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Job is possibly the oldest book in the Bible

In Genesis 46:13 the name Job is mentioned. The Law not being mentioned reveals the time was before Exodus, perhaps right before the exodus from Egypt and before the Law was even given. During the time of the patriarchs, the head of the family offered a sacrifice for the whole family. So it is logical that Job lived around the same time as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and under the same understanding of the Lord.

The book was most likely written toward the last part of the Dispensation of Promise.

Tradition holds that Moses is the author

The book describes how Job died, which indicates he didn’t write it. He lived in a place called Uz close to the deserts of Midian, where Moses dwelt for 40 years. It is possible that Moses knew Job. He was about 70 when it took place and he lived another 140 years beyond that. This book proves how divinely inspired the words are as by the word of the Lord.

The theme of Job is a systematic book on suffering

Suffering is a part of life. God uses suffering to his advantage, because he has a long term and eternal goal of blessing our lives!

Job answers many questions

1. Why do the Godly suffer? Why do Christians go through things?
2. He gives the effects of the suffering upon the sufferer and the effects on his friends and acquaintances.
3. He also answers the big question: Who caused (or causes) the suffering? Satan is the cause of the misery. People want to blame others and circumstances but not themselves or the devil.

Job gives a proper understanding of God and how he deals with people

There are things Job didn’t know, yet he thought he had it all put together. He shows us the failure of human wisdom. Job records the reasoning of ordinary men concerning these experiences.

This book shows us worldly views of God. The idea that God is impersonal and doesn’t care, is wrong!

Job had three friends

1. Eliphaz the Temanite: He argued from the standpoint of human experience. Chapters 4, 5, 15, & 22
2. Bildad the Shuhite: He argued from the stand point of human tradition. Chapters 8,18, & 25
3. Zophar the Naamathite: He argued from the stand point on human merit. Chapters 11 & 20
4. Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite – His final and true friend who prepared him to face God by telling him the truth. Chapters 32 – 37

Patience is the biggest key of Job’s victory

Job’s willingness to stick it out and never quit was the hinge upon which swung his deliverance (and ours). God is always the Deliverer!

1 Peter is a good commentator on the book of Job

1st Peter makes references to suffering.

1. 1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Once established, nothing can shake you.
2. 1 Peter 5:7-11 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

God’s goal in all of our suffering is to make you perfect, established, strengthened, settled… and happy!

James 5:10-11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Outline of the Book of Job

I. Prologue: Job’s Calamities, 1:1 – 3:26

1.  Job’s Fame and Righteousness, 1:1 – 5
2. The Discussion Between God and Satan, 1:6 – 2:10
3. Job’s Friends Come to Console Him 2:11 – 13
4. Job Laments the Day of His Birth, 3:1 – 26

II. Job Debates the Meaning of His Suffering, 4:1 – 31:40

1. The First Cycle of Speeches, 4:1 – 14:22.
2. The Second Cycle of Speeches, 15:1 – 21:34
3. The Third Cycle of Speeches, 22:1 – 31:40

III. The Speeches of Elihu, 32:1 – 37:24

1. Elihu Introduced, 32:1 – 5
2. The First Speech of Elihu, 32:6 – 33:33
3. The Second Speech of Elihu, 34:1 – 37
4. The Third Speech of Elihu, 35:1 – 16
5. The Fourth Speech of Elihu, 36:1 – 37:24

IV. God’s Conversation with Job, 38:1 – 42:6

1. God’s First Answer to Job, 38:1 – 40:5
2. God’s Second Answer to Job, 40:6 – 42:6

V. Prose Epilogue, 42:7 – 17

1. Job Intercedes for His Friends, 42:7 – 9
2. Job Is Restored to Health and Wealth, 42:10 – 17

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