We have seen in “God’s Celestial Word: The Book of Job” that the Book of Job was the first written revelation given to mankind. We also saw a structure for the entire Book of Job to help us understand what the story of Job is all about. We are narrowing in on a section of this book where God tells Job about His Word written in the heavens. The subject of the Word is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Now let’s look at the structure of the central section of this book (Job 4:1–41:34) that includes attacks by Job’s three friends and Elihu.
An Expanded Structure of Job 4:1–41:34
This section is a beautiful example of God’s amazing design of the scripture. In it, Job’s friends attack him systematically, and Job responds to each attack. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar take turns and attack Job three times. After such an onslaught, Job tells these “friends” what they have done for him.
Job 16:2:
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
Previously, Job’s wife had been so hurt by the loss of her children that she reproached Job. But Job did not “sin with his lips” in response to her. Job retained his integrity before his Creator and would not blame God for the evil upon his life.
Job 2:9,10:
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Despite these verbal attacks from both wife and friends, Job held fast to his integrity.
Job 27:5,6:
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
At that point, Satan sends a very vicious emissary to accuse Job of evil. When Elihu attacks Job’s integrity, he uses direct, insulting words to get to Job. When that fails, he gets Job’s friends involved. He again attacks Job directly, accusing him of rebellion. As Job holds fast to his integrity, Elihu closes by claiming to represent God, and then chides Job for being “prideful” against God. As is so often the case, the Devil accuses a righteous believer of the pride and evil that is his own.
Exercising restraint and wisdom, Job does not answer Elihu one word. Jesus Christ used similar restraint when questioned by Herod in Luke 23:9: “Then he [Herod] questioned with him [Jesus] in many words; but he answered him nothing.”
Now, after Job had faithfully honored God against such attacks, God blessed him with amazing understanding. God teaches Job about the promised seed, the coming mediator, and his future victory over the adversary, the Devil. God describes to Job His power against the adversary’s attacks, how He is in all ways greater than the adversary (including the celestial Word), and closes by revealing the adversary’s kingdom and devices (as Hydra and Leviathan).
EXPANDED STRUCTURE OF JOB 4:1 – 41:34 [G. and G. in the Overall Structure of Job]
H. Job’s friends attack (4:1-32:1a)
1. Eliphaz’s first attack (4:1-5:27)
Job’s response (6:1-7:21)
2. Bildad’s first attack (8:1-22)
Job’s response (9:1-10:22)
3. Zophar’s first attack (11:1-20)
Job’s response (12:1-14:22)
1. Eliphaz’s second attack (15:1-35)
Job’s response (16:1-17:16)
2. Bildad’s second attack (18:1-21)
Job’s response (19:1-29)
3. Zophar’s second attack (20:1-29)
Job’s response (21:1-34)
1. Eliphaz’s third attack (22:1-30)
Job’s response (23:1-24:25)
2. Bildad’s third attack (25:1-6)
Job’s response (26:1-27:10)
3. Zophar’s third attack (27:11-28:28)
Job’s response (29:1-31:40)
I. Job found righteous (32:1b)
H. Elihu – seed of the serpent attacks (32:2-37:24)
1. Full of anger, he attacks Job directly and baits Job to respond. Job refuses. (32:1-33:33)
2. He appeals to others, refers to Job in the third person. (34:1-37)
3. He attacks Job directly, then closes appealing to others, accusing Job of rebellion against God (35:1-16)
4. He speaks to others and says he represents God. He closes with directly attacking Job and accuses Job of pride against God. (36:1-37:24)
I. God teaches Job about the mediator and the adversary (38:1-41:34)
A. God’s power against the adversary’s attacks
1. God responds to Job’s desire to understand the attacks of his enemy, the adversary (38:1-3)
2. God describes original creation (38:4-7)
3. God holds back the adversary’s attack from the deep (38:8-11)
4. God sets the heavens and earth in order again after the adversary’s attack (38:11-15)
B. God is in all ways greater than the adversary as seen in:
1. The Great Deep (38:16-23)
2. God’s Word in the heavens (38:24-27)
3. The Great Waters (38:28-30)
4. God establishing the heavens (38:31-36)
5. The twelve signs of the Mazzoroth (38:37-39:30)
C. The Adversary’s devices
1. His kingdom (40:1-14)
2. Hydra: The Serpent (40:15-24)
3. Leviathan: The enemy to be bound by the Messiah (41:1-34)
Truths that God Teaches Job about the Mediator and the Adversary in Job 38:1–41:34
To better understand this section, it should be remembered that God did not originally create the heavens and earth “void” or in chaos.
Isaiah 45:18:
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [void], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
Genesis 1:1,2:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was [this Hebrew word means it “became” that way] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
How did God’s creation become “without form, and void”? What was this “darkness” that came “upon the face of the deep”? Some Bible scholars believe that this refers to Lucifer’s fall from heaven and his battle against Michael and other angels (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezeziel 28:12-19; Revelation 12:3,4,7-9). This resulted in great destruction and may have included waters from “the deep” or the “waters that be above the heavens” (Psalms 148:4).
But God put things back together, with light and a new firmament. And there were new “lights” in the firmament that told the story of the coming Messiah.
Genesis 1:3,6,14:
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs [of the one to come], and for seasons [the events he would accomplish], and for days, and years.
In explaining to Job about his adversary and the coming redeemer, God covers the following important truths:
- The original creation (not in vain)
- God resisting Lucifer’s attack from the deep
- God bringing forth light, a new firmament, and a new earth
Next time we will see God’s power against the adversary’s attacks (Job 38:1-15). We will also begin looking at how God is in all ways greater than the adversary as seen in: 1) The Great Deep (Job 38:16-23); 2) God’s Word in the heavens (Job 38:24-27); and 3) The Great Waters (Job 38:28-30).
NEXT: God’s Celestial Word: God’s Power and Greatness in Job
PREVIOUS: God’s Celestial Word: The Book of Job
One reply on “God’s Celestial Word: An Overview of Job 4:1–41:34”
Beautifully done, thank you!