78. The Book of Job, chapters 1 and 2, to verse 8

We are now embarking on one of the more difficult parts of our journey through

the Bible, namely the Book of Job. If I attempt a very detailed study of this

mysterious book it will take many months. I shall point out some of the main

themes and leave the rest to you (I recommend the Oxford Dictionary of the

Bible as a good, initial commentary).

The first thing to note is that the Book of Job is a fable or parable. I don't think it

is about someone who actually lived. Chapter 1 introduces us to Job who lived in

the land of Uz. Verse 1 tells us that he was perfect and upright who feared God

and eschewed evil. He has seven sons and three daughters and his worth was

7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 she asses. He is described

as the greatest of all the men of the east. The sons and daughters seemed to spend

their time eating and drinking together. This caused Job some concern, and to

make sure they did not sin, he prayed and sacrificed to God every day.

When we come to verse 6 there is a change of tone. God calls :a meeting, which

Satan attends. We know that when Satan becomes involved there will be trouble,

as proves to be the case. God asks Satan what he has been doing and Satan

replies ‘walking up and down the earth’. In verse 8 God asks Satan if he has

considered Job, who is a perfect and upright man. Satan answered God by asking

a question: ‘Doth Job fear God for nothing?’. Satan goes on to state that God has

put a hedge around Job and all that he has and has blessed him. Satan says that if

God touches all that Job has, Job will curse him in his face. At this point God

puts all that Job has into Satan’s power, but he must not harm him. Read verses

13 to 19 to see what happened to Jobs possessions Verses 20, 21 give us Job's

response to all the trouble that has beset him.

In chapter 2 God calls another

meeting and again, Satan is present.

God tells Satan that although the

latter has moved against Job he has

retained his integrity. Satan says

that if God touches Job's bone and

flesh he will be cursed to his face.

God tells Satan that Job is in his

hands, but he must not take his life. At

this point Satan smote Job with boils from

The sole of his feet to the crown of his head. We leave Job at this point scraping

himself and sitting amongst the ashes.

In the next part of our journey we meet Job's wife.

A Journey through the Bible with Tiglath