1. Job gets used as a case study between God and Satan

1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

21 And he 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.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

2. Jobs friends believe that Job must have sinned somehow

25:4 How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?5 If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight, 6 How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?”

3. Job maintains his righteousness, but admits that sinners get punished by God

27:5 Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.

27:13 “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, 14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; 20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night. 21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;

4. Gold is found deep in the earth. Wisdom is more valuable and comes from God

28:12 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. 23 God understands its way, And He knows its place. 27 He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. 28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

5. Job is confused, recounts his righteousness, and asks God to answer him

30: 20 “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me. 21 But You have become cruel to me; 25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? 26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; 

• Did not look with lust at girls, controlled his eyes (31:1)

• Did not lie, (31:5)

• Did not let his desires be led by what he saw, (31:7)

• Did not let his heart be enticed by someone other than his spouse (31:9)

• Did justice (31:13)

• Helped the poor (31:16, 19), the widow and the fatherless (31:16, 17)

• Did not trust in riches, did not rejoice in wealth (31:24, 25)

• Did not rejoice at the misfortune of those who hated him (31:29)

• Was hospitable to strangers (31:32)

• Did not hide his sins (31:33)

31: “I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.(NIV)

6. The end

42:1 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

42:7 .. the Lord said.., “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 42:12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; 17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response

1. Was Job prideful when he said that he was righteous? How would his friends have regarded his claim to be righteous?
2. Why is the fear of God wisdom? How do people generally respond when they hear about this? What is the fear of God?
3. Verse 42:6 reads: “Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” Is this an accurate translation? Did Job have sin to repent of? Did God charge him with any wrongdoing? Read also comments on Job 42:1-6 here: http://dailytruthbase.blogspot.com/2012/02/job-36-42-righteous-reap-rewards.html
4. Have a good look at the character traits of a righteous person. In which of them can you improve? What will you do this week to improve in them?