Examining The Scripture LXXIII: A Blameless And Upright Man Who Fears God

There are verbal parallels that are littered throughout the first two chapters of Job such as repeated phrases, repeated content and reactions from Job. We need to examine closely who some of the sources of repetitive wordage are coming from and how they affect our view of Job’s later criticism by his so-called "friends".

These are the phrases of themes that stood out to my eye.

• “There was a day when” (3 times) Chapter 1:6, 13; Chapter 2:1
• “There was a day when the sons of God presented themselves before the Lord and Satan also came among them” (2 times) Chapter 1:6, 2:1
• “Have you considered my servant Job, there is none like him on the Earth” (2 times) Chapter 1:8, 2:3
• “A blameless and upright [man]...[who] fears God and turns away from evil” (3 times) Chapter 1:1,8; Chapter 2:3
• “did not sin” (2 times) Chapter 1:22; Chapter 2:10
• “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand/spare his life” God speaking to Satan – (2 times) Chapter 1:12; 2:6
• Special mention: “While he was yet speaking” (3 times) Chapter 1:16, 17, 18

The repeated “blameless and upright” descriptions of Job in verse 1:8 and 2:3 are from none other than the Lord Himself via the “And the Lord said to Satan” statements. The one in 1:1 is from the Holy Spirit through the author (unknown) of the book of Job. Since all books are inspired, written by men, it is the Holy Spirit writing the statement of Job’s integrity in 1:1. In other words all the descriptions are from God (the Trinity). This includes the “Have you considered my servant Job” statements also. Satan responds by accusing Job’s motives never disputing Job’s actions. It is clear that Job’s piety is exemplary (Zuck 719) as indicated by the Lord’s statement that “there is none like him on the earth”.

In my opinion, Job’s later criticism by his “friends” is irrelevant. We should not put much credence in the opinions of men, rather we should pay heed to the Creator who is the giver and the destroyer of life. We should not fear what other men think or do, for Christ said in Matthew 10:28:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

We today would be well advised to also take this to heart when deciding what truly matters. Does the opinion of man/humans matter or is it the opinion of God that matters? Men’s opinions only have lasting affect if we allow them to condemn us to Hell. If we go to Hell it is because we either trusted in other sinful humans or ourselves (we too are human & sinful) to reconcile our problems. By seeking fallible human consul first rather than God, we’re blatantly disobeying God. If we trust in God and follow His ways we are reconciled to God and He will reconcile our problems leading us to Heaven in the long run. It is only when men move away from God towards other men that eternal life is put in jeopardy.“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Other miscellanies that are pertinent to this question are as follows. Job could’ve reacted in a negative manner after finding out his material wealth had just been destroyed or when he found out the house had collapsed on his children and killed them. Instead we see a man tear his robe in mourning and worshipped God. Job knew that God was the giver and the taker of life. He did not curse God...as if there was ever a question that he would. As a reader, your faith is on display reading the book of Job. If God chose Job because he was upright and blameless, He knew Job would never fail the test. We know this because God is Omniscient! He foreknows things. He knew Job’s reactions before Job did! Job, his friends and even Satan in this story are naïve. God inevitably rebukes Job and his friends. The ultimate irony is that, through Job, God rebukes Satan. The human that is rebuked by the Almighty is used providentially by his Creator to rebuke the challenge of Satan. God teaches everyone in this story a lesson not just Job. The Devil was “served”. He was put in his place by a broken man with a contrite spirit. Exactly as God knew would happen. Satan should’ve paid attention when God asked him to “consider my servant Job, there is none like him on the Earth”. God wasn’t asking Satan a question in this instance (as if He didn’t know), He was making an indirect statement by a rhetorical question about Job’s character. Satan was either too prideful to realize, or too dumb. So if God knew how this was going to turn out and nobody else did, what happened here? The Book of Job is a lesson not just a test of Job’s (and other’s faith). What else could it be to a God who knows all? So we need to ask, “A lesson to whom?” A lesson to Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar , Elihu, Satan and most of all, you and I the readers of the Bible. God is in control always. Because Job drew near to the Lord in his time need, in the end it prospers him. God will never allow evil to trump good in the end. God is a just God and and Sovereign God. There are other lessons in the story of Job but my general point is made.

Finally I need to mention the “While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said...”. We see that the tragedies that befell Job happened nearly simultaneously and in quick successive order. Bang! Bang! Bang! While one messenger was describing a tragedy the next was hot on his heels.

Zuck, Roy , John Walvoord. "Job:Prologue." Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 1985. 718-722. Print.