Job In Context With Psalms

This is one of my very favorite studies and pieces of Scripture. There is so much in this chapter, I believe we not only get a true, accurate picture of God's Nature, but a very accurate picture of what our relationship with Him should look like.

We learn that God is sovereign, independent and above us in every way. We learn that we know next to nothing and that what we do know we know because of Him. We learn that we can't know everything, but He can,  and that He creates everything for our good.

We learn that bad things do happen to good people, that He doesn’t cause bad things, but in the end, He does use them for our good.

I’ve heard it said the book of Job is like a “mini Bible”. In it, we see creation, fall, redemption, restoration and His Grace we also get a look at what God is like.

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• ·         Job wealthy and feared God – Bible says complete integrity (Job 1:1-12)

• ·         Satan tries to drive wedge between Job & God  (Job 1:6 - Always  surprised Satan has access to God)  Note: in Job 1:7   God asks Satan what he’s been up to – He doesn’t ask the Godly angles because He KNOWS WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO .

• ·         As the story progresses Job loses kids, possessions, health, standing in the community  (prob.)

• ·         People that know him are convinced that he, through sin, has brought his problem on himself.

• ·         His wife tells him he may as well “end it” (thanks honey).  Note: the only family he has left is at worst against him, and at best, ridiculing him.

• ·         4 friends come to talk – Job did not talk to them for days – Note: Sometimes we don’t need to say anything to hurting people, just being there is enough.

• ·         When they finally talk to him, they tried to get him to repent – his bad fortune was a result of unrepented sin.

• ·         God rebukes Jobs friends for thinking He CAUSED this. – The good we do is ALWAYS caused by God - bad is ALWAYS about Satan.

• ·         Job tries to make the case that he is righteous toward God and better than the un- righteous.

• ·         Job not so concerned with what he’d lost, but why he had lost it.

• ·         Job asks God, why has bad happened to him when he’s a good guy? (God never answers that question. When we ask that, we are not looking for an answer – we are looking for an argument. God WILL NOT be drawn into that).

•  God gives Job a theology lesson -

·         God, then gets on Job’s case, tells him not to worry about it – He says don’t worry about it, I’m God - I’m sovereign – what I say goes gets on Job’s case (Job 38:16 – when have you walked through the springs of the seas?,  Job 40:2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.")

·         Job is restored in Chapter 42. (God is good and after Job learned, He made good out of bad experiences because Job loved God and was called according to His Purpose. –  

     (Romans 8:28)

·         Lessons Job learned:

1.       God is sovereign – ALL AUTHORITY

2.       Bad things will happen to good people (what is “bad, what is “good”?)

3.       It’s not that bad things won`t happen, it`s how we treat God and how we react when they do, (Satan has limitations and hates God and His people)

4.       God, then fairness – NOT fairness THEN God

The fact that the Book of Psalms is very next chapter – highlights contrast

·         Psalms are poems and songs of praise, lament, some wisdom (proverbs) – Not one story or account, but a collection of conversations from the heart.

·         Written mostly through David and his son Solomon

·         All Psalms put God first – Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

·         Never asks “why me, I’m a good guy”

·         Always seem to say, “you’re God, why NOT me?”

·         Psalms will ask for help, in asking with the correct attitude, we acknowledge God is our only help

The Contrast Between The Book Of Job and The Book Of Psalms

·        Pray

·        Job wealthy and feared God – Bible says complete integrity (Job 1:1-12)

·        Satan tries to drive wedge btwn Job / God – convinces God to allow  

Tests. (I’m always amazed at the access that Satan seems to have to The God Of The Universe. [remember, God is perfect, everything about Him is legal and organized because of His perfection])

·        Story progresses – Job loses: family’, possessions, health

·        people that knew him are convinced that through sin, he brought this on himself

·        his wife in essence tells him he may as well “end it”

·        4 friends come to talk – Job didn’t talk for days

Friends just sat with him – (sometimes we don’t have to say anything to someone hurting. Just being there is what they need)

·        when they finally could talk to him tried to convince him to repent – his bad fortune caused by God punishing unrepented sin.

·        God rebukes Jobs friend for thinking he had something to do with this – good in us always about Him ~ bag always about us or Satan.

·        Job makes the case that he is righteous toward God and better than the unrighteous.

·        Job not so concerned about what he’d lost, but why he lost it.

·        Job asks God  “why”

·        God then rebukes Job tells him don’t worry about it I Am Sovereign – what I say goes – tells Job whats what. 38:1- 41:34 (1:4 – 8 & sample)

·        Job is restored (chapter 42

·        lessons Job learned

1.    God is sovereign – ALL AUTHORITY

2.    Bad things will happen to good people – Gen 3, Satan (always testing, hates God and His people, Satan has limitations)

3.    not that bad things wont happen, how we act when bad things happen – God want us to rely on Him alone.

4.    God then fairness…not fairness then God

·        Psalms are praise, laments, some wisdom (proverbs) all over the place. Not one story…a collection of conversations from the heart.

·        Written mostly through David and son Solomon

·        All Psalms put God first – acknowledge His Sovereignty

·        They never ask “why me, I’m a good guy”

·        Job asks until God sets him straight, “I’m righteous, why me?” – ignore God’s Sovereignty

·        Psalms always seem to say “you are God, WHY NOT ME?”

·        Psalms will ask for help – in doing so acknowledge God is only help

Ask class to draw conclusions btwn Job and Psalms

Our Purpose / His Purpose For Us

• Prayer

. . . —Luke 18:31, 34    and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.’ . . . But they understood none of these things . . . —Luke 18:31, 34

1.     God called Jesus to (in human terms) absolute disaster – triumph in His eyes.

a)        disciple saw events unfold and take place, didn’t understand at     time.

b)        Jesus (God) called Paul to same

c)            God’s purpose is never same as man’s purpose

d)            God’s purpose is to be a Father to all of His Creation (us)

Give us benefit of His Wisdom –

1 Cor. 3:19

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

            James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

2.     God’s call comes to our lives as well

a)            don’t confuse call with end purpose

b)            purpose is never understood (at time – Jacob)

c)            call requires obedience

d)            obedience requires faith  - God has given all “measure of faith” – Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

e)            All faith given equally – “more highly” / like God saying “you’re no better”

f)             faith requires relationship with Him – renew you mind / Rom 12:1&2

3.     no one hears, or recognizes unless that person has a prior relationship with Him

a)    Oswald Chamber put it this way –“ The call of God is like the call of the sea— no one hears it except the person who has the nature of the sea in him.”

1.     We MUST know Him as our Lord and savior

2.     We must have know Him I – have relationship renew your mind – Rom 12:1-2

3.     our purpose and God’s purpose must be one in same

4.     we must let God be God –  Word says to “lean not to our own understanding”

5.     Prov. 1-4 particularly address

6.    Let God and His Word guide every phase of our lives

God’s Word is very practical (every chapter, James in particular) and should be the determining standard for every question we have or compare every answer the world gives us.

When we know and rely on Him for Wisdom and we let him truly be our dad, only then will His Word be the standard that we compare everything to with confidence.  Look at spiritual Father the same way we look at our earthly father 

God the Father intended to be the template for fatherly behavior on earth (the way He treats His kids to be way we treat ours)

Contrast Between Job And Psalms

·         Job wealthy and feared God – Bible says complete integrity (Job 1:1-12)

·         Satan tries to drive wedge btwn Job / God – convinces God to allow

tests

·         Story progresses – Job loses: family’, possessions, health

·         people that knew him are convinced that through sin, he brought this on himself

·         his wife in essence tells him he may as well “end it”

·         4 friends come to talk – Job didn’t talk for days

Friends just sat with him – (sometimes we don’t have to say anything to someone hurting. Just being there is what they need)

·         when they finally could talk to him tried to convince him to repent – his bad fortune caused by God punishing unrepented sin.

·         God rebukes Jobs friend for thinking he had something to do with this – good in us always about Him ~ bag always about us or Satan.

·         Job makes the case that he is righteous toward God and better than the unrighteous.

·         Job not so concerned about what he’d lost, but why he lost it.

·         Job asks God  “why”

·         God then rebukes Job tells him don’t worry about it I Am Sovereign – what I say goes – tells Job whats what. 38:1- 41:34

·         Job is restored (chapter 42)

·         lessons Job learned

1.    God is sovereign – ALL AUTHORITY

2.    Bad things will happen to good people – Gen 3, Satan (always testing, hates God and His people, Satan has limitations)

3.    not that bad things wont happen, how we act when bad things happen – God want us to rely on Him alone.

4.    God then fairness…not fairness then God

    Psalms are praise, laments, some wisdom (proverbs) all over the place. Not
   one story…a collection of conversations from the heart.

·         Written mostly through David

·         All Psalms put God first – acknowledge His Sovereignty

·         They never ask “why me” I’m a good guy

·         Job asks until God sets him straight, “I’m righteous, why me?” – ignore God’s Sovereignty

·         Psalms always seem to say “you are God, WHY NOT ME?”

·         Psalms will ask for help – in doing so acknowledge God is only help

C