The House You're Building

God never gave Job the reason for his suffering.   Instead, he wanted Job to trust Him, to maintain his faith despite his circumstances.   And Job complied. The message of Job is that, no matter the circumstances, we can trust God fully.   When all is lost and there is no one to turn to, we can always trust that God is there.   He can be our ever present hope because He created all things, He knows all things, and His power is greater than anything we could ever imagine.   Key Verses:   Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.   The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.   Blessed be the name of the Lord.   Job 1:21   Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?   Job 2:10   Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.   Job 13:15   But it is still my consolation, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One. ...

I’ve typed this introduction a few times now.   It is a humbling thing to find just the right words to prepare one to read God’s response to Job.   Since my words are inadequate, I’ll use His:     Listen to this, stand and consider the wonders of God.   Do you know how God establishes them? (Job 37:14,15 NASV)       We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; even though He is just and righteous, He does not destroy us (Job 37:23 NLT)       But to man He said, Behold the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—this is Wisdom (Job 28:28 Amplified)       I know through my study of this book, God has opened my eyes through His Spirit to behold His majesty.   Reading through these next chapters, I am praying that you will catch a glimpse of it too.   For when we witness a piece of God with our frail human eyes, suffering and seeming injustices fade aw...

Job 32 through 37 introduces Elihu, someone we haven’t heard from before during these discourses, but who can no longer stay silent about what he has heard about the cause of Job’s suffering.   Like the others, Elihu explains Job’s suffering based on his own perception of God’s character.   But unlike the others, Elihu is not grouped in God’s displeasure (Job 42:7) in the misrepresentation of Him.   Pay close attention to what Elihu says about God’s character because nothing is more important than knowing Him.   Key verse:   Job 33:28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit and my life shall look upon the light.    Read Chapters 32 through 33. ·          What does Elihu say about himself?   Why could he no longer remain silent? ·          What is Elihu’s main charge against Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar? ·     ...

  When the pain of life comes, it’s easy to fantasize how great things used to be.   Sometimes the familiar, though it was also hard, is what we long for.   For example, when traveling in the wilderness, the Israelites complained to Moses that their life was so hard they’d rather be back in Egypt (Numbers 14:2-3) where they experience slavery.   So where does your mind go when suffering comes?   Do you look back only remembering the good times?   This week, Job shows that same human tendency of looking back in the continuation of his response to Bldad that he began in chapter 26.    In his memory is he faithful to God?   Key Verse: Job 31:14 What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?   Job 29 ·          Make a list of Job’s perspective on his relationships, wealth and physical health.   This will help you understand how he...

True wisdom does not come from having more education, more knowledge, or even more experiences; instead, true wisdom comes only from God.   “ For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.   He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,   Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.”   Proverbs 2:6-8.   In these next chapters, Job is beginning to understand that fear, awe, and reverence of God is the beginning of wisdom.   And despite their professed “wisdom” about the source of Job’s woes, his so-called “friends” appear to know nothing.   Key Verse:   “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28     Read Chapter 25. ·          What is Bildad’s one main point?   Read Chapter 26. · ...

This week begins the third and final discourse between Job and his friends.   Hard to even give them this title at this point!   This week we will read about the last discussion between Job and Eliphaz. Wealth and how to produce that which lasts (refining) seems to be the main theme in this section, so as you read make sure you notice their opposing views.     Key Verse: But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me I shall come out as gold.   Job 3:10   Job 22 ·          What does Eliphaz claim Job is valuing instead of God?   List the specific sins he says Job has committed.   ·          Read through these New Testament references about the influence of riches.   Some of the references describe earthy treasures while some describe heavenly ones.   Take notes on how these verses parallel Eliphaz’s argument: Matthew 6:19-21; Ma...

This study closes off the second discourse between Job and his friends, as Bildad and Zophar weigh in.   Again, they maintain Job is wicked and proof is that God has destroyed his wealth.   Despite their persistent negativity, Job keeps his head and does not sin.     More importantly, we see a picture of Jesus in chapter 19.   Here we see our Lord as our Kinsman-Redeemer, the one who would rescue out of slavery.   In Old Testament Times, one who could not pay his or her debts sold themselves into slavery.   The redeemer would come and pay to set them free.    The redeemer could also avenge the deaths of relatives; in Numbers 35 God sets cities aside for manslayers to have refuge from the redeemer.   Praise be to God, for Christ has avenged our sin by his blood and come to rescue us from the slavery of sin!   Key Verse:          For I know that my Redeemer lives,  ...

This section begins the second cycle of argument between Job and his friends as they debate suffering.   Eliphaz, the same person who spoke to him begins the response.   Remember he was the one who claimed he knew of suffering because of a vision he received in the night and what he’d obserbed about life.   The second time around, he no longer wants to appeal for him to repent; he’s seen Job’s other responses and that argument seems pointless now.   His words intensify and his argument too, that Job is wicked and is being punished.   He goes so far as to say that his response to his suffering is rebellion against God (Job 15:13).   Remember as you study that this book is poetic and should be interpreted as such.   When Eliphaz hammers his points, they tend to repeat as in poetry this adds emphasis and intensity to his argument.   Job’s response in chapters 16 and 17 can be summed up by our key verse this week:   My friends sco...

This week we read Zophar’s perspective on Job’s suffering.   Like the others, Zophar tells him to repent of his hidden sin so that he can be saved from his suffering.   Like the others, Zophar fundamentally misunderstands what repentance means and what it does for us.   True repentance (Gr. “Metanoia”) means a change of mind and purpose and life.   It can mean forsaking sin (Ezekiel 14:6), confessing sin (Luke 15:17-19), and sometimes making restitution for our sin (Luke 19:8).   But, contrary to what Zophar tells Job, repentance of sin will not end suffering.   It will, however, draw us closer to God and allow us to have a full relationship with Him.   Key Verse:   “ Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.”   Job 13:15a   Read Job 11-14   ·          Make a chart comparing Zophar’s accusations and Job’s response.   ·         ...

This next study begins the first discourse between Bildad, one of the three friends in chapter 2 who came to mourn, and Job’s response.     Key Verse:                 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? Job 8:3   The key verse today points to a major theme in this section and one that all Christians must come to girps with.   Can we blame God when bad things happen?   Do we think He is vindictive and spiteful?   Allowing thoughts like this can give Satan many opportunities about God’s love for us.   Let us look carefully today into Job as we continue to wrestle internally with these questions.       Read chapters 8-10 and answer the following questions:   ·          What is Bildad’s main point?   What does he believe caused Job’s suffering? ·  ...

A friend’s counsel and comfort can be much needed during times of trial.   Someone who has gone through similar circumstances can help sustain us with support and wisdom.   However, everyone is shaped by their experiences.   Experiences affect our perception on life and influence how we react to certain circumstances.   But our perceptions aren’t always true and our reactions aren’t always right.   Therefore, while we can accept a friend’s counsel, comfort and support, we must always measure it by what is true -   God’s Holy Word.   For only God’s Word can provide us with infallible truth every time.   This week we begin reading the first of several conversations between Job and his friends regarding each of their accounts of why Job was facing such calamity.   As you read Eliphaz’s explanation for Job’s suffering, compare it with (1) what you know from reading chapters 1 and 2; and (2) what you know about God’s character.   As...

  Key Verse:   Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips .     Job 2:9-10   This week, Job will lose more than just his family and material wealth, which would be enough to destroy anyone’s faith! He will have to give up his physical health.   Yet this too God allows to reveal Job’s faithfulness.   When I think of my life, I realize I have little to complain about compared to what he suffered.   I like Job long to respond to tragedy with faith.   And like Peter to say:   But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed .   1 Peter 4:13   Read Job 2 ·         Like last week,...