Theme of Job
The book of Job is written in the style of Hebrew Poetry. Which it totally different than English poetry. Hebrew poetry is the arrangement of thought. It is not the arrangement of sound.
It consists of parallelisms, or what is called thought rhythm.
In synonymous couplets. So one line is echoed in the next.
And also in Antithetical couplets. So contrasted or opposite.
The couplets are then either doubled, or trebled, or quadrupled making either 2 liners, 4 liners, 6 liners or 8 liners.
About Job the great poet Tennyson said “The greatest poem of all ancient or modern literature.”
Because of the complexity of it Victor Hugo said “The book of Job is perhaps the greatest masterpiece of the Human Mind.”
While the book of Job is written in Poetry it is not made up like most English poetry. The events in Job are real people and real events that happened and real conversations.
Ezekiel (14:14) and the book of James (5:11) both verify that Job really lived.
We think that Job lived around the time of Abraham. Some would put Job in between Genesis chapter 11 and chapter 12. This is when Abraham was in Egypt and was calling his wife his sister.
There is no way that they can know that for sure. The events in Job could have been before Abraham went to Egypt or they could have been a little after. But there is evidence that leads to Job having to be around that time frame.
One of the main evidences pointing to this conclusion is the content of the book of Job.
All the men in Job including Job himself use a huge amount of things in their arguments. I mean it is a lot.
However, there is no mention of Israel’s history. No mention of the giving of the Law or the Exodus from Egypt, or the crossing of the Red Sea or the journeys in the wilderness.
This makes if obvious that the happenings in Job had to happen before any of those events.
They also tell us that the style of Hebrew used in Job is of the very early times and not the later day style of Hebrew.
The book of Job gives comments about the kings building desolate places for themselves. A possible reference to the early pyramids in Job 3:14, and if not the early pyramids then other kings building tombs for themselves. Tombs are desolate places. There is no life there.
Cities plural are mentioned in Job 15:28. Because of the general location of where the book of Job takes place those cities they think is a reference to the cities of the plain mentioned in Gen chapter 13.
And Noah’s Flood is mentioned Job 22:15-16.
So that places the book after the flood. And after Egypt started building at least the earliest smaller pyramids. And if that reference is not to the early pyramids other kings were building themselves tombs during that time.
And the cities of the plains had to be there. Those cities are mentioned in Gen chapter 13.
Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Gen 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Gen 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Also one of the 3 friends was a grandson of Nahor Abraham’s brother.
Gen 22:20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
Gen 22:21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
If you are a descendant of someone they would add the letters ite at the end. So a descendant of Buz is called a Buzite.
Abraham is in his 90’s when he is in Egypt calling his wife his sister. So the timing fits. That gives plenty of time for Nahor’s grandson to be old enough to have his conversation with Job.
Put it all together and the events in Job had to happen somewhere before the destruction of Sodom in Gen chapter 18 and very likely closer to Gen chapter 11 thru 13 which is before Abraham and Sarah have the promised child of Isaac.
After the trial was over Job lives another 140 years.
Job 42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
Job 42:17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Before the trial started Job was old enough to have children that were of age doing their own thing. So Job had to be on the young side close to 40 and on the old side close to 60. Add to that the fact that Job lived another 140 years.
And that gives the age range of Job between 180 and 200 years old. People did still live that long close to the flood.
People love to theorize and argue. There is debate on who wrote the book of Job. The best theory I have seen is that Job wrote it and gave it to one of his great grandsons or other descendant who gave it to Moses when he was in the land of Midian.
Jewish tradition holds that they got the book from Moses. Again that is something that stays in theory land, but it is plausible.
The main theme of Job is dealing with the problem of suffering of the righteous. It is not dealing with the issue of why Devil worshippers suffer.
But why do the godly suffer? Why do those that Love God suffer? That is a very common question.
Since it is true that God is love and it is true that God loves His children. The Bible says Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.
That is absolutely true. Then why does His children have afflictions?
In the book of Job you have several who say why they think that is. They all have their idea as to why and many try to attempt to answer those questions.
- Satan – His view is that God’s people deserve suffering. You see this in his accusation. He said that God’s people love and serve Him only to gain temporal advantage. They only serve God for what good they can get out of it. Like their health or other blessings.
And the reason they don’t suffer is because God puts a hedge of protection around them.
Remove the hedge and they will suffer because Satan wants them to suffer. Because he hates God and all that is God’s and because they are God’s then in his view they deserve to suffer.
- The view of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar are basically the same.
These 3 friends of Job say that the sufferings of the righteous are punishment for known and also for secret sins.
Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
And he says.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Eliphaz then talks about troubles and that God will deliver you from them and then he says.
Job 5:27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
Eliphaz is saying since suffering is because of sin, and since you are suffering, then you must be sinning. So do not despise God’s chastening so get right because it is for your good.
However, God established early on that Job was a good man.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Job was walking with God. God says he was perfect and upright and hated evil. He was even concerned that his children might mess up when they were feasting.
Job 1:5 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 was not sinning, he was doing right in the eyes of God and God told this to Satan.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Satan says it is only because of the hedge of protection. God removes that hedge. Job then loses everything.
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Job 1:21 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.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
So God records that after the loss of everything that Job sinned not. So the suffering of Job could not be because Job was getting chastised for sin.
Later we get more information about how Job lived.
Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Job 29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Job 29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Job 29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Job lived for others. He helped the poor, the fatherless, and the widow. And Job did not wait for a need to come to him. The cause which I knew not I searched out. Job looked for ways to help those in need. He looked for those in need.
Over and over Job defends himself against his 3 friends. After one of those defenses (not the one we just read) his friend Zophar responds.
Job 11:1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Job 11:2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Job 11:3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Job defended the fact that he was not a sinner and that his suffering is not because of that. And Zophar here is calling Job a liar. Should thy lies make men hold their piece? He calls Job’s defense mocking and that Job should be made ashamed.
Job 11:4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Job 11:5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
Job 11:6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
That is very hurtful language. Job is suffering and his friend says you are getting less than your sin deserves. And then goes into how God sees Job’s wickedness.
Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
And then he basically tells Job get your heart right and put away your wickedness and God will stop the suffering.
Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 11:15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Job 11:16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
So get right put away your wickedness and all will be well but if not you will not escape and your only hope is to die.
The 3 friends will restate it and phrase their argument in different ways but it all boils down to the same view that we just read.
Why do the righteous suffer? Well Satan’s view on it is wrong. And we see the view of all 3 of Job’s friends is wrong. The only reason for the suffering of the righteous is not chastisement.
Elihu watches the entire exchange and get angrier and angrier. Finally at the end he can take it no more and explodes a little.
- The view of Elihu is closer than the 3 friends but he is still not quite right.
Job 32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
Job 32:3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
He is mad at the 3 friends because they had no answer but condemned Job anyway. And he is mad at Job because Job justified himself and not God.
The attacks of the 3 friends had moved Job away from his first answer which was correct. the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In defending the attacks and the fact that Job was not wicked Job got off track and went from Justifying the Lord which is where Job was when the suffering started. But Job ended up justifying himself instead.
This made Elihu mad and Elihu is right in both of those cases. All 4 of them now are to be blamed.
Job 33:12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Job 33:13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
His view is God is greater than man and you should not strive against Him and God does not have to give account of any of his matters.
And Elihu says that God cannot do wickedly.
Job 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Job 34:11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Job 34:12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Elihu’s view is correct in these areas. In God is no darkness at all. God cannot do wrong. God is greater than man and He does not have to answer to you. God does not have to explain Himself.
While that is all true. Elihu does not really answer the question. Why do the righteous suffer?
He got mad because the 3 friends did not have an answer, however it is kind of hypocritical because Ehihu also does not have an answer.
The 3 friends could not answer it, Job could not answer it and got off track and an attitude problem trying to give an answer and Elihu while he did correct a few things he could not answer the question.
But the only one that gives the answers to those questions and the only one that we should listen to is God.
All of the others in the book of Job who attempt to answer those questions are wrong. They might be close at times. They might even get a thing right here or there, but on the whole they are off. All of their arguments are flawed.
What are some of the reasons given by God for it?
- That Satan might be silenced:
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 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.
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 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.
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And Satan was wrong and lost in both cases. Job never cursed God for the losing of his stuff or for the boils.
So the suffering did silence Satan because it showed that Job was not serving God for the stuff or the hedge of protection.
We can see many of the reasons in the exchange between God and Job at the end of the book.
- That Job might see God Job 42:5
We see this in Job’s answer after God comes and rebukes Job.
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Suffering can cause a Christian to take a real good look at God and see God more clearly.
- That Job might see himself as he truly is.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
The godly are afflicted so that they might be brought to self-knowledge and self-judgment.
And also for purifying.
- That Job’s friends might learn not to judge.
Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
The suffering of the righteous is not always about the one suffering. Some of it can be about teaching others. Thru the suffering of Job those 3 friends got knocked off their high horse.
Our suffering can be about others. Both the correction of others as we see with the 3 friends. But our suffering can also inspire others if we handle it well. And it can also prepare us to help someone else later who goes thru something similar.
Our suffering can be about others.
- That Job might learn to pray for his critics rather than lash out against them.
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
- To demonstrate that all God’s plans for His own eventually work for good.
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
And when we see all of those reasons we learn another lesson. Our suffering can be about more than one thing. God can be working and using it for multiple reasons at the same time.
And from other parts of the Bible we do see that sometimes God does chastise us. So in total today we mentioned 7 reasons.
1 So Satan might be silenced
2 That Job might see God more clearly
3 That Job might see himself as he truly is. Self-reflection, self-judgment, and purifying.
I would put trials help us learn and grow under both number 2 and 3.
4 It can be about others. That Job’s friends might learn not to judge
5 That Job might learn to pray for his critics rather than lash out against them.
6 To demonstrate that God’s plans eventually work out for good.
7 And sometimes it is for chastisement. Not in Job’s case but in some cases it can be.
Job teaches us that God does have reasons and that He does not have to answer to us and explain everything to us while we are in a period of suffering.
Our place is to not get our attitude off like Job did. Instead we should have faith in the goodness of our Lord and trust in His love for us and believe there are reasons for it. And understand that we don’t have to know why to still have faith and trust and love for our Savior.
If we look at the entire book of Job we can see many reasons why the righteous suffer, but not every reason. There are other reasons that we see when we look at the entire Bible. One reasons is self-inflicted suffering. This is suffering that comes from the natural consequences of us making a stupid choice. God will let us exercise our free will and He will let us make a mess of things and have to endure the natural consequences.
And another reason for suffering is we live in a sin stained world that is under a curse and everything is running downhill. For example if you have the privilege of getting old, there will be some suffering. For example bad joints. That suffering can be simply from life. A natural result of getting old.
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