Job

Introduction

Job is probably the oldest book of the Bible. Its written record is based on the oldest of the ancient languages. Even though the time of its writing and its author are not known, the dating of Job is obtained through inferences made from within the book itself.

Such inferences as, no references are made to the Tabernacle, or to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. Job lived into the 200's of years, which places him most likely, in the generations of Peleg through Terah, who lived into the 200's of years range. Terah was Abraham's father. The generations following Abraham lived in shorter and shorter life fonts, from 175 years downward.

The generations prior to Peleg, or Arphaxad through Eber, lived into the 400's of years. Shem's generation lived into the 600's of years while Noah and prior generations lived into the 900's of years.

Job offered sacrifices as the head of his house. A practice common to the generations prior to Moses, and before sacrifices were confined to one altar.

And the nature of the language, places it in a period prior to when the ancient Hebrew, Arabic, and Syriac split off into their own separate languages.

Job lived while God was known by the name of God Almighty, 'El Shaddai,' rather than the name of Jehovah. A name, Almighty, which is used more than thirty times in this book, and a name common to the book of Genesis.

Job 31 refers to the worship of the sun and the moon, which were some of the more early apostasies of human history.

The book of Job presents us with a peek into the nature of Satan and the angelic conflict, with a view of very ancient theology, with a view of ancient faith, and with a view of providence.

Job gives us examples of patience, of Gods ultimate control over history, and that mans views in life, generally always miss the point of life. Jobs argument that he was just, his friends arguments that he was in fact a sinner, and even Elihu's argument that suffering was a mandatory purification ritual in order to be right with God, were all wrong.

It is not until God reveals Himself, that Job comes to realize that he is far worse than anything common to humanity. Moreover, that humanity does not know as much as he thinks he knows, but rather far less.

Job Outline (Wycliffe Bible Outlines)

I. Desolation: The trial of Job's wisdom. 1:2-2:10.

A. Job's wisdom described. 1:1-5.

B. Job's wisdom denied and displayed. 1:6-2:10.

1. The enmity of Satan. 1:6-12.

2. The integrity of Job. 1:13-22.

3. The persistence of Satan. 2:1-6.

4. The patience of Job. 2:7-10.

II. Complaint: The way of wisdom lost. 2:11-3:26.

A. The coming of wise men. 2:11-13.

B. The impatience of Job. 3.

III. Judgment: The way of wisdom darkened and illuminated. 4:1-41:34.

A. The verdicts of men. 4:1-37:24.

1. First cycle of debate. 4:1-14:22.

a. First discourse of Eliphaz. 4:1-5:27.

b. Job's reply to Eliphaz. 6:1-7:21.

c. First discourse of Bildad. 8.

d. Job's reply to Bildad. 9:1-10:22.

e. First discourse of Jophar. 11.

f. Job's reply to Jophar. 12:1-14:22.

2. Second cycle of debate. 15:1-21:34.

a. Second discourse of Eliphaz. 15.

b. Job's second reply to Eliphaz. 16:1-17:16.

c. Second discourse of Bildad. 18.

d. Job's second reply to Bildad. 19.

e. Second discourse of Zophar. 20.

f. Job's second reply to Zophar. 21.

3. Third cycle of debate. 22:1-31:40.

a. Third discourse of Eliphaz. 22.

b. Job's third reply to Eliphaz. 23:1-24:25.

c. Third discourse of Bildad. 25.

d. Job's third reply to Bildad. 26.

e. Job's instruction of the silenced friends. 27:1-28:28.

f. Job's final protest. 29:1-31:40.

4. The ministry of Elihu. 32:1-37:24.

B. The voice of God. 38:1-41:34.

1. The divine challenge. 38:1-40:2.

2. Job's submission. 40:3-5.

3. The divine challenge renewed. 40:6-41:34.

IV. Confession: the way of wisdom regained. 42:1-6.

V. Restoration: the triumph of Job's wisdom. 42:7-17.

A. Job's wisdom vindicated. 42:7-9.

B. Job's wisdom blessed. 42:10-17.

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