Overview of Job - Bible Baptist Church

Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More

Why Jesus?

Text: Job

Job’s story is he’s a good man. The best of us. He is very rich with a large family. He is faithful to the God of the Bible. But one day, he loses everything: all his possessions, his ten children are killed, and even his health. He’s tempted to curse God and die. (We’re told why this happened, but I won’t get into that now.) The point is Job refuses to curse God.

Job’s friends begin showing up to support him, but they are so troubled by the tragedy in his life that they believe he must be getting retribution from God for some gross sin he’s committed. His friends become accusers. They are sure he’s guilty, but can’t find any particular fault. Job is all alone now, even God seems to be against him. In this horrible tragedy and crushing isolation from the people he cares about four truths appear.

The God of the Bible is put on trial with the question, Is God justified in what he allows? Doesn’t this terrible treatment of a great man mean God is unjust? The answer is no.

Job’s questions explain the reason Jesus Christ must be a man and is the mediator of the new covenant.

I am trapped in this flesh (Job 6-7)

Job 6:8-9
Things like Buddhism, drug use, and other religions try to explore ways to convince yourself that you’re not trapped, Christianity will accept this reality then provide a solution to it.
Romans 7:21-25

I cannot plead my case before God (9-10)

Job 9:1, 20 (I have no one to justify me and I can’t justify myself), 32-33
Job 10 is Job’s complaint is that God made him and now He’s destroying him. Job knows he isn’t particularly wicked, so why was he even made?
It is the classic question, why do good people suffer? We’re forced into this emotional response of anger because we lack real information. The facts are hidden from us, so we’re forced into emotional responses.
Hebrews 7:22-25, 9:24-28

I have no understanding of what God is doing (Job 12-14)

Job 12 is sarcastic. Job says, Oh yes, you three friends are the ones I should be listening to because y’all have it all figured out; as Job rolls his eyes.
Job 13:15 is a famous verse of Job’s trust in God though he lacks understanding of His work.
Job 14:13-15 Job doesn’t know the future of his own life, but desires to be hidden away in the grave until the time God is ready to give him peace and comfort.
In Christ Jesus the will of God is made very clear; 1 Peter 3:17-18 and Romans 8:31-39

I have no comfort in this life (Job 16-17)

Job 16:1, 17:10
John 14:12-16 Jesus is the comforter and responsible for giving comfort to his people.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I know I have a redeemer somewhere (Job 19)

Job 19:24-27
This redemption of the corrupt body is also called the adoption. It is offered to the Jew first, then to the Gentiles (Romans 8:15, 23, 9:4, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5)

I don’t understand why God lets this evil go on (Job 21)

Job begins this complaint by telling his friends they’re intruding on business that isn’t theirs. Basically, Job is telling them, Look, I’m not even talking to you, yet you have some ignorant advice as though you know the situation; Job 21:4
2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 the world is evil, true Christianity is opposed, and injustice either makes people yearn for righteousness or it makes them intolerably angry at God who won’t deal with it on their schedule.

I have no way of making a case to God (Job 23-24)

Job 23:3-10
1 John 2:1-2 Jesus Christ is the advocate, the mediation, the intercessor between man and God.

I have no reward for my righteousness (Job 26-31)

In other words, even if I’m good, what does it matter seeing the reward for being a kind and loving person is hidden. Job starts this part by interrogating his prosecutors. What would you know about rewards and punishments? You haven’t done half the good I’ve done for other people (Job 26:1-4). Then, Job 31:2-4.
Job finishes with several IF questions (vss 5, 7, 9, 13, 16, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 33, 38, 39). He’s trying to figure out what the charge against him is.
James 5:7-11

I have learned that God is right and good (Job 42)

This last round turns good. Elihu is God’s messenger. He’s disappointed with the other three as God is. Elihu defends the LORD but does not bring an accusation against Job because there is none to bring. He gently reminds Job of what has always been at stake which is the question of whether God is good or evil.
This is the conversation Elihu, surprisingly the youngest of Job’s friends, has with Job starting in chapter 32 and going to 37. The youngest was the wisest in this case.
The LORD begins to speak out the storm just as Elihu said He would. I don’t know if Job hears an audible voice, or if this is like an internal dialogue with Job, but the LORD brings things to light that Job needs to understand.
Job repents, though he hasn’t yet sinned, he’s definitely changed his attitude. When he prays for the people who falsely accused him in his lowest moments in life, at that point, Job is free. He’s liberated in verse 10. (God is not angry with Elihu because he’s spoken what’s right.)
- Whosoever you forgive, I forgive also. But only if you’re one that’s accepted by God.
- Father forgive them, Jesus said.