Job 1:1-22
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substancea also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.b
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satanc came also among them.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou consideredd my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substancee is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power;f only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fireg of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fellh upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind fromi the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle,j and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor chargedk God foolishly.
In magnificence of argument and beauty of style this Book is one of the grandest in the divine Library. The story of Job is presented in dramatic form.
It opens with a picture of Job. He is seen in three respects: first, as to character. The opening verses declare him to be "perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil." The language is simple, and suggests that high integrity which never fails to command respect. In the second place, he is seen in the midst of his home life, rejoicing in his children, not attempting to stay their festivity, while yet anxious concerning their character. Finally, he is revealed to us as a man of great wealth. The combination is rare and remarkable. The man stands before us, a strong and majestic figure, upright and tender, just and gracious; in the language of the chronicler, the "greatest of all the children of the east."
Then we are confronted with a most startling situation. Heaven is seen in argument with hell about earth. God is heard in defense of a man against Satan. The angel messengers of the Most High are seen gathering to Him in counsel. Among them was one, like them in nature, and yet unlike. He is here named the adversary. His estimate of Job was that his attitude toward God was based on pure selfishness, and that if what Job possessed was taken from him he would cease to be loyal to the throne of God. To the adversary permission was given to deal with the possessions of Job. To this permission bounds were set beyond which he might not go. The person of the patriarch was not to be touched. The storm broke on the head of Job. All the advantage seemed to be with the enemy, for up to a certain point Job was powerless against him. There was, however, an inner citadel which the enemy could not touch. Satan is revealed here in startling light. His malice is seen in the choice of time. He strikes in the midst of festivity. His persistence is manifest in that he proceeds to the uttermost bound of the permission is limitation is evident in that he cannot transgress that bound.
The answer of Job to the sweeping storm was characterized by heroism and vast breadth of outlook. There was no affectation of stoicism. He was afflicted, and showed it in all the outward signs of mourning. In the midst of these, however, he turned to the highest act of life, and bowed in reverential worship. His words were of the profoundest philosophy. He recognized that man is more than the things he gathers about him. His beginning and his ending are in nakedness. Discerning the hand of the Lord in bane as well as in blessing, he lifted to Him, out of the midst of dire calamity, the sacrifice of praise. Thus the adversary's lie in the council of heaven was disproved.