Job on Trial: Rediscovering the Lessons of Job
Composed sometime between and B. To a certain extent the Book of Job takes up where Plato leaves off. If we put aside the numerous disputes over composition and textual integrity, we can see in this masterpiece of world literature some issues of justice not raised in the dialogues of Plato. For example, Job examines the critical dilemma of how we can maintain and sustain belief in a just God when we are daily exposed to the appearance in the physical world of seemingly arbitrary acts of cruelty, corruption, and blatant injustice.
This is the heart of the great human question of theodicy: How can a just, merciful God allow us to suffer so much? God responds to this cynicism by giving Satan permission to test Job, wagering with Satan that Job will demonstrate the depth of his belief. After a series of disasters that deprive Job of his possessions and most of his family, he is grief stricken, but he still praises God.
Not satisfied, Satan proposes that Job suffer injury to his person, and God, still confident, gives Satan permission to inflict on Job a loathsome disease. She tempts her husband to despair and to curse God. Three friends, who have ostensibly come to comfort Job, state that his misfortune is a punishment from some wrongdoing, and they accuse him of some concealed act of irreligion or iniquity.
Convinced of his own innocence, Job rejects their accusations. But as his anguish mounts, Job at last pleads with God to speak to him directly that he might understand the reason for this plight. Eventually God does speak to Job as a voice from a whirlwind. In lengthy, powerful speeches, God catalogues examples of His creative authority and omnipotence. He then asks rhetorically if Job has such power—the capacity to control the forces of the universe or the wisdom to understand the complex laws governing the stars, the animals, or the weather.
Job humbly confesses that he has no such ability. His faith has been restored. In an epilogue, God condemns the three friends, gives Job twice what he had before, returns his family, and gives him twice the normal life span. Job proved the fidelity of his love for God by being faithful through his great adversity, as well as during the prosperity of his life. Feb 10, Mallory rated it it was amazing Shelves: Recovering from major surgery, I figured this was a good time in my life to read this book.
He peels back the complex layers of Job and allows us to see the Recovering from major surgery, I figured this was a good time in my life to read this book. He peels back the complex layers of Job and allows us to see the relevancy to our lives today. The way Swindoll writes made me feel like I was in my own personal class on Job! The material is obviously very heavy and depressing at times; Swindoll knows when to lighten things up, but also maintains a good balance. Oct 08, Beth Peninger rated it it was amazing. Chuck Swindoll is a great teacher of God's word.
He exposes the true themes of Job and doesn't bend to the normal considerations. As I am studying the Book of Job in depth I appreciated Swindoll's discourse, I appreciated his insights and exposures of the book and how it appl Chuck Swindoll is a great teacher of God's word.
Don Smith :: Chapter 1: The God of Job (Job 1:1-5)
As I am studying the Book of Job in depth I appreciated Swindoll's discourse, I appreciated his insights and exposures of the book and how it applies to us today. Is the Book of Job and its lessons relevant to 21st century believers? The answer is a resounding YES and Swindoll takes the time to show us why. Job has been put on a pedestal in Christian circles as a man of patience but we see, in a careful examination of the book, that he wasn't patient. He was, however, enduring. He was, however, committed to God regardless. He was, however, steadfast in his pursuit of relationship with God despite the physical ailments and emotional torment.
This is a thick book, 22 chapters of discussion on the book of Job, but it is worth the time and effort required to read such a great expose on Job. May 07, Abraham rated it it was amazing Shelves: Debes leer este libro. Existen muy pocos libros sobre Job, definitivamente recomiendo este. Me gustan mucho los libros que salen motivados por experiencias personales.
Aunque es un libro largo, no puedo dejar de recomendar este libro a todo cristiano. Mar 30, Phil Della rated it really liked it. This book came along when I needed it. I had finished reading the book of Job for probably the 6th time over the last 20 years and I felt like I could use some help sorting it out in my head. I knew Swindoll well from his radio program Insight for Living, so I had a good idea of what to expect: However, I knew also that ther This book came along when I needed it.
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However, I knew also that there would be an ample amount of Swindoll's own anecdotes thrown in to make the journey through a page book entertaining. I didn't read it all through in a matter of weeks. Instead, I paired it with my daily Bible reading. This dragged the book out, but that's what I do, and I think I came away with a better understanding of Job. That's the main thing I was after. But I never would have finished the book had it not been a good read. Aug 02, Kristine rated it liked it. I listened to the audio of this book.
I actually picked this up for a couple reasons. First - my Sunday School Class will be starting a series on Job in September and I wanted to be somewhat prepared to enter the discussion. And I think it gave me some insight to be able to to that. Second - I am in the midst of some trials in my life at the moment and I thought it might be helpful in dealing with those. And it did give me some gems of wisdom.
The Deep Meaning of the Story of Job
It is however a long, meandering, repetitive book, and I listened to the audio of this book. It is however a long, meandering, repetitive book, and although I should have expected it given the subject matter, some of the right winged side comments threw me for a loop.
I didn't think they really gave any kind of helpful insight when thrown in. It's making me hesitant to listen to the other books in the series that I had marked for reading. Jan 26, Jason Henry added it. Whether it was learning of Satan's sinister, fault-finding personality or Job who walked with God all his life and yet still was tested on his faithfulness and integrity shows he still had much to learn about God or the God who knows everything perfectly from the beginning could let evil have its way because in the end He would settle all accounts in His way and in His time, this book was a real treat on the life and trials of Job.
Through Job we learn about ourselves, the nature of people, Sata Whether it was learning of Satan's sinister, fault-finding personality or Job who walked with God all his life and yet still was tested on his faithfulness and integrity shows he still had much to learn about God or the God who knows everything perfectly from the beginning could let evil have its way because in the end He would settle all accounts in His way and in His time, this book was a real treat on the life and trials of Job.
Through Job we learn about ourselves, the nature of people, Satan, and the Sovereign God who doesn't have to explain himself to anybody. I would recommend this book to anybody. Sep 19, Calvin Sun rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book started out slower, was quite long, and ended with amazing grace. I can not recommend this book more highly as each of us will entertain sorrow and trials in our lives Instead of trying to find some theological treaties to sorrow and pain, Swindoll shows us the response of the man in question. How Job endured and responded are treasured lessons meant to learn in a life time.
Apr 20, B. Good book for a hard to understand book of the Bible. As you recall, the book of Job is filled with poetry and is sometimes hard to understand at least for me. Charles Swindoll describes the life lessons from the book of Job and dissects all of the characters involved, e.
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There were yoke of oxen plus donkeys for plowing and pulling carts. Job saw himself as a steward of God's resources. Everything he enjoyed was a gift from God. Job believed that we are to accept adversity with the same gratitude that we accept prosperity. He reasoned that if God is sovereign and holy, then whatever He allows or designs to enter his life is for God's glory and his good.
God made Job "The greatest of all the people of the East" Job 1: In the days of his prime, God was good to Job's tent. His wife and ten children surrounded him. Every step he took was bathed in cream and the rocks poured out rivers of oil. Things could not have been more idyllic and pleasant-all because of God's grace. This was the day God appointed prosperity for Job. But that day was about to come to sudden stop. We, like Job, do not know what we will face in days ahead. God has ordained that this knowledge be hidden from us.
That is why we are to live by faith. Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. As the curtain closes on the first act, Job is seen as a priest sacrificing to his Holy God Job 1: A true measure of Job's blessing was that of his family celebrating life together. His sons and daughters gathered for family birthdays and festivals even when he and his wife could not attend.
They would invite all the family to come for these great events where every member of the family was significant and celebrated on their appointed day. The family is a place to belong, a shelter in a time of storm, a museum of memories, a school of truth, a Red Cross center, and a sacred site for worship. And Job's children perpetuated these spiritual and family values with which they had grown up. When it came time for these family celebrations, it provided an opportunity to pray for every child individually.
The Deep Meaning of the Story of Job
Job would invite each of them to come home and spend some time with him. Then he would sanctify or purify them in preparation to worship the Lord. He would cleanse them and anoint them with oil. Then he would offer burnt offerings that ascended up to the Lord.
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He was a priest for his family like Noah, Abraham, and Jacob, years before the Levitical priesthood was ever ordained by God. Why did Job do this? He did this because he feared that one of his family members might have offended a holy God. As the priest of his family, he wanted to intercede for his children when they sinned. But he also feared they may have cursed God in their hearts. Nothing so tortured his heart than to think that one of his children might have blasphemed or dismissed God in their hearts. It would have been helpful to hear Job's godly counsel as he listened to his sons and daughters and then lead them in personal worship of God.
As the stage darkens and the curtain falls on the scene of one of Job's stories, the orchestra plays bright, melodious music as the audience sinks back in their cushioned seats thinking, "This is a boring, predictable drama filled with moral lessons. That is the beauty of Job's story. It is a reminder to live every day as a gift from God. God is immutable, but His ways are not always revealed to us. He is most pleased when we are pleased to radically trust in Him.
For the Lord has said, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways; For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts" Isaiah Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding.
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