This book records the amazing story of man named Job. It has little in the way of pure instruction, but you can learn very much from a careful study of it.

You should begin your study in this book recognizing that we all have had, or will have, Job experiences to one extent or another. They may not be as dramatic or extensive as in the case of Job. They may only be something such as a financial setback, the loss of a loved one, some form of illness, or anything else that we may consider to be a disaster at the time.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 001)  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 002)  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 003)  His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 004)  And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 005)  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 

Verse 6. The story opens in heaven, where God questions Satan concerning his activities on the earth. Satan's answer is that he has been going about his business upon the earth. According to 1st Peter the fifth chapter Satan is still walking about the earth seeking whom he can destroy. The Scriptures also call him �the God of this world�. He rules the kingdoms of this world within the permissive will of God. We should keep all of this in mind as we read this story and apply its lessons to the events of our own lives and times

(chpt:  1 Vs: 006)  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 007)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

Verse 8. God asked Satan his opinion concerning Job.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 008)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 

In verses 9 through 11 Satan responds that God has blessed Job in every way and protected him from all harm, and that if God would remove that protection that he, Satan, could cause Job to curse God.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 009)  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 010)  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 011)  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

Verse 12 tells us that God gave Satan permission to afflict Job in every way except that he could not touch Job's physical well being (health).

(chpt:  1 Vs: 012)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

The next division of this chapter starts with verse 13. It would appear from this verse, and what we see in verse 4, that the 7 sons of Job hosted rotating dinner parties at their homes. It would appear the Job was not invited to these dinner parties and that may have caused the concern that Job expressed in verse 5. The rest of the chapter tells of the destruction and loss of all of Job's property and the death of all his family with the exception of his wife. It concludes with Job's initial response.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 013)  And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 014)  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 015)  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 016)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 017)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 018)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 019)  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 020)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 021)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 022)  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

In the first part of this chapter the scene switches back to heaven where God asked Satan what he thought of Job's character now. Satan's response is that if he's permitted to destroy the health of Job that Job would respond differently. God tells Satan that he may do anything but take the life of Job, which causes Satan to promptly destroy Job's physical well-being.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 001)  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 002)  And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 003)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 004)  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 005)  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 006)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 007)  So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 008)  And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 

Verse 9 tells us of Job's wife's negative response to Job's condition and verse 10 tells about Job's response.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 009)  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 010)  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 

Beginning with verse 11, we are introduced to three individuals who are commonly called Job's friends. The old teacher is not sure that they should be classified as real friends. They seem to have little knowledge of the true nature of God and His mercy towards the human race. They demonstrate evidence of their own vindictiveness, greed, impatience, a lack of human love, have no mercy, and are very judgmental. They seem to be intelligent individuals with a degree of knowledge about God but not a firsthand experience with God that today we would call salvation.

We should keep all of this in the back of our minds as we go through the next few chapters. A very high percentage of what they say is true but is misapplied in the case of Job. We find this to be very common in the world today. Many claim to be counselors and advisers and use the word of God to advise people concerning their problems. A high percentage of these individuals apply the word of God to our problems in a very judgmental a way that causes more harm than good.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 011)  Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 012)  And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 013)  So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. 

In this chapter Job states his unhappiness with his current situation and expresses the thought that it would've been better if he'd never been born.

(chpt:  3 Vs: 001)  After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 002)  And Job spake, and said, 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 003)  Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 004)  Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 005)  Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 006)  As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 007)  Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 008)  Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 009)  Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 010)  Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 011)  Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 012)  Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 013)  For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 014)  With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves; 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 015)  Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: 

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