removing all had but taken away what He Himself had given. Job fell down upon the ground and worshipped and said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). --William Henry Green; The Book of Job Unfolded; 1874
==job 1:10-11:
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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.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. |
There is a tantalizing phrase found numerous times in the Bible that relates to our work: “Blessed in the work of your hands.” When the devil was having a conversation with God over his servant Job, he suggested Job was only serving the Lord for what he could get out of Him. He sneeringly asked,
Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face! (Job 1:10,11) Job's work had a blessing attached to it. No doubt Job worked hard and was a sharp fellow, but there was more to his success than merely hard work and intelligence. There was a mysterious and intangible factor, which we often call a blessing, that was enabling him to achieve success and abundance in a far greater measure than men could normally expect. God has the ability to bless our work – the work of our hands! It is to be expected that labor brings some results, but laboring under the blessing of heaven brings extraordinary results. --Spirit of Grace |
==job 1:12-20:
12 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.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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:
19 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.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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:
19 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.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
==job 1:21-22:
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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.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. |
 William Henry Green Files
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). The bitterness of his loss is made the measure of the preciousness of the blessings God had given. The severity of his trial consists in parting with what God had bestowed. Every pang that now rends his heart is a fresh proof of how gracious God has been. The magnitude of the loss determines the value of the gift, and the depth of his anguish enhances his grateful sense of the goodness of the Giver. The more deeply he mourns the treasures which have been taken away from him, the higher is his appreciation of the gracious kindness of Him who bestowed them. Thus the more profoundly he grieves, the more fervently he blesses the name of the Lord.
--William Henry Green; The Book of Job Unfolded; 1874 |
John Piper
So, we’re not surprised when we read in Job 1:11–12 that God makes Satan the instrument of the terrible suffering that he used to test his servant Job. Satan says to God, “‘Stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’” Satan goes out and, with God’s permission, takes all of his oxen, all of his camels, all of his donkeys, and then kills all ten of his children. Job’s astonishing response that magnifies the worth and trustworthiness of God is this: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.” He didn’t say Satan has taken away. “The Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). He pays no attention to Satan whatsoever. For all we know, he doesn’t even know what happened in the heavenlies with regard to Satan, but he goes straight to the ultimate source of his pain and blesses God, trusts God, casts himself utterly on God. --John Piper: Desiring God: How Not to respond to Suffering 10.31.24