the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Commentaries
Grant's Commentary on the Bible Grant's Commentary
Job's Righteousness; His Severe Testing by Satan.Chapter 2
Satan Attacks Job's Health; Friends Arrive.Chapter 3
Job Curses His Birth, Laments His Suffering.Chapter 4
Eliphaz's First Speech: Job Must Have Sinned.Chapter 5
Eliphaz: Seek God, Who Disciplines but Heals.Chapter 6
Job's Reply: My Suffering Is Just.Chapter 7
Job Laments the Futility of Life.Chapter 8
Bildad's First Speech: Job, Repent for Restoration.Chapter 9
Job: God's Wisdom and Power Are Unfathomable.Chapter 10
Job Pleads With God for Understanding.Chapter 11
Zophar's First Speech: Job Deserves Worse Punishment.Chapter 12
Job's Reply: God's Wisdom and Sovereignty Affirmed.Chapter 13
Job: I Will Defend My Ways Before God.Chapter 14
Job: Man's Life Is Brief and Full of Trouble.Chapter 15
Eliphaz's Second Speech: Job's Words Are Arrogant.Chapter 16
Job: Friends Are Miserable Comforters; My Suffering Is Intense.Chapter 17
Job: My Spirit Is Broken; Hope Seems Distant.Chapter 18
Bildad's Second Speech: The Fate of the Wicked.Chapter 19
Job: My Redeemer Lives; Friends, You Have Wronged Me.Chapter 20
Zophar's Second Speech: The Wicked's Prosperity Is Short-Lived.Chapter 21
Job: Why Do the Wicked Often Prosper?Chapter 22
Eliphaz's Third Speech: Repent, and God Will Restore You.Chapter 23
Job: I Desire to Present My Case Before God.Chapter 24
Job: The Wicked Seem to Escape Judgment.Chapter 25
Bildad's Third Speech: Man's Insignificance Before God.Chapter 26
Job: God's Power and Wisdom Are Incomparable.Chapter 27
Job: I Will Maintain My Integrity Despite Suffering.Chapter 28
Job: The Search for Wisdom Is Beyond Human Reach.Chapter 29
Job Reminisces About His Former Prosperity.Chapter 30
Job Laments His Present Misery and Alienation.Chapter 31
Job Asserts His Innocence and Righteousness.Chapter 32
Elihu's Anger; He Begins to Speak.Chapter 33
Elihu: God Speaks Through Suffering and Dreams.Chapter 34
Elihu: God Is Just and Righteous in His Judgments.Chapter 35
Elihu: Human Actions Don't Affect God's Nature.Chapter 36
Elihu: God's Greatness and Justice Are Unmatched.Chapter 37
Elihu Extols God's Majesty and Power in Nature.Chapter 38
God's Response: Questions Reveal Job's Limited Understanding.Chapter 39
God Continues: Wonders of Creation Highlight Divine Wisdom.Chapter 40
Job Humbles Himself; God Challenges Him Further.Chapter 41
God Describes Leviathan; Emphasizes His Power.Chapter 42
Job Repents; God Restores His Fortunes.
- Job
by L.M. Grant
In this book Israel is not mentioned, so that it seems Job lived previous to the time of Israel's history, perhaps about the time of Abraham. This book is poetic and magnificently beautiful in its language. Alfred Lord Tennyson, a renowned poet, called it "the greatest poem whether of ancient or modem literature." The writer is unknown, but it is plainly dictated by God, who knew perfectly all the circumstances, the exact words that Satan spoke as well as the Lord in the first and second chapters, the exact words of Job and of his three friends and of Elihu, then the words God Himself spoke from chapter 38 to 42:6. Considering all that took place, it could be only God who is the Author.
This does not mean that Job's words or those of his three friends were a revelation from God, but rather that God accurately reported what they said, though in some cases they were wrong. In other cases their words were right, but their application of the truth was not correct. Elihu's words were a much more accurate presentation of the truth.
The work of God in dealing with an individual is displayed wonderfully in this book. Even the most upright and commendable character was reduced to a state of poverty and depression, and afterward recovered and blessed beyond his former dignity. What a lesson for all of us! Can we, who cannot claim (as did Job) any self-righteous honour, expect to escape being humbled if we are to learn rightly of God?
There are five major divisions in the book. Chapters 1 and 2 give a historical introduction. Chapters 3 to 31 record the controversies between Job and his three friends. Chapters 32-37 record the testimony of Elihu. Chapters 38-42:6 give the words of the Lord in reference to His great glory in creation; and finally the last section displays "the end of the Lord," that is, the wonderful result of God's dealings in restoring Job to greater blessing than ever before.
