Lessons from Job - chapter 1

There are many lessons that we can learn from reading the book of Job. 

Lessons from the book of Job...

Chapter 1 - Job offered sacrifice continually to atone for his children's sins. (Vs 5)

- While we must each give account for our own sins and we must each individually repent of them, Job stood as an intercessor between God and his children.

- Not all calamities, distresses, and tragedies are God punishing someone.  

- Despite all that happened and all that Job lost, he never charged God foolishly. Job did not blame or get angry with God. Nor did he quit serving Him.  Quite the opposite: he fell down and worshiped and blessed God. (Vs 20-22) it's easy to worship and bless God and the good times...when the Lord giveth. Can you do the same when the Lord taketh away?

Chapter 2 - Job's friends sat silently with him for 7 days and 7 nights (vs 13)

- Job had just lost his children and all that he owned and now his health was deteriorating.  He was in excruciating pain. His friends came when they heard the news and sat with him...silently.  

- Sometimes the grief, shock, and sorrow is so overwhelming that just your presence and silence is what helps most.

- After my first husband passed away,  I had one friend who was honest and said, " I don't know what to say, but I care." Words can fall short on the ears of those who are facing such intense grief. Knowing someone cares can bring more comfort than words. Being present.  Being with someone through whatever their facing.  Because sometimes,  there are no words that will comfort.  

Chapter 3 - Job despaired of life.

- Grief from loss or change in physical health and abilities can cause a person to long for death. They are not suicidal, yet they may question why they were even born and why they're still alive.

- We, the Church, need to let them grieve, be a listening ear, a comforting shoulder to cry on, and most of all they need our prayers. 

- Our brothers and sisters need someone to pray for them, not talk about them when they're going through trials.  

Chapter 4 - 5 - Eliphaz, Job's friend, attempts to counsel and comfort

- Eliphaz reminded Job how he used to be the one to offer counsel and comfort but now the tide has turned. (Vs 3-6) Job had counseled and strengthened others in their time of tumult but when it hit his house, Job was finding it difficult to counsel and strengthen himself. A good reminder that we must live and stay strong in what we believe and teach.

- Then the finger pointing, accusations, and condemnation began. Eliphaz thought surely this must be punishment from God. Job must have sinned some way, somehow. After all, he reasoned, "whoever perished, being innocent?" (Job 4:7)

- Human tendency is to question and wander if Affliction is from God. Sometimes God allows it; sometimes it is the devil buffetting a person as we see in the story of Job; sometimes it comes as consequences to a person's own actions; and other times it's just life. 

- We find Jesus corrected false assumptions concerning this in the New Testament: 

* The tower of Siloam that fell killing 18 people (Lk 13:4)

* The man born blind - they questioned who sinned? The man? Or his parents? Jesus taught that it wasn't because anyone sinned but rather that a miracle could be manifest and God would be glorified. (John 9)

* Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  (Mt 5:45)

* The Disciples were obeying Jesus by getting in a boat and sailing to the other side of the lake. AND YET they encountered a storm mid-way across that was about to overtake them and take them under. Were they out of the will of God? Was it a punishment sent from God? No, this happened to show us that sometimes storms will come even when we are in the will of God. It may become so intense that you feel like you're about to drown, but keep your eyes on Jesus. Because He's walking on the water of your storm, and when He says it's enough He will step into your boat and speak "Peace, be still!"

- Be careful casting judgment on a situation lest you be found to be judging unrighteously.

Chapter 6-7 - Job responds to his "comforter" 

- "With friends like that, who needs enemies" - Job was possibly feeling like that old saying concerning his friend after hearing his words of judgment and rebuke concerning his calamities.  

- Job begins, "oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!" Sometimes responses are made from cliche' sayings and surface observations without fully weighing and observing what a person may truly be going through.  The Bible admonishes to be slow to speak and swift to hear. (James 1:19) Yet, too many too many times do the opposite.  

- Job again longs for death. (6:8-9) Those who are afflicted need pity, not words of reproof that cut an already wounded and bleeding heart like a knife.  (Vs 14) Pity means 'sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.' If he has sinned, his friends should help him understand where he had erred rather than cast stones with their words. (6:15-24)

- Job was desperate for comfort and relief,  yet their words were forceful words of reproof that were likened to a pit that was dug ready to swallow him up. (6:25-27)  He was their friend yet they were responding more like an enemy. 

- Job attempts to put into words what he is going through.  He's had many sleepless nights tossing back and forth. When he lays down at night, he longs for it to be morning.  He's worn out from the distress of it all. (7:3-4) 

- Can you imagine having open wounds with worms crawling all over you? You are being eaten alive. You're dirty and there is no reprieve to your anguish? It was loathsome to him. (7:5-6) 

- He sought comfort on his bed and on His couch yet all he found were nightmares and fearful thoughts. Oh, how he longed for death. If he was given the choice to live or die, his choice would be death.  He hated the thought of living like that the rest of his life. (7:13-16) 

- Job began to think perhaps he did sin, but he didn't know what his sin was.  He pleaded with God for forgiveness and wondered why he wasn't forgiven. (7:17-21)

- Be careful not to pour the acid of your words on an already gaping wound. Weigh your words and responses carefully.  Is there no balm in Gilead? (Jer 8:22) Our words can help wound or help heal. What are our words doing?