Understanding the Book of Job: Themes and Insights
The poetical and wisdom books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and
Song of Solomon. Hebrew poetry is based on parallelism that uses repetition and contrast
The Book of Job
Job 42:10
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
1. Author
Uncertain (Some believe Moses to be the author)
2. Date
Unspecified date (Fifteenth – Second Century B.C.)
3. Theme
The Suffering of the Godly and the Sovereignty of God
4. Purpose
The purpose of the book of is to show the goodness of God and the wisdom of His providence and sovereignty even in trials experienced by those who trust in Him.
5. Content
Setting and Background: Job 1:1-2:10
Job 1:8-10
“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 shun evil?”
“So, Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
- Job loses property and children
- Job loses his health
Job 2:9
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:10
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job and his three friends Job 2:11-31:40
Job 2:11
Now, when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place-Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him,
and to comfort him.
- Job’s friends told him that sin had caused his suffering, but Job maintained his innocence
Elihu’s words: Job 2:11-31:31
- Job 32:2-3
Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also, against his three friends, his wrath was aroused because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. - Elihu speaks on the goodness of God
God speaks: Job 42:1-17
- Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
Ending: Job 42:1-17
- Job 42:1-6
Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor[a] myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” - Job 42:10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Christ in the Book of Job
- Job as a type of Christ
- Christ suffered and was stripped of all He had
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