The accuser satan hopes to set just such a trap for job. The book of job begins by introducing us to its three most significant characters. If anything, job s satan is most similar to the satan of the book of zechariah, written in the early second temple period, which may indicate that job was written during the same period the late 6th century bce or the early 5th bce. Since god validates elihus points 3841, the adversarial tone in gods answer to job makes even more sense. Now there was a day when the sons of god came to present themselves before the lord, and satan also came among them. Jan 02, 2020 since god validates elihus points 3841, the adversarial tone in gods answer to job makes even more sense. In hebrew, satan actually means the accuser or the prosecutor, and he is referred to as the satan, not just satan. Satan takes the bait and raises a question about job s sincerity and motivation for serving god.
Satan answered the lord, i have been wandering around the earth. You must understand who god is and who satan is, what they know, and what their motivation is. During the report, god draws attention to jobs righteousness, only to have satan retort that job is faithful to god solely because of all that god gives him. If anything, jobs satan is most similar to the satan of the book of zechariah, written in the early second temple period, which may indicate that job was written during the same period the late 6th century bce or the early 5th bce. What does this tell us about the place of evil in the world. God brags to satan about job s virtue, but satan contends that job is only righteous because god has favored him generously. Job chapters 1 and 2, part of the bibles oldest book, say that satan has access to heaven. God sees satan, talks with satan, and even agrees to let satan have his way with job which i actually have some major problems with, but that is a topic for a. God boasts about job, whom god considers to be an outstanding example of what a religious person should be. Job does not say as does not other place in scripture that satan or any angel is a son of god. Thomas explores the difficulty of job s suffering, satan s involvement, and god s sovereignty. We find out that god uses satan to accomplish things in our lives that we could not otherwise experience on our own.
True to one of his modes of operation, he accuses job before god. The bible job, the oldest and first of poetic books. Satanology or the doctrine of satan is properly a part of angelology since satan is a fallen angel. Many here have not proven he existsthey say so, but show nothing in their explanation of where this imaginary being came from book, chapter and verse they copy and paste a few scriptures and think because the word satan appears in that verse bobs your uncle, we have supernatural evil. The book of job god did not give satan power biblebro. The book of job is the eighteenth book in the bible and the first of the poetic books. The word itself, the hebrew satan, is simply an adversary, and is so used in 1 sam 29. New testament is more specific that the sons of god are those who follow after jesus.
The book of job consists of a prose prologue and epilogue narrative framing poetic dialogues and monologues. It isnt certain when satan rebelled against god, but a passage from the book of job job 38. This god is clearly very evil as written in the scriptures. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. God withdraws his protection from job s possessions.
Remember, evil is bad, but it is good to have evil. What did god let satan take away from job on the first test. The bible is a collection of books that use a variety of literary forms to convey theological. It is common to view the narrative frame as the original core of the book, enlarged later by the poetic dialogues and discourses, and sections of the book such as the elihu speeches and the wisdom poem of chapter 28 as late insertions, but recent trends have tended to concentrate on the. Satan, the thief, has come to kill, steal, and destroy john 10. One day satan surveys the world for god to report the behavior of its inhabitants. Job 1, new international version niv the bible app. In the book of revelation the apostle john wrote concerning a final judgment of the wicked. Introduction satanology or the doctrine of satan is properly a part of angelology since satan is a fallen angel. The study of the rest of his hideous kingdom, the fallen angels or demons, is sometimes called demonology. That there is none like him in the earth the same addition is made here by the septuagint which occurs in job 1. In the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job. What the bible says about satans power limited by god.
It is that part that deals specifically with the ruler of the fallen angels or demons matt. If we are honest and not just trying to defend god, he seems at first like some kind of cosmic ogre. And still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him to destroy him without cause. How could satan access heaven in the books of job and the. It is thought to be the oldest book in the bible as job lived in the same period as abraham, long before the time of moses who wrote the first five of the historical books. Oct 19, 2015 in this weeks sermon, the historical dating and literary criticism is commented on in the beginning. If satan can get job to believe he is being punished by god, job may be caught in either of two snares. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. Oct 22, 2010 the book of job is an important book for all of us to study and appreciate. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict him.
God not only wagered satan over the outcome of job s trials, but he actually provoked the bet job 12. Does satan have to get gods permission before he can attack. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. We know that satan needs permission at least sometimes. Job message helped me to persevere through many trials. To make matters worse, job never finds out why he was afflicted in the first place.
And still he holdeth fast his integrity notwithstanding all the efforts made to show that his piety was the result of mere selfishness. Similarly, the book of job does not mention reward and punishment in the afterlife. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was. All of this is to say that the satan in the book of job cannot be entirely identified with the devil or satan in the new testament. Study 34 terms job bible trivia flashcards quizlet. Don stewart has written over twenty books on the subject of. This is an obvious reference to the angels, and we know that satan is an angel even though a fallen one. Satan dares god that, if given the approval to inflict suffering, job will change and curse god. Its more of a title than anything elselike your honor or the monsieur.
The sacred author could have said, god allowed satan to tempt job to the limits of his endurance, but the passage becomes more interesting and compelling when cast as a debate between god and satan over the fate of gods faithful servant, job. And the lord said unto satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power. Satan says to god that if he removes the blessings he has so richly bestowed on job, he will curse you to your face job 1. Thomas explores the difficulty of jobs suffering, satans involvement, and gods sovereignty. Job 1 shows that satan was not able to afflict job without gods permission. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job in. Although most of the book consists of the words of job and his friends, job himself was not the author. So when satan comes into the presence of god in job 1, god is not threatened by satan. Then satan answered the lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Question about the book of job how was satan in heaven. Feb 02, 20 according to epps, references in the bible to the devil and satan are, in the main, to be understood as personifications of the lustful principle in man. He is blameless and upright, constantly mindful to live in a righteous manner job 1.
Does satan have to get gods permission before he can. There is an evil spirit, the enemy of god, and of all righteousness, who is continually seeking to distress, to lead astray, and, if possible, to destroy those who love god. When used as a proper name, the hebrew word so rendered has the article the adversary job 1. Years later, in the book of the revelation, the apostle john wrote about a future day when satan will be kicked out. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job.
He also had a large number of servants and was the richest man in the east. The book of job in the hebrew bible was crafted to address human suffering and why bad things happen to good people. He was the greatest man among all the people of the east. However, heres the definition of satan as given in eastons bible dictionary. This study is an excerpt of the book by don stewart entitled what everyone needs to know about god, which is part of the basic bible study series published by dart press, orange, california. And i saw the dead, small and great, standing before god, and the books were opened. Satan is like a roving ambassador who comes to god to give a report on what he has seen and heard. They stop reading at verse six and conclude that god robbed job and.
The amplified bible and the lord said to satan, have you considered my servant job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who reverently fears god and abstains from and shuns all evil because it is wrong. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. This summary of the book of job provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of job. Job was the first book of the bible that i read as a child and i have always remembered it. Job 2 gnt satan tests job again when the day bible. God is overseeing our preparation for his kingdom, and the devil is, in reality, a dupe in gods hands to that end.
The book is often understood as an exploration of the question of theodicy that is, how god can be declared just in the light of innocent suffering. Commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. For the rest of the lesson, the role of satan in the book of job is covered. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil. This is kiddylevel theology, yet many grownups dont get it. According to epps, references in the bible to the devil and satan are, in the main, to be understood as personifications of the lustful principle in man. It seems strange that god should give satan such a permission as this. God sees satan, talks with satan, and even agrees to let satan have his way with job which i actually have some major problems with, but that is a topic for a different post.
The career of satan, which extends from the dateless past. The contemporary view of satan is that he is a powerful being who hates mankind and will do whatever he can to destroy us. When the bible says that job was blameless, it does not mean that he. There is no biblical proof that satan always needs gods specific permission in order to act against christians every time he wishes to attack them. Aug 23, 2011 job would, if he knew the plot hatched in heaven against him, consider satan the worst sort of enemy. The book of job challenges the simple equation of suffering with punishment, by telling the story of one righteous mans confrontation with overwhelming misfortune.
We know this because the next verse says, satan afflicted job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head job 2. Of course, job remains faithful and god rewards him with a new family and prosperous life in the end. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict. Then satan went out from the presence of the lord and smote job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Who is satan what does the bible say about the devil. Job 2 international childrens bible icb satan appears before god again. People learn more about themselves when they go through difficult times.
Son of man, say to the prince of tyre, thus says the lord god. Satan doesnt even come close to his monstrosity thoughbthe bible is a lie and hoax. Does satan have to get gods permission before he can attack us. I love him because no matter what he remained true to his faith and love of god and i do too.
Job 2 gnt satan tests job again when the day bible gateway. Job would, if he knew the plot hatched in heaven against him, consider satan the worst sort of enemy. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Satan only pops up in chapters 1 and 2when things get poetic, hes out of there for good. Job chapter 1 comments page 7 official king james bible. The book of job begins with a prologue job 12, which describes a wager between satan and god, in which satan the adversary bets god that joba particularly pious man. When god calls up the name of job before the accuser and testifies to his righteousness this creature in whom god takes special delight satan attempts with one crafty thrust both to assail gods beloved and to show up god as a fool. The words to present himself before the lord occur here, though not in job 1. Job 2 icb satan appears before god again on bible gateway. In it, satan is a member of gods divine court who walks the earth looking for sin and reports back to god. Aug 27, 20 so when satan comes into the presence of god in job 1, god is not threatened by satan. The meaning of the book of job is found in gods and satans conversation in heaven. The book of job is an important book for all of us to study and appreciate. The lord said, behold, all that he hath is in thy power i give thee full power to do with his property, his servants, his children, and his wife, whatsoever thy craft or malice shall prompt thee to do.
In the absence of answers, job has been held up as a model of quiet faithfulness. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In describing the creation of the earth to job and his friends, god said that all the. Children of the devil good children people of the kingdom the gospel to the nations the end of the world the world planting seeds.
445 442 832 1586 1521 1351 360 199 1171 786 341 1122 438 891 1533 276 1390 988 1301 1114 1524 907 1459 276 294 135 1409 325 346 482 1185 256