I have often wondered how amazing the Holy Spirit has demonstrated its power in recording and preserving this portion of God's word. This is another proof of the inerrancy of the holy Scriptures; because no other than the power and Spirit of God could have performed this. Out of all mankind, God has peculiarly chosen this one person through his experience in suffering for an example to His children that should also be called to follow (and endure) in similar afflictions (and persecutions) for the word of God and truth's sake, and has been profitable for the church throughout the succeeding ages.

In this treatise I have purposed to emphasize the difference (between truth and error) in Job’s words compared with those of his three friends; that is, especially in the words and speeches of Zophar, Eliphaz and Bildad. Notice that the young man Elihu is not mentioned or included in this number - evidently because he is considered as being in a different category of understanding from the other three friends of Job.

It is evident that there is a great difference of how Job views God and His dealings with man from how his three friends do. Even if one has little or no understanding to perceive this truth, it is plainly revealed in the context of the narrative (as quoted above;) and to the exercised child of God under similar trials, it is much more revealed - and to such this treatise is primarily addressed.

God is very gracious to His children in giving them the wonderful testimony of this eminent saint of old - and its explanations, purpose and reasons why God in His Purpose and sovereignty toward His children sometimes permits suffering and adversity to form a portion of their experience while they occupy the shores of time and sojourn in this world below.

The divine historian takes us, so to speak, behind the scenes in the very beginning of this record to show the ground-work that led up to the main sufferings of Job, and here plainly reveals God’s absolute sovereignty or dominion and control over all things, and that all things in the experience of His people are working for their final good and to the Glory of Himself and His Love, faithfulness and Power.

In writing a book, the author usually gives an introduction, and someone often writes a preface for the author. We see this displayed in the very first verses of the Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, as given unto the Apostle John to record; Also in the book of The Acts of the Apostles, Luke has given a preface to show his purpose in recording these things. If an author gives an introduction, preface or general outline of their presentation, it is to reveal what the subject is generally about. The same method is used in the introduction of the Book of Job, and helps the reader to understand the book and the main purpose of the Author in presenting it to the church; but in this case in giving Job and his sufferings to the children of God for the future ages. So in the very first verses of Job, the divine historian does exactly this. He first describes the name, residence and especially the character of Job. The knowledge of the character of Job is very important in this narrative, as this greatly enters into the controversy between Job and his three friends which follows later. God Himself has therefore pronounced the character of His servant Job, and vindicated Job as being “ perfect and upright” and one that “feared God” and shunned or avoided evil, and this to the extent that there was none comparable to him then living in the earth - and this statement was repeated several times. Satan himself, the great Adversary to God’s children is also aware of this fact. The Book of Job reveals much about God’s sovereignty over the one called Satan, (literally, adversity) and sometimes called the old serpent, or devil.) Whatever the nature of Satan, it is especially in this Book that Satan is shown to be absolutely under the control of God, and serving God‘s Will and Purpose- and also that he can do no more or less than God permits be done, or we might say allows - even though I do not much like to use these terms in referring to God’s absolute sovereignty; as His sovereignty extends infinitely farther than “permission” or “allowance”.

Some have speculated that these were metaphorical persons; but I see no reason to believe this. I think that all the events mentioned in the book were literal events, and this to further heighten and emphasize the literal, physical suffering of Job. To my mind, in dealing with the scriptures, many are prone to run from one extreme to the other in the literal or allegorical interpretations of Scripture. I have observed some to resort to symbolic meanings in order to only evade what was obviously not compatible with their thinking on the text. Therefore, some think that the things which took place with Job, such as the great tragedies that began to occur in his life, were not literal occurrences, but only false reports that came through the agency or deception of Satan - as the literal occurrence of these things would be incompatible with the nature and character of God in sending these things upon Job. However, I have been inclined to believe the very opposite concerning these events; because they are plainly stated by the divine narrator as having taken place. And by Job’s response, (even supposing that they were false reports) it is evident that he also recognized these tragedies as having been from the hand of God and embraced in His Power and Purpose - Because he realized that God had the divine right to send evil as well as prosperity and happiness upon the children of men; which further shows that Job was an "upright" person, in that He possessed this knowledge of God. Furthermore, this is only the beginning of continued given revelations of Job’s integrity in holding fast his beliefs in the faithfulness of God; that though God even destroyed him, yet would Job continue to trust God and His faithfulness, and more reveals how Job views God‘s sovereignty in His dealings with His creature man.

However, having said as much, I do not mean that we are not free to contemplate the metaphors, allegories and types that may be seen in the book. No doubt, there are many, such as the very name of Job as signifying sorrowful, one as hated, and fighting. The land of Uz, where he resided, meaning counsel or word. Therefore, these are very appropriate and valid reasons for many spiritual interpretations, like in many other portions of the sacred word- as in the book of Revelation, where symbolic language is used extensively.

As it is the common lot of God’s children to suffer reproach from the worldly, or from those who do not truly have the knowledge of God in His work of salvation, so is this contest between these “friends” of Job (but only with their wisdom of the flesh, or of the world), similarly and vividly displayed in this narrative of Job and his three friends; But this experience is primarily about the experience of Job as expressed by himself while under great trials and afflictions - not only those which are solely physical, but also those of the spirit and mind, and the controversy which arose between him and his three friends. Through all this we must keep in mind that we have the divine assurance that Job was “perfect and upright” and that Job had “spoken of God the thing that was right” (while his three friends had not.) With these divine guidelines we will be more enabled to understand the book of Job and its profit for the household of faith. The lot of Job as an enduring (patient) example of suffering has been recorded by divine inspiration for the benefit of the saints, and made to appear more distinct and clear by the opposition and contrast of the errors encouched within the fine speeches made by his three friends against him. Many of the speeches given by Job’s friends seem to have much plausibility superficially; but Job minutely exams them with the wisdom of the Spirit, the doctrine of God our Savior, and the experience of the saints. The natural wisdom of man alone cannot penetrate into these things: “For the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he is not able to know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14.

As we more closely examine the book of Job from this perspective, we shall also see these same comparisons as described in many other places of the Holy Scriptures, and as experienced by the saints of all ages down to the present time. It shall also be more fully revealed to these how the three friends of Job represented all those (more or less) who hold the essential elements of flawed doctrine concerning God and salvation, and how He deals with His children when they are appointed to both prosperity and adversity in His purpose for them.

I have long thought upon the subject under consideration, and my mind has often returned to contemplate and meditate upon it. It has been my intention, I trust, that some child of God may receive some comfort from my labor, as I myself have in the pursuance of these truths. I have also received much encouragement and instruction from other servants of God whom I highly esteem for the truth’s sake, who have been wonderfully blessed to write and speak upon the subject. If I quote them extensively, I hope I do not mean to only plagiarize their work, but rather because of my estimation of their spiritual understanding as in harmony with my own, and the great value of their work for the spiritual benefit of the children of God scattered abroad.

As concerning the validity and correctness of all contents of the speeches made by Job’s three friends, we must consider each individual case: We must also consider that many of their speeches have common or natural truth behind them - or are based upon that wisdom which generally prevails among mankind; (but will not extend into the realms of the wisdom of the Spirit) Therefore, Job sometimes answers his three friends after this manner or in this respect; However, he also sometimes point-blank repudiates there statements as being erroneous, and continues to reprove not only the falsity of such ideas, but proves even from human observation of nature and the world that such ideas cannot be in accordance with facts which even nature easily proves to be untrue, which we hope to explore as we continue with the specifics of the book. For example to the above, it seems the Apostle Paul quotes from one of the speeches of Zophar made in Job 5:13.

The children of God who are also called to suffer similar experiences as Job will find in their like experience the truthfulness of Job’s expressions, and will that find that their trials also mirror his in suffering- though perhaps not necessarlly in like kind.

I will give a brief discussion of the first and second chapters, as I think they are important for the following controversy or debate that later develops between Job and his three friends. First, as to Job’s being described by God as being a “perfect and upright man”, we cannot of course allow that Job was not (with all of humanity) as considered in the fallen posterity of Adam as being in a state of sinfulness by nature; because Job himself many times confesses his own felt sinfulness and inertness in the sight of God. Also, there are none of the human family endowed with any righteousness expect the imputed righteousness of Christ Jesus - in Whom is all the saint’s righteousness, because they have no “personal” righteousness of their own in their father Adam. But this “fear of God” which Job possessed was in common with all that are quickened by the Spirit and called by divine grace, and in whom Christ has placed His fear, written His law in their hearts and minds, so they shall not finally depart from Him and His love. This character given by God Himself to Job thus identifies him as such a gracious one in His sight.

As said before, the inspired narrator has taken us to that secret realm which is mostly hidden from human view (without The Spirit's intervention); and here gives us a glimpse of that knowledge which otherwise is only known and belongs to “the secret things of God“, and which ordinarily belong exclusively to Him; but here it is His pleasure to reveal some of the inner workings of His Purpose and Power in bringing these afflictions upon His servant Job. So the reader is taken to the very beginning of this account in order to reveal some details that paved the way for Satan to be able to touch, not only, the goods of Job and the lives of his children, but also his own flesh; for we here find that God had built a fence around Job; so Satan could not touch or affect even the least of the material goods of Job with which Job had been blessed in Providence. In all these things, including the sufferings of Job, we can see the Hand of God so wondrously manifested in Job's life, that it gives us great comfort in His all-abounding rule over all things, and that all these things are included in our experience to teach us the same, and will redound to God’s glory in showing His almighty power and purpose in all things for us, and that all things are working in Divine Love for His children’s ultimate good and to God's Own declarative Glory.

Nothing in God's world and His Word is truly known until God shows His pleasure in revealing it. This would include not only the "Things of the Spirit”, but even the things of nature, or in the realm of the natural man; because God has also used natural means to bring into man’s knowledge the workings and processes of the natural world, and continues to do so - as our present generation has especially witnessed. Though, like Job, we are not able to comprehend or fathom the workings of Satan in the world, and in even in ourselves, yet he is plainly known to God, and must give due accountability unto Him. These Scriptures plainly teach God’s absolute control over the One called Satan or The Adversary, and when God commands, Satan (with all others) must answer and give response. Neither can we here believe that Satan’s answer to God was a lie, even though Satan is called a liar, and the father of lies. Satan is the great deceiver; but he cannot deceive or lie unto God, unto Whom “all things are naked and open unto His view.” Job himself was aware of this same truth, and he therefore stated it: “With Him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver (are) His.” Job 12:16. After the LORD demanding of Satan from where he came, he answers: “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” And in 1 Peter 5:8 Satan is represented as “a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour”. This was true in Job’s case; and as God’s counsel demanded it, he was on the spot at the required time. Satan cannot devour, or even touch one of God’s servants unless they are delivered unto Satan’s hands, as this account clearly illustrates. The forces of evil in the saints lives cannot go beyond the bounds and limits of that which God has decreed in His eternal counsel:

As the apostles of Christ were also appointed to afflictions and to suffer for His name’s sake, Their Master informed them beforehand that “not a hair of their head would perish” (with any fortuitous degree of chance or circumstance) until the appointed time in God’s counsel for them had come to pass. And as three sparrows are sold for a farthing, not one of them through bare chance can fall from their flight to ground except it be in God’s purpose concerning them, and as He takes care for the sparrows, and cares for the lilies of the field and gives them their glory, as He also gives to the grass for the oven, shall He not also provide for every need and circumstance of His own people, and avenge them of their adversaries speedily, though He may seem to bear long with them? Can we then believe that these things that happened to Job came about only by mere chance, mysterious fate - or through any fortuitous circumstances?

Although these things are presented in somewhat of a narrative form to show what is taking place “behind the scenes”- the purpose of this account is to reveal that it is in God’s Purpose to bring these coming afflictions upon Job. Therefore, even from the beginning the reader is notified about what is about to happen to Job; and furthermore, that it is all embraced in the outworking of God’s Purpose in Job’s experiences of both prosperity and adversity. God then calls Satan to consider the perfection and uprightness of His servant Job; and although so many disasters have already taken place in Job’s life, and that too with unexpected and sudden occurrence, Job has held fast his integrity and confidence in God’s sovereignty by His divine prerogative to give prosperity as well as adversity to man. This fact is revealed here, and should at once give us some estimation of Job's character (as is later shown and developed throughout his trial.) Job was not one to question God concerning the entrance of adversity into his life; but immediately recognized it as the Hand of God, and not as the hand of fate and circumstance only. He also justified God as Maker and Sustainer of all in possessing the divine authority to send evil upon man as well as good (things.) We, the readers are favored to have already been taken behind the scenes to find that God had given Satan permission to touch Job’s material goods, and that “all Job had”(in material wealth) was in the power of Satan. Though we do not conclude from this that Satan possessed unlimited power over Job’s goods, but perhaps that only all which Job had was susceptible to the power of Satan.

Instead of cursing or even questioning God in this adversity, Job fell upon the ground, worshipped and blessed Him and said: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: THE LORD GAVE, AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” This confession of Job reveals still more of His confidence in His Creator, and is a cornerstone of truth which we can take refuge in when we also are confronted with adversity. Again, Satan appears among the sons of God to present themselves before the LORD, and again the LORD required Satan to give account of his sphere of activity, which was "walking up and down and to fro in the earth" as he answered before. God repeats the same to Satan concerning Job and his uprightness and integrity as before and adds: “although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.“ This statement from God Himself should confirm what Job later said as concerning himself and his own integrity and character.

Many have attempted to show that such statements of one under severe suffering and trials were not becoming in one such as Job; but God Himself had already verified the facts of the above statements made by Job, though Satan had insinuated the opposite as above.

Then Satan proceeds to the physical affliction of Job’s body or flesh. “Put forth thine Hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; but save his life. “ Thus God limits Satan's power over Job’s body; but permits severe affliction to enter upon it, beginning with smiting Job with sore boils over the entirety of his body; even covering the top of his head and the soles of his feet.

To be continued as God wills.

OAB