The same yesterday, today, and forever. Job 2.9, 10
Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Job (1)
Pray Psalm 93.1, 2.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
Sing Psalm 93.1, 2.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
The LORD in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love—
His reign is sure!
Read Job 1.1-12 and 2.1-10; meditate on Job 2.9, 10.
Preparation
1. How was Satan able to torment Job?
2. How did Job respond to his suffering?
Meditation
The essential message of the book of Job is set forth in these two chapters: The Word rules in heaven and He is sovereign in all matters, spiritual and temporal. All the characters in this story take this for granted, from Satan to Job’s wife and his “friends” to Elihu and to Job himself.
The question that is implicit throughout this book is, “How can we know Him?” Job’s “friends” believe they can know God by rational agreement. Job, though he falters, believes we must wait on Him for all that we can know about Him. Mere reason is not sufficient to enable us to acquire Wisdom.
Job’s trials are familiar. In chapters 1 and 2 Satan acknowledges that he has no power over the Word Who rules in heaven. No power to resist His will and no power to act on earth other than what He permits. Satan proved himself to be, as Edwards said, the greatest blockhead of all time, by thinking that the incarnation of this Word might have changed that (Matt. 4.1-11).
The Word of God who ruled Satan and all the heavenly host, and Whose will for earthly events is irresistible, is the same Word Who became flesh and dwelled among us, and Whose glory we have known (Jn. 1.1-14).
The lesson for Israel was fourfold: In the midst of life’s trials and uncertainties, look up, hear the Word, seek Wisdom, and wait. Job knew the lesson but lost it, only to recover it again. It is the same lesson we must take away from the book of Job.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Is the Triune God worthy of praise?
Yes, always, He is worthy of praise!
Circumstances notwithstanding—He is worthy.
Often, we make the mistake of thinking good behavior equals health, wealth, and abundant blessings all around. That if we can manage being “blameless, upright, God-fearing people, who shun evil” (Job 1.1) then God owes us a good life.
If we’re not saying that, then why are we so surprised when bad things happen?
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you;
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed,
you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4.12, 13).
“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”
“In all this Job did not sin” (Job 2.10).
Think of the worst thing you have suffered. Think of your sin and guilt. Think of your failures.
Now think of all the people who have ever, and will ever live, and add all their suffering, sin, guilt, and failures with yours. Now put it all on Jesus. That is suffering. That is pain. That is total separation from God whilst bearing it. That is what hell is all about. And that is what Jesus did for us.
Job was a righteous man who suffered greatly, whose proper focus, finally restored, rested upon the worthiness of God. Job, who suffered so much earthly pain and sorrow, said some of the greatest things recorded in Scripture:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”; and “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 13.15; 19.25-27).
Job was a man who lived by, and through, the Ruling Word of God; a life also possible for us (Lk. 1.37).
“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment,
is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary,
but the things which are not seen are eternal” (1 Cor. 4.16-18).
Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection make all this goodness possible.
God’s promise, that we know to be true, is of all things (even those things that we consider sorrowful and painful) working together for good “to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8.28). Certainly, most of what happened to Jesus was not good, and yet it worked to provide eternal goodness and life for those who believe on His Name (Jn. 1.12).
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory;
no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84.11). Just give me Jesus
Reflection
1. How would you assess Job’s response to his trials in Job 2.9, 10? Is this how you respond to trials?
2. How did Job’s character (1.1, 8; 2.3) prepare him to make such a response? What are the keys to having that kind of character?
3. Job is a type of Christ because of his sufferings. Explain.
Shall we, guilty, polluted, worthless creatures, receive so many unmerited blessings from a just and holy God, and shall we refuse to accept the punishment of our sins, when we suffer so much less than we deserve? Let murmuring, as well as boasting, be for ever done away. Thus far Job stood the trial, and appeared brightest in the furnace of affliction. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Job 2.7-10
Pray Psalm 93.3-5.
Thank the Lord, our sovereign King and Shepherd Jesus Christ, for His daily protection and provision, and that you can rely on His Word always. Call on Him to guide you in His way today.
Sing Psalm 93.3-5.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies,
strong though they be, God on His mighty throne,
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.
Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure—holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
LORD, evermore.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
