Journaling: Job 1-4

Even the best among the righteous and blessed by God (1:1-5) can experience: 1) persecution (or testing) at the hands of Satan (1:6-19, 2:1-8; Luk 22:31-32; 1Pe 5:8-10; Rev 2:10), 2) condemnation at the hands of stupid men (2:11 w/4:1-5:27, 8:1-22, 11:1-20, 15:1-35, 22:1-30 w/42:7-9). Assumptions can cause you to: 1) condemn the wrong person/hurt the ones who are truly righteous (4:1-21, 5:1-27, 8:1-22, 11:1-20, 15:1-35, 22:1-30 w/42:7-9; e.g. you condemn the faithful pastor bc he tells you the truth about who you really are – Gal 4:16), 2) become very confused and disheartened about life and your walk w/God (3:1-26, 6:1-7:21, 9:1-10:22, 12:1-14:22, 16:1-17:16, 19:1-29, 21:1-34, 23:1-24:25, 26:1-31:40; e.g. you assumed only a few would go apostate – Mat 7:13-14; Luk 13:22-24). Celebrating birthdays has Scriptural precedent (1:4). There is a difference between cursing God in the heart (a reference to sin in general), and cursing God to His face (the capital crime of blasphemy) (1:5 w/11, 2:5 and 9; “sinned and cursed God in their hearts” = Appositional phrase. Cursing God in our hearts is what we are doing when we sin against God; “curse you to your face…Curse God and die” = Condemnation of God, to “charge God with wrong” – 1:22, blasphemy – Lev 24:10-16). Satan (like the rest of the angels or “sons of God”) is still under God’s control (employment?) (1:6 w/12, 2:1 w/7). God allows Satan to roam all over the earth for the purpose of exposing (through persecution/suffering) those who possess a “genie-in-the-bottle” relationship w/Him (whose love or loyalty to God and His Law is conditioned upon Him giving them what they want) (1:6-11, 2:1-5; 2:9-10a = Job’s wife possessed a “genie-in-the-bottle” relationship w/God; 1Pe 5:8). Satan can walk longer and much faster than us (1:7 and 2:2). We can face immense tragedy or suffering in a way that glorifies God if we have the right perspective (1:13-22, 2:7-10). Sharing our emotions – not our thoughts/opinions, is the best way to show “sympathy and comfort” to those facing tragedy or suffering (2:11-13). Regretting one’s life because of great tragedy and suffering is not the same as ending one’s life because of great tragedy and suffering (2:9-10 w/3:1-26). Truth misapplied is untruth (and possibly even sin) (4:1-5 w/6-21 w/42:7-9 = Our sin is not the only reason we can suffer in this life). The best chance we have of possessing a good life now (and heaven later) is through putting our trust (or “confidence”) in God through living a life of “integrity”: one that fears/obeys Him and does not practice (“sow” or “plow”) “iniquity” (or sin) or the “trouble” it brings (4:6, 8). God uses suffering in this life (even death) to punish us for our sins (4:17-21; 1Pe 4:17-18). Unlike the present, God used to communicate w/people through dreams (4:12-21; e.g. Gen 20:3-7, 28:10-16, 31:10-13, 37:5-9; Dan 2:1-45, 4:1-27, 7:1-28; not so anymore – 1Co 13:8-10)