The Book of Job

ladylynn · Aug 2, 2015

Aug 02, 2015

The Source of Identity

1 Peter 2:9-10

How often do we evaluate ourselves on the basis of our feelings rather than what God says? The problem is, our feelings are always changing. From one moment to the next, we never know what circumstances will arise to test our faith.

Maybe today is “one of those days”—the car didn’t start, the boss has been breathing down your neck, the mortgage payment is due, and money is short. During such times, it can be difficult to think of yourself with “sober judgment” (Romans 12:3 NIV). But remember, Satan will do whatever he can to divert your attention from the Lord. When we direct our focus toward circumstances instead of the Word of God, we accept what the situation seems to indicate or what others say, instead of what the Lord tells us.

So what do the Scriptures say about us? Today’s passage calls believers “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, [and] . . . God’s own possession.” And our purpose is to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Chosen race, a royal priesthood and God's own possession...to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness unto His marvelous light.....

How encouraging it is to know that we’ve been called into God’s “marvelous light.” Yet unless we have help, we are unable to escape the “darkness” of our circumstances. As believers, we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to overcome Satan’s manipulative tactics.

Poor Job didn't have the HolySpirit to empower him and enable him to overcome satan's manipulative tactics like we do. He didn't have the HS to comfort him like we do. He had no comforters he only had "Job's comforters" who were not much comfort at all. They just judged him because they didn't have any insight about the devil and his tactics and also figured God was punishing Job for some hidden sin. But what else could they do? They didn't understand grace., they never heard the Gospel.

When circumstances seem unbearable, remember the Lord paid a price to purchase you (1 Corinthians 6:20). Wake up each morning with the knowledge that you are valuable to your Father. Trust in His Word, not your feelings, and allow the Holy Spirit to change your self-perception.

oldthennew · Aug 2, 2015

JOB 19:25-26.

For I know that my REDEEMER liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job was very aware that he had a Redeemer, he was accounted with Daniel and Noah, these three
are coupled together as 'men of righteousness'.

unto Abraham, another great man of God, God revealed to him His Commandments, Statutes, and Laws..
GEN.26:5.
As it is written, The Lord reveals His secrets to the prophets.
it is written again, For the Spirit of Christ dwelled in them.

resurrection33 · Aug 2, 2015

flob said:

The Lord always solves my problems. He doesn't always do it the way I expected, but he always solves my problems.

resurrection33 · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

I think the Lord wants us to turn to him with our problems, and it is his intention to solve our problems for us, if only we will listen to him and accept his guidance.

resurrection33 · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

If I was in a tremendous amount of physical pain, I wouldn't be thinking about my home or my business. It is sad to lose family members, but it happens to everybody. Family members pass on to heaven and we will join them there someday.

resurrection33 · Aug 2, 2015

Christine1974 said:

But would God have changed his timing had Job asked him to? I think he would have. God listens to our prayers and answers them when circumstances permit.

atwhatcost · Aug 2, 2015

ladylynn said:

Again! Job lost ten kids! He never got those kids back, even if he had more kids. To dismiss Job's life with "God blessed Job more than when Job first started" is to dismiss the mighty work of God in his life. What Job went through really, really hurt in every imaginable way. It hurt to his dying day. But what God told him strengthened him and gave us insight into God's glory.

This isn't an easy story to make it into easy-peasy-Christianese. Horrible things happen, and, yes, God gave decrees for them to happen. God was in control. Full control. Our trust is in God even when life turns horrible. That is Job's example, and even he questioned God at one point. Yet he was a man after God's own heart. That's the amazing thing about Job. And here we are being Job's friends. Trying to tell him the easy way through that. It was never, ever easy!

atwhatcost · Aug 2, 2015

resurrection33 said:

You say the Lord has always solved your problems. Here you sound like you believe he solved all of Job's problems.

So, okay. How did he solve the problem of Job losing all ten of his children? They had names. They had personalities. One of them was Job's "problem child." One was the apple of his eye. Each one he loved separately and showed it in different ways. They grew up. Chances were good while the youngest one was being weaned, the oldest was checking out the local singles -- might have already been married. Job went through all of that. And then he lost them all. How did God solve that problem? Giving him 20 more kids?

After all, Job did listen to him. God spoke audibly to Job and said a whole bunch that was even recorded. The lesson might have even been more than just audio, although we won't know in this lifetime. And Job did listen. And Job did accept God's guidance. So how was it all fixed?

God has been very gracious to you. That doesn't make your life the gospel. God "fixed" Jacob by giving him a bum hip. He "fixed" Paul by having him killed by Rome. He "fixed" all the apostles by having them killed. All but one, and the Beloved lived a long life, much of it in exile. THAT's the gospel. That's what God deems "problem-solving" for his kids. The American Dream isn't the gospel, even if God is gracious enough to give some of his kids that.

atwhatcost · Aug 2, 2015

resurrection33 said:

TEN kids! TEN! Have you ever known someone who lost a child? Have you ever known someone who lost two children? Seeing their despair, how does anyone deal with losing all ten? TEN kids!!! And he lived long enough to have ten more, so it wasn't like he only went through that pain for a short time before God took him home. Stop downplaying what Job went through or you miss the entire lesson!

ladylynn · Aug 2, 2015

oldthennew said:

Job is one of the oldest if not the oldest book in the Bible. It was even before Abraham and Moses. The people had very little understanding about the spiritual realm. Job was given revelation from God in many of the things he found out., but Job also was very wrong about God's dealings with him and God told him so. God also told the 3 friends they were wrong about their ideas of Him. So much so that Job needed to pray for them. Only one guy was not wrong and he was the one who didn't say much till later., And he was the only one who was not corrected by God.

Again, Job did not have what we have. He had revelations concerning God and he knew about a Redeemer and had faith in His coming at the latter day upon the earth etc... but he didn't have what we have the constant presence of the HolySpirit to guide direct and comfort. And remember the Prophets were to communicate God's words to the people. Priests were for representing the people to God. We have Jesus as our Great High Priest Who goes before us. They didn't have that representative nor did they have the HolySpirit like we do. Can you see the difference?

ladylynn · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

Yes., Job lost his children... and for 9 months he suffered one loss after another loss. One right after the other just as one servant told him some horrible news another servant came to tell him even more horrible news. But God brought an end to his suffering with the comfort that goes above and beyond his losses suffered.

Don't you think God can restore Job not only materially and physically but mentally and emotionally? I do! Job 42:10-17 God restored Job and healed him. Of course it hurt at the time Job suffered but the suffering stopped and restoration from the very hand of God came. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning,.... he had 7 sons and 3 daughters and none in all the land were as fair as Jobs daughters. Then God allowed Job to live to a ripe old age 140 and he saw his sons, and his grandsons, 4 generations. And Job died and old man full of days.

God put that in the Bible about Jobs end being pretty wonderful., I don't believe Job was suffering the way you say in your post "to his dying day" I see he was very joyful with what God restored him with and was thankful enough to be given a long life to enjoy it! Nothing "easy-peasy-Christianese" about it. Horrible things happen but God makes all things new. God doesn't make things horrible. "Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Why is this misery associated with God something to hold on to? God is good, God heals and restores the years the locusts have eaten... He gives a peace that passes all understanding..., He is a good and loving God. Not a tyrannical schizophrenic personality.

DiscipleDave · Aug 2, 2015

resurrection33 said:

There are many reasons the Book of Job was left to us. One of the Main reasons it was left for us to read, is to reveal to us that the troubles we are going through is trivial to the troubles Job went through. Anytime i think life is terrible, or troubles come my way, i remember JOB. His Troubles and his life was far worse than anything i am going through today, If Job can handle it and not sin against God, so can i. Job also teaches us how to handle problems that arise. Even though Job did not understand why all that happened to him, happened to him, he did not turn away from God. Yes we can grieve troubles that come upon us, only let us not Blame God for them, let us not turn away from God, because of them. And even though we do not understand the "Why" they have come upon us, let us look to JOB and remember what he went through, because in my whole life my troubles have not come close to what Job went through. Also JOB teaches us, That if God would allow all that stuff to happen to JOB, then God would also allow bad stuff to happen to you as well. All of it a test. JOB was being tested by God. When trials and tribulations come upon us, it is because of several possible reasons, to be Tested, to be punished, to teach us, to help us grow, or whatever else, all to our own benefit, even if we do not know or understand the "Why" behind it. JOB is very inspirational to me.

Responding to OP

atwhatcost · Aug 2, 2015

ladylynn said:

Yes., Job lost his children... and for 9 months he suffered one loss after another loss. One right after the other just as one servant told him some horrible news another servant came to tell him even more horrible news. But God brought an end to his suffering with the comfort that goes above and beyond his losses suffered.

Don't you think God can restore Job not only materially and physically but mentally and emotionally? I do! Job 42:10-17 God restored Job and healed him. Of course it hurt at the time Job suffered but the suffering stopped and restoration from the very hand of God came. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning,.... he had 7 sons and 3 daughters and none in all the land were as fair as Jobs daughters. Then God allowed Job to live to a ripe old age 140 and he saw his sons, and his grandsons, 4 generations. And Job died and old man full of days.

God put that in the Bible about Jobs end being pretty wonderful., I don't believe Job was suffering the way you say in your post "to his dying day" I see he was very joyful with what God restored him with and was thankful enough to be given a long life to enjoy it! Nothing "easy-peasy-Christianese" about it. Horrible things happen but God makes all things new. God doesn't make things horrible. "Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Why is this misery associated with God something to hold on to? God is good, God heals and restores the years the locusts have eaten... He gives a peace that passes all understanding..., He is a good and loving God. Not a tyrannical schizophrenic personality.

You're making him out to be some kind of disorder. (I don't think there is a TS personality, so no idea what you're doing with the labeling.) Yes, rest. Not easy-peasy-God-heals-allism.

He's our comfort and our goal. Not our binky.

StevieJ · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

Lynn didnt dismiss Job's life She quoted what God said. So really your saying God dismissed Gods mighty work. Not Lynn.
Its really difficult trying to tell someone who has never really seen the love of God come into your life and heal ALL your pain.
So you are God cant heal someone because they lost a child or ten. God is the God that heals. God can do anything even remove your pain. Some find that hard to believe.

StevieJ · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

You are limited in your understanding of what God can do.
If God was gracious to resurrection33. Then that is the gospel.

I dont understand your estimations of God.

You look like your missing the part of we die to self with Christ. Our lives are over when we take up the gospel message.

I baptized my 22 and 19 year old son and daughter. They are now dead. Alive in Christ.
Thats the gospel.

StevieJ · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

I seen a man get told in church he just lost his wife daughter and the grand daughter is critical in hospital. He asked the worship team to come up and worship God. Not everyone needs to do what you believe they all do. It all depends where you are in Christ.

StevieJ · Aug 2, 2015

resurrection33 said:

satan hates you and job and me. That is the question answerd why Job suffered.

StevieJ · Aug 2, 2015

atwhatcost said:

Your saying how could God have helped him now your saying Gods his comforter. So you think God might have comforted Job like we all been saying?

jb · Aug 2, 2015

resurrection33 said:

Also ask the question, why did the Lord Jesus suffer so much during His life upon earth (He certainly suffered more than Job did), and I'm not talking about going to the cross? Psalm 69v7-12,20,21, Isaiah 53v4,10 ("he hath put him to grief," is literally "He hath made him sick"), Heb 2v17,18, 4v15

The answer is found in Heb 2v10

Yahweh Shalom

dcontroversal · Aug 2, 2015

I have noticed that a few attribute the things that happened unto Job as from the hand of God and I want to remind everyone one that God did not do these things to Job, but rather allowed Satan to do these things unto Job....Job had the same problem...He wrongly believed that God was doing these things and that is a point to be pondered and learned....Not everything that happens bad in our lives is a direct result of God moving against us...sometimes it is the enemy being allowed to touch us for whatever reason and or lesson that we need to learn......maybe to get us to have a deeper faith in God............just a point to ponder!

The Book of Job

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