The Book of Job

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The Book of Job

• Lesson Nine
• God answers . . .

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Summary of the friends debate
• Jobs friends have stated emphatically their
  belief that the wicked are inevitably punished in
  this life
• So Job is suffering because his sin
• Job has asserted just as confidently his
  righteousness and the injustice of his suffering
• That God is punishing him

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Summary of the friends debate
• As weve seen, all four men agree on the
  theology of retribution
• They disagree in their application to Job
• And all men believe Jobs suffering is a
  reflection on his fellowship with God
• Job states repeatedly that God has cut him off

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Summary of Elihu
• Elihu feels Job has maligned Gods nature.
• Accuses Job speaking against God without
  knowledge.
• Concludes by speaking on Gods behalf to ascribe
  righteousness to the Almighty.
• Praises Gods justice and majesty.
• Implicitly, it seems, Elihu considers these other
  men as not appreciating these aspects of God

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Jobs demand
• Job has repeatedly demanded a hearing before God
• Ch. 934-35 (Let him take his rod away then I
  would speak without fear)
• Ch. 133 (I desire to argue my case with God)
• Ch. 234 (I would lay my case before Him)
• Ch. 3135 (Let the Almighty answer me! Oh, that
  I had the indictment written by my adversary)

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The Book of JobLesson 9
Each of the blind men was partly right
-Pogo Yeah, but they were all mostly
wrong. -Churchy Lafemme
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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods first discourse Chapter 38
• He confronts Job
• Who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
• I will question you and you will answer me!
• God proceeds to question Job concerning the
  Creation and inanimate nature
• Each question emphasizes Jobs mortality in
  contrast to God immortality (where were you?)
• Each emphasizes Gods omniscience, omnipotence
  and omnipresence.

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods first discourse Chapter 39
• God continues to question Job now with questions
  about animate nature
• Perhaps assuming animals would be more readily
  understandable to man?
• These questions confront Job with Gods role as
  creator and sustainer of nature
• Do you give? Is it by your understanding?
  Is it at your command?
• If Job cannot explain the function of mere
  animals, can he presume to speak to God?

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods first discourse Chapter 40
• God makes the point of his questions
• Shall Job contend with God as though he can
  correct him?
• Job should answer Gods questions if he presumes
  to answer God
• Jobs response . . . contrition
• Job admits his insignificance in contrast to
  Gods majesty
• He abandons his earlier intent to argue his case
  to God

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods second discourse Chapter 40
• The Lord continues to confront Job
• He does not acknowledge Jobs statement
• He again demands Jobs response
• Let Job justify his argument against God
• Will you condemn me that you may be in the
  right?
• God demands that Job show
• He has Gods power (have you an arm like God)
• Gods majesty and holiness (Adorn yourself)
• Gods power over men to execute judgment

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods second discourse Ch. 40-41
• Showing mans weakness in comparison to great
  creatures Behemoth and Leviathan
• Man has no hope to overcome them
• They do not dare to confront these creatures
• Yet God has created these creatures and has power
  over them
• If the creatures are awesome, how much more is
  God?
• If Man cannot contend against Behemoth and
  Leviathan, how can he contend against God?

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Gods second discourse Ch. 42
• Job responds to God with repentance
• Job answers Gods question Do you know? by
  saying, I know you can do all things
• He acknowledges that Gods will cannot be
  thwarted--so his suffering is to be accepted?
• Job admits his limited knowledge
• There are things he did not, could not, know
• He has been confronted by a revelation of Gods
  nature
• Job responds with repentance and contrition

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The Book of JobLesson 9

• Next week
• Lessons 9 and 10
• God answer Job and
• Jobs restoration