Job

Themes and Insights from Job

Theme 1 : ( 1-10) A relationship with the Lord involves trusting in him and committing to follow him, even in times of despair. Upon losing all of his wealth , Job stated that the Lord gave and the Lord had taken away and that his name was to be blessed. ( 1:20-21). Upon losing his health , Job continued to trust in the Lord and refused to curse him. (2:9-10). Job noted how his questioning why the Lord allowed circumstances to happen was common to people. (3:23-24). Job’s friend Eliphaz told him to remember the advice he had given to others in times of trial and to continue to have hope. ( 4:3-4). He also noted that the Lord was with those who faced affliction as he bond up their wounds.( 5:18-19). Through trusting in the Lord, an individual can ask for mercy from the Lord as Job did. ( 7:20). Job’s friend Bildad told him that the Lord heard his cries for mercy( 8:5-6) and that he would again restore joy and happiness. ( 8:22). Job admitted that he could not understand God’s ways( 9:1-12) and stated his belief that the Lord could again show mercy to him. (10:12).

Theme 2 : ( 11-20) Faith in the character of the Lord and in his mercy causes a person to persistently seek after God. Zophar told Job that through repentance his relationship with the Lord could be made new. ( 11:13-15). He also told him that the Lord dealt harshly with his priests and judged and disciplined them. So Job could also expect this. (12: 9). Job expressed faith in the justice and righteousness of the Lord stating that he wished to make his case before him as he knew the Lord would deal with him in mercy. (13:18-22). He further stated that he knew that God existed and that his redeemer would come upon hearing his plea. (19: 25). Zophar reminded Job that it was wise to seek after the Lord as those who did not trust in him and forsaked him would face his wrath. (20:26).

Theme 3: ( 21-31): God allows us to question his motives for events occurring in our life and we can do so without rejecting him outright. Job questioned why the wicked prospered as they did not seek the Lord. (21:15-17). He stated his desire to question God and to examine his motives for causing suffering (23: 3-5). He also questioned why those who sought God could not find him. (24: 1). His friend Bildad reminded Job that we can never understand the mind and motives of the Lord in allowing events to occur. (25: 1-4). Job noted that pain and sorrow were not outside the influence of the Lord as even hell submitted to him. ( 26:6). Job demonstrated that a person can question the Lord and still be a person of integrity who served the Lord. (27: 3-5). He noted that the Lord was the source of all wisdom and that wisdom was found in departing from our sin and seeking him. (28: 28). He sought the intimacy he had with the Lord in the past, longing for it. (29: 1-5). Job knew that there were times when the Lord was silent ( 30:20-21) and strived to be upright and pure for the Lord did not allow unholy people to come before him. (31:9-44).

Theme 4: (33-42): The Lord is great and above humanity and must be approached with reverence and we need to repent for our unbelief. Elihu noted that the Lord was above all people who were mortal and lived brief lives. (33:12-13). Each person will be judged for how they follow God‘s law and so we must act wisely. (34:23). The Lord needs nothing from us and we cannot do anything for him, for he has all things. (35: 6-8). God is to be worshipped and adored for he created the universe. (36:24-33). The Lord does wondrous things beyond our comprehension. (37:15). He is all knowing as his knowledge is beyond time. (38:4-7). The Lord is in control of all events that happen in the universe. (39: 5-9). He is in control of every aspect of the universe and his knowledge is above humanity’s. ( 40-41). Job’s response of repentance for speaking out about what he does not understand is to be our response when we question the Lord. (42: 2-6).