Job 1:6-12 Continued

Satan’s accusation

Text: Job 1:6-12
I. Introduction
A. In lesson one we learned about Job.
1. He was a patriarch.
2. He was wealthy
3. He had a big family.
4. He had a terrific reputation.
B. In our second lesson we saw the heavenly scene.
1. We were introduced to God’s enemy
2. We saw the enemies’ intent. (usurpation of God’s throne)
3. We saw Job’s responsibility. (to maintain his reputation)
C. In this lesson we will delve into the depths of Satan’s accusation.
D. Starting in verse six, and running through chapter nineteen we see the second division of the book of Job. (the affliction of Job)
1. This affliction starts with Satan’s accusation.


II. The devil’s sneer.
A. Doth Job fear God for nought?
B. Satan claimed that Job’s reputation was purchased.
1. Job obtained his wealth and status through the operation of his character.
2. He did what he did in order to obtain everything he had.
C. Satan’s contention, then, was that Job was self-serving. (selfish)
D. Job was religious because he could make a good thing of religion.
1. This gives us insight that Satan has a belief in the philosophy of selfishness.
2. This also gives insight as to the methods his minions employ.

III. The influence of the devil’s sneer.
A. Satan’s accusation had an effect on God.
1. The scope of the accusation had an air about it that made the idea plausible.
2. The scope of the accusation allowed Satan to test his theory out on Job.
B. God allows these trials to come into our lives in order to vindicate His people, and manifest His own power and glory through us.

IV. The sneer attacks the very throne of God.
A. The arrow launched at Job is really pointing at God Himself.B. If Satan is correct, then there is no such thing as disinterested goodness.
C. If Satan is correct. Then God cannot retain reverential affection apart from purchasing it.
D. If Satan is correct, then all God can aspire toward is mercenary love.
E. You see, then the how vital the question which the challenge stirs.

V. The fundamental reasons for Job’s suffering.
A. To silence the blasphemous accusations of Satan
B. To learn spiritual lessons.

Chapter 1:6-12, 2:1-6
I. Introduction
A. We looked at who Job is in the first lesson.
1. We saw that Job was a Patriarch.
2. We saw that Job was very wealthy.
3. We saw that Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters.
Job was afraid evil would befall his family and prayed and offered
sacrifices for them.
4. We saw Job’s reputation.
a. His relationship with men.
b. His relationship with God.
c. His relationship with self.
B. In our text for today we are privileged to see a scene in Heaven.
C. It is important to realize that Job had no idea of the heavenly event.
D. Like Job, it is important to properly understand our enemy, Satan.

II. Our enemy, Satan.

A. Satan’s original downfall. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
1. Pride: the operative words “I will.”
a. The first “I will” is the demand that Satan’s rule be lifted from just that of the earth to include the heavens also.
b. The second “I will” shows Satan’s desire to exalt his throne above all the angelic host.
c. In the third “I will” Satan claims the position of government over angelic hosts that were administering Heaven.
d. The fourth “I will” is Satan’s desire to rise above the very throne of God.
e. The fifth “I will” expresses Satan’s goal to be possessor of Heaven and Earth.
2. Satan’s rebellion started in Heaven and manifested itself in the Garden of Eden.
3. Satan’s rebellion is a present abiding condition.

B. The nature of the battle.
1. We have, in our text, a contrast: God vs. Satan.
a. God is absolute good.
b. Satan is absolute evil.
2. Both beings are eternal. (They cannot die.)
3. For Satan to reach his objective, he must prove to the entire universe that God is not who and what He says He is. (Impugn God’s veracity.)
God, on the other hand, proves to the entire universe that He is who and what He says He is and thereby exposes Satan for who and what he is. (A malevolent, malign being.)

II. Job’s part in this battle.
A. Job is a servant of God.
1. Deut. 10:12 “And now Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
2. The call to Israel is the same call to Job and to every believer, past, present, and future.
3. We are all called to be servants. This means that God has the right to use us as He sees fit.
B. Job’s assignment is to stay true to his name.
1. In this way he demonstrates that he worships God for who and what God is.
2. In this way Job brings honor and glory to the throne of God.
C. Therefore people who suffer from illness have a peculiar privilege.
1. We are thought highly enough of by God to prove his veracity.
2. We are privileged to bring honor and glory to His throne.
D. Therefore we should embrace our suffering with happiness and joy.

Studies in Job: Lesson One

STUDIES IN JOB

Lesson 1

I. Introduction.

A. It is believed by Bible scholars that the book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible.

B. Scholars also tell us that, historically, the account takes place before
the giving of the law.
1.The fact that Job offered a burnt offering (Job 1:5) indicates that Job
lived before the law was given.

C. Job’s longevity suggests that he lived before the law. (Job 42:16)

D. Job was a patriarch.

E. Job was extremely wealthy. (Job 1:3)`

F. To properly understand the book of Job, one needs to see the character
of Job.

1. Job was perfect and upright. (Job 1:1)
a. Perfect means that Job was mature.
b. Upright refers to the ideals of Job’s mind.
c. Job pursued the straight and narrow road.
d. Here we have Job’s relationship manward.

2. Job feared God. (Job 1:1)
a. This is Job’s Godward relationship.
b. This fear must be seen as a loving reverence of God.
c. This fear means to respect who God is.
d. This fear means to respect what God says.
e. This fear means to respect what God does.
f. This indicates that Job was a reborn soul.
g. That Job was reborn is of utmost importance if one is to view the
exercises he passed through with meaning.

3. Job eschewed evil. (Job 1:1)
a. This is Job’s selfward relationship
b. Job’s outward walk corresponded with the state of his heart.
c. Job departed from evil.


4. The aspects of Job that the Lord describes are, in essence, his reputation.

5. His reputation is his name. It is what people think of when his name is mentioned.



II. Our reputation.

1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, (Prov. 22:1a)

2. A good name is better than precious ointment; (Eccl. 7:1)
3. Both scriptures speak of the importance of obtaining and maintaining a good name.
4. It should be observed that a good name consists of three parts.
a. Man’s relationship with man. ( perfect and upright)
b. Man’s relationship with God. ( feared God)
c. Man’ relationship with himself. (eschewed evil)
5. Examples of a good name.
a. I Sam.18:30 Speaks of David’s relationship with man.
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass. after they went forth, That David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

b. Acts 6:3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of The Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom ye may appoint over this business.
1) Honest speaks of man’s relationship to man
2) Full of the Holy Ghost speaks of man’s relationship
with God.
3) Wisdom speaks of man’ relationship with man.
c. Acts 10:22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one
that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation
of the Jews-----
1) A just man speaks of Cornelius’ relationship with man.
2) Feareth God speaks of Cornelius’ relationship with god.
3) Genesis 39: 7-12 This is an example of man’s relationship with self.

Note: After teaching this lesson, Brian's COPD got worse and he was hospitalized. Lesson posted for him by Cranky Yankee.