Joseph's Coat, George Herbert

Sorrow ... such is his will

Who changes all things, as he pleases best.

For well he knows, if but one grief and snart (pain)

Among my many had his full career,

Sure it would carry with it even my heart.

And both would run until they found a bier.

Blameless, Just, Fears God, Avoids Evil (Job 1)

"Job...was blameless and just, one who feared God and avoided evil" (Job 1:1b). "...a man blameless and just, who feared God and avoided evil" (Job 1:8). "Does Job fear God for nothing?" ("Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it?") Satan replied (Job 1:9).

What is the relationship between perfect character and perfect life (Job 1:1, 8)? Are the two inevitably related? This question is at the heart of the book of Job.

Job 1 directly and indirectly poses all kinds of theological questions:

• the relationship between human conduct and divine reciprocity (blessing).
• the seeming arbitrariness that is a part of divine freedom (God does whatever pleases himself - Ps 115:3; 135:6).
• the vulnerability of humanity in the face of tragedy.
• the possibility of God's disinterest in our suffering.

Job's description by the narrator (Job 1:1) and by God (Job 1:8):

• A pair of adjectives (blameless, just) and a pair of phrases (fears God, avoids evil).
• "Blameless and just" are synonyms that occur together in Ps 37:37 in portraying a wholesome person, "a man of shalom."
• "Fears God and shuns evil" are used to characterize the wise (fears God) and moral (avoids evil).
• Job is beyond reproach in every way:
• personally (blameless). Integrity.
• socially (just). Justice.
• religiously (fears God). Spiritual.
• morally (avoids evil). Moral.
• This fourfold affirmation suggests completeness, even perfection. He is "an impossible example" of human excellence (Brenner 1989).
• "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and all people" (Lk 2:52, NLT). Being healthy intellectually (wisdom), physically (stature), spiritually (in favor with God), socially (in favor with people).
  
• "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic 6:8). God's desire is for justice, mercy and humility.
  

Satan cleverly challenges Job's motivation and God's assessment of Job.

The narrator and God (Job 1:1, 8) mentions four things, but Satan focuses on only one thing: Job's fear of God. Satan is devilishly clever. He concedes the claims about Job's character--the things that are evident in Job's public appearance and conduct. But why is Job living such a good life? What is his human motivation for being good? Is it because God has protected him and blessed him? Does Job love God for God or for what God's blessing?

Job's reaction to overwhelming personal loss and tragedy (Job 1:21) is:

• not to blame natural events or human enemies (the Lord has taken away),
• not to forget God's blessing (the Lord gave),
• not to close his eyes to reality (has taken away), but ...
• to praise the Lord for both good and evil.

The first 2 chapters of Job constitute its prologue. They introduce the principle characters and key issues.

1. Scene 1: Job's perfect life (1:1-5).
2. Scene 2: An assembly in heaven (1:6-12).
3. Scene 3: A test of Job (1:13-22).
4. Scene 4: An assembly in heaven (2:1-6).
5. Scene 5: A test of Job (2:7-10).
6. Scene 6: An assembly on earth (2:11-13).