The Troubles of Job

INTRODUCTION: It is likely that Job was the first book of the Bible to be recorded. It majors on the problem of suffering. It answers many questions about suffering, such as: Is suffering punishment for sin? Can man know why he suffers? Will justice triumph in the end? And how should man deal with suffering?

1. THE MAN NAMED JOB (Job 1:1-5)
1. His Testimony (Job 1:1)
1. His location: the land of Uz likely northeast of Palestine (Jeremiah 25:20; Lamentations 4:21); Job is called one of the men of the east (Job 1:3).
2. His character
1. Perfect and upright
2. He feared God and eschewed (to shun or avoid) evil (1 Peter 3:11).
2. His Children (Job 1:2)
3. His Wealth (Job 1:3) The greatest of all the men of the east
4. His Faithfulness (Job 1:4-5)
1. The feasting of his children (Job 1:4)
2. The continual offerings of Job for his children (Job 1:5)
2. THE ADVERSARY OF JOB (Job 1:6-11)
1. The Presentation of Satan (Job 1:6-7)
1. The day of presentation (Job 1:6)
1. The coming of the sons of God; certainly angels (Job 38:7)
2. The coming of Satan
2. The presentation of Satan (Job 1:7)
1. The inquiry of the Lord
2. The answer of Satan (Ephesians 2:2)
1. Going to and fro in the earth
2. Walking up and down in the earth
2. The Consideration of Job (Job 1:8)
1. The naming of Job by the Lord
2. The recommendation of Job
1. A perfect man and an upright man
2. A man who feared God and eschewed evil
3. The Accusations of Satan (Job 1:9-11; Revelation 12:10)
1. Job does not fear God for naught (Job 1:9).
2. Job fears God because of (Job 1:10)
1. Gods hedge about and all around him
2. Gods blessing on the work of his hands
3. Gods increase of his substance
3. Job would curse God if the blessings were removed (Job 1:11).
3. THE FIRST TEST OF JOB (Job 1:12-22)
1. The Permission Given Satan (Job 1:12)
1. Satan given power over Jobs possessions
2. Satan not allowed to touch Job
3. Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
2. The Day of Disaster (Job 1:13-19)
1. A day when Jobs sons and daughters were feasting (Job 1:13)
2. The attack of the Sabeans on the oxen, asses, and servants (Job 1:14-15)
3. The falling of fire on the sheep and servants (Job 1:16)
4. The attack of the Chaldeans on the camels and servants (Job 1:17)
5. The great wind destroying the children of Job (Job 1:18-19)
3. The Reaction of Job (Job 1:20-22)
1. His first actions (Job 1:20)
1. He arose.
2. He rent his mantle.
3. He shaved his head.
4. He fell down on the ground.
5. He worshipped.
2. His first words (Job 1:21)
1. To return to earth as he came (Ecclesiastes 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:7)
2. The Lord took as He had given.
3. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
3. His integrity (Job 1:22)
1. He did not sin.
2. He did not charge God foolishly.
4. THE RETURN OF JOBS ADVERSARY (Job 2:1-5)
1. The Presentation of Satan (Job 2:1-2)
1. The day of presentation (Job 2:1)
2. The coming of Satan (Job 2:2)
2. The Consideration of Job (Job 2:3)
1. The recommendation of Job
2. The integrity of Job
1. Though God was moved against him
2. Though he was destroyed without cause
3. The Accusations of Satan (Job 2:4-5)
1. Job was holding fast because he was still not physically hurting (Job 2:4).
2. If he was in pain, he would curse God (Job 2:5).
5. THE SECOND TEST OF JOB (Job 2:6-10)
1. The Permission Given Satan (Job 2:6)
1. Permission to attack the person of Job
2. No permission to take his life
2. The Boils on Jobs Body (Job 2:7-8)
1. He was smitten with boils from head to toe (Job 2:7).
2. He sat down in ashes and scraped his boils with a potsherd (Job 2:8).
3. The Words of Jobs Wife (Job 2:9)
1. Dost thou retain thine integrity?
2. Curse God, and die.
4. The Reaction of Job (Job 2:10)
1. The words were as those of a foolish woman.
2. Shall we not receive evil as we receive good?
3. Job still did not sin with his lips.

CONCLUSION: God never told Job why he had to suffer. He simply told Job that He was God and Job should not question Him. What can we learn from the suffering of Job?