Job 1

V 1–3: BLAMELESS AND BLESSED Job is a godly, blameless, and upright man who hates evil. His blessings include a large family, a large household, and great possession of animals which signify his wealth and substance. He is the greatest man in the east. V 4–5: FAITHFUL TO FAMILY His children often meet together to feast and enjoy each other’s company. Job is so concerned in case they have sinned or cursed God, that he regularly makes sacrifices for them, rising early in the morning to do so. He has a real concern for the spiritual welfare of his family. V 6–12: SATAN TO SIFT God’s angels, called ‘the sons of God’, present themselves before God. His fallen angel, Satan, is also present, having returned from walking about in the earth. Job’s holiness is noted by God, but Satan states that if he loses his possessions, he will curse God. God allows Satan to attack Job, with limitations that God puts on him. God sometimes allows attacks on Christians, both spiritual and otherwise, to demonstrate His grace to others and to bless Christians themselves, but, most of all, to glorify Himself. V 13–19: CALAMITIES AND CRISES Huge calamities befall Job, each one being a major crisis. In separate but consecutive incidents, he loses his animals, his servants, and his children, who are killed when his eldest son’s house falls in on them. He is deeply tested. V 20–22: RIGHTEOUS IN RESPONSE Job goes into mourning but worships God, acknowledging that everything that he has is from God, and that it is His prerogative to take it away. Job does not sin and he does not blame God for what has happened. Here is the correct attitude of a righteous man to his suffering, tragedies and difficulties. This is only possible because of God’s grace in his heart.