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| 1 A man there hath been in the land of Uz Job his name and that man hath been perfect and upright both fearing God, and turning aside from evil. |
There was a man – There is no cause to doubt that such a man did live and pass through the experiences related. R1505:3
The exact time in which Job lived we do not know, but we think we are justified in supposing that he did not live during the Law dispensation. Q552:6
Possibly a contemporary of Abraham and Melchizedek. PD26/37, R1505:6, R5401:6
Land of Uz – Evidently in Arabia, possibly not far from Palestine. R1505:6, R5401:6
Whose name was Job – Classed with other holy men in Ezekiel 14:14 and James 5:11, which would not be the case if this narrative were merely a parable. R1505:3; Q793:2
His experiences are typical of the fall and rise again of humanity. PD26/37; R584:1, R5403:6, R5803:4; Q793:2
Was perfect – So was man at first in the divine likeness and favor, with all things subject to him (Psa. 8:4-8). R5403:6
He walked before God with a perfect heart. R4667:1
Upright – Appreciated justice. R5401:6
Feared God – Reverenced God. R5401:6
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| 2 And there are borne to him seven sons and three daughters, |
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| 3 and his substance is seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a service very abundant; and that man is greater than any of the sons of the east. |
Great household – Numerous servants. R5401:6
This man – A merchant prince of great wealth who carried on a very prosperous traffic. R5401:6
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| 4 And his sons have gone and made a banquet the house of each [in] his day and have sent and called to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them; |
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| 5 and it cometh to pass, when they have gone round the days of the banquet, that Job doth send and sanctify them, and hath risen early in the morning, and caused to ascend burnt-offerings the number of them all for Job said, 'Perhaps my sons have sinned, yet blessed God in their heart.' Thus doth Job all the days. |
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| 6 And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst. |
Sons of God – Angels. R315:3, R1005:1, R2843:5
And Satan – Whose very existence is now denied by many. F609
Unlike the flesh or the world, Satan is the only wilful, intelligent plotter in opposing righteousness and truth in humanity. F612
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| 7 And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Whence comest thou ' And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'From going to and fro in the land, and from walking up and down on it.' |
Said unto Satan – Job knew nothing about this, else he would have known that Satan was afflicting him. R452:1*
Satan answered – This account of Satan's conversation with God concerning Job should be considered as allegorical-- like "Pilgrim's Progress." R5401:3, R1507:4, R1779:5
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| 8 And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart against My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God, and turning aside from evil ' |
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| 9 And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'For nought is Job fearing God |
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| 10 Hast not Thou made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that he hath round about |
An hedge about him – "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him." (Psa. 34:7) R4227:6
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| 11 The work of his hands Thou hast blessed, and his substance hath spread in the land, and yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike against anything that he hath if not: to Thy face he doth bless Thee!' |
Put forth thine hand – Permitted for the purpose of displaying to the world the integrity and faithfulness of Job. R452:1*
As the Lord gave the Adversary permission against Job, so Satan will gain liberty in the impending hour of temptation. R4227:6
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| 12 And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Lo, all that he hath [is] in thy hand, only unto him put not forth thy hand.' And the Adversary goeth out from the presence of Jehovah. |
In thy power – In his dealings with mankind the Lord has allowed Satan to be the willing medium through whom the penalty of sin should be meted out. R452:4*
Satan cannot afflict God's children beyond the penalty for sin without God's permission, and that only where it will result in greater good to the subject and greater glory to God. R452:4*
Satan has "the power of death." (Heb. 2:14) R452:4*
Satan's power, like that of a hangman, is a delegated power. E449
Put not forth – Satan must have permission from God to execute the death penalty. R265:6
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| 13 And the day is, that his sons and his daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born. |
Eating and drinking – Having a birthday party. PD26/37, SM523:1
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| 14 And a messenger hath come in unto Job and saith, 'The oxen have been plowing, and the she-asses feeding by their sides, |
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| 15 and Sheba doth fall, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped only I alone to declare [it] to thee.' |
And the Sabeans – Instigated by Satan, as the context shows. R2189:4
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| 16 While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Fire of God hath fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men, and consumeth them, and I am escaped only I alone to declare [it] to thee.' |
The fire of God – Probably a bolt of lightning, caused by Satan. R1800:1, R2189:4
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| 17 While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Chaldeans made three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped only I alone to declare [it] to thee.' |
The Chaldeans – Instigated by Satan. R2189:4
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| 18 While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Thy sons and thy daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born. |
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| 19 And lo, a great wind hath come from over the wilderness, and striketh against the four corners of the house, and it falleth on the young men, and they are dead, and I am escaped only I alone to declare [it] to thee.' |
A great wind – A cyclone or tornado, raised up by Satan. R1800:1, R3324:5, R2189:4
In a sense Satan is prince of the air power--literally. R1684:4, R1800:1
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| 20 And Job riseth, and rendeth his robe, and shaveth his head, and falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance, |
Rent his mantle – "Many are the afflictions of the righteous." (Psa. 34:19) SM523:1
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| 21 and he saith, 'Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I turn back thither: Jehovah hath given and Jehovah hath taken: let the name of Jehovah be blessed.' |
Naked came I – It is a favor from God that we have life at all. R5418:1
We know that we have no rights whatever. All we can do is call upon the Lord's mercy. R5418:4
Shall I return – Death, corruption, touches everything earthly under present conditions, no matter how careful or thoughtful the provision. R4567:1
The LORD gave – We have nothing that is really our own. R5418:1
All that we have should be regarded as a gift from God, whether it be much or little. R5417:3
The LORD hath taken – He realized that all he had possessed belonged to God. R5418:1
Similarly, we can take, in perfect submission, whatever experiences God permits. R5418:5
Job had no claim on everlasting life, though he had a hope of it. R5418:1
Even though those who are being "sifted" have been very dear to us, it is for us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. R4483:5
Blessed be – There was no spirit of rebellion in a heart out of whom came such loving words of submission, and that without a clear vision of the divine wisdom in permitting them. R1937:4
God has provided for a future life beyond the tomb, a resurrection. R4567:1
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| 22 In all this Job hath not sinned, nor given folly to God. |
Sinned not – Job was very careful not to sin with his lips. R1937:3
Nor charged God – Having the deep-rooted conviction that God was his friend and would in the end protect him, though evil, for a time, might seem to prevail. R452:1*
Foolishly – With being the author of his calamities. R1684:4, R1800:1
He did not charge God with injustice. R5803:4
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