Studying Job

[BubbaScott]

Im wanting to really get into studying my bible. I think for me at least, JOB would be a good place to start. I know I need to have more patience in things, so I figured here is a good place to start. What Im asking, I guess, is, does anyone know of a good online referance to help me in my studies??

[daveleau]

Job and Revelation are two 'graduate' courses in theology, IMO. There are a lot of very difficult things in both that even trip up scholars. If you are resolved to Job as a starting point, be cautious and very studios. I would suggest a study of patience as a topical study, if you decide to look for another starting point.

http://cc.christiancourses.com/index.php?redirected=1&


http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes.htm


http://www.lovethelord.com/books/job.html

http://www.christianforums.com/t833329-anyone-know-any-good-links-for-in-depth-bible-studies.html

[DeaconDean]

Job and Revelation are two 'graduate' courses in theology, IMO. There are a lot of very difficult things in both that even trip up scholars. If you are resolved to Job as a starting point, be cautious and very studios. I would suggest a study of patience as a topical study, if you decide to look for another starting point.

http://cc.christiancourses.com/index.php?redirected=1&


http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes.htm


http://www.lovethelord.com/books/job.html

http://www.christianforums.com/t833329-anyone-know-any-good-links-for-in-depth-bible-studies.html

I have to agree with my brother. Job ranks right up there as one of the hardest books to understand. At times when reading Job, it seems as if he is actually questioning God. Job is a deep book, on many levels, just like Revelation. But if you want, there is a good commentary I used called "The Voice out of the Whirlwind: The Book of Job" by: Ralph E. Hone, and it is only 333 pages. It can be gotten on amazon.com for as little as $3.20.

If you want to start with a good well founded Bible study of a book, start with John. Very easy to read. Very easy to grasp. And there are a lot of very good commentaries out there.

And daveleau, I have wanted for the longest time, to do an in depth study of the book of Romans. And I finally have the time and resources to do it. This has been very rewarding to me personally. Romans is not an easy book on the surface as it seems to be. But it has brought me insights that I couldn't have gotten no where else. God has blessed me in this study in so many ways. What I am using is my Hebrew/Greek Interlinear Bible, my greek lexicon, and Donald Grey Barnhouse's four volume Commentary "Romans." And I hope to soon get: "Paul" by Charles Swindol.

God Bless

Till all are one.

[PrincetonGuy]

I would not agree with some that the study of the Book of Job even begins to approach the level of difficulty of The Revelation or Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, both of which have been the subject of hundreds upon hundreds of published commentaries (I have almost 300 of them in my own library at home) and many thousands of published papers, but for a man who wishes to learn what the Bible says about patience, I would suggest a topical study. Here is a good one from Nave’s Topical Bible:

Patience
General references
Psa_37:7-9; Pro_15:18; Ecc_7:8-9; Lam_3:26-27; Luk_8:15; Luk_21:19; Rom_2:7; Rom_5:3-4; Rom_8:25; Rom_12:12; Rom_15:4-5; 1Co_13:4-5; 2Co_6:4-6; 2Co_12:12; Gal_6:9; Eph_4:1-2; Col_1:10-11; Col_3:12-13; 1Th_1:3; 1Th_5:14; 2Th_3:5; 1Ti_3:2-3; 1Ti_6:11; 2Ti_2:24-25; Tit_2:1-2; Tit_2:9; Heb_6:12; Heb_6:15; Heb_10:36; Heb_12:1; Jam_1:3-4; Jam_1:19; Jam_5:7-8; 1Pe_2:19-23; 2Pe_1:5-6; Rev_1:9; Rev_13:10; Rev_14:12
See Longsuffering; Meekness
Instances of:
Isaac toward the people of Gerar
Gen_26:15-22
Moses
Exo_16:7-8
Job
Job_1:21; Jam_5:11
David
Psa_40:1
Simeon
Luk_2:25
Paul
2Ti_3:10
Prophets
Jam_5:10
The Thessalonians
2Th_1:4
The church at Ephesus
Rev_2:2-3
The church at Thyatira
Rev_2:19
John
Rev_1:9

There is a software version of Naves Topical Bible that you can download for free that has the advantage over the hardcopy of allowing you to look up the verses cited by simply positioning your mouse over the citation rather than flipping pages in your Bible. And it has the further advantage of allowing you to read the verses in your choice of over 20 different translations into English. It can be downloaded as a free module for an excellent and free Bible study program:

http://www.e-sword.net/ (http://www.e-sword.net/)

[BereanTodd]

At times when reading Job, it seems as if he is actually questioning God.

I think it is clear that at times Job does question God, that is why when God speaks He does it so forcefully, and Job is brought to repent.

[Seeker of the Truth]

Ecclesiastes has a ton of places where King Solomon (he wrote it, correct?) questions God.

[JimfromOhio]

I have been studying "Job" for a long time and learned about my own sufferings and learned patience through them.

Job reads like history. It talks about a man named Job. He lived in the land of Uz. It relates details about his family, his life, and his suffering. It communicates to us his friends' interest in his suffering, and the spiritual struggling with which Job dealt. What's interesting is that other biblical writers refer to Job as a real person. Ezekiel refers to Job along with Noah and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14,20). And James draws upon the example of Job to comfort the suffering, proving the point that God is merciful. He commends the endurance of Job (Jas. 5:11). From the Book of Job, we see that God is in complete control. Satan had neither the power nor the authority to do anything without the permission of God. It was consistent with God's nature and will for him to have allowed those things to happen to Job. The Lord's point to Job, at the end of the book, is that he is the all-powerful Creator. He is the loving Sustainer. And he is the perfect Ruler. He created the Universe, and he knows how to govern it as well.

How I learned about Job are as follows:

1. Job's example of Faith
God made a point to the devil and to the whole world of people who have ever read that account. And the point is this, that true saving faith is not dependent on positive circumstances. God is making a point with Satan and to make the point He uses Job and the point is to show the strength and the continuity and the unwavering character of true saving faith, true love for God. The person who really loves God is not the person who loves God because of what he gets, but the person who loves God because of who he is.

2. Job versus Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars
In the beginning of the Book of Job, Job's innocence is established so that people won't interpret Job's friends opinions as judgemental. The very first verse explains that Job was blameless and a man of complete integrity. Job's faith was very strong and feared (loved) God. Job's friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar) reminds me of some movements who believes that when Christians get sick, they blame on a Christian who have committed sin. There are many of those who believes such doctrines. There are so many Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars. God allowed Satan to inflict Job (i.e. boil which is a skin disease). The fact of Job's story is that there are no answers when disaster strikes. We can't explain everything. Faith is to keep trusting God no matter what happens. Job had the strength, the continuity and the unwavering character of true saving faith, true love for God regardless what happened to him. Many of us have identified with him. Many of us also have identified some of our fellow Christians as Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars. When when Christians face tribulations as Job did, what would their friends do?

3. Details of Job's friends treating Job during his trials
Some have the attitude, "I have the knowledge and how God have blessed me with that knowledge. One of these days you will also come to know and have the same knowledge and that is when you will know the TRUTH." Job's friends were obstacles to his relationship with God when they don't really know why things are happening to Job. Self-righteousness is terrible among Christian community because it is very naturally that we judge everyone by what/who we are because it is usually smug satisfaction with self. Self-righteousness also leads to self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of what is going on.

4. Job's friends persecuting Job.....
Job knew in his own heart that his friends were wrong. Finally, after listening to his friends for so long (20 plus chapters), in Job 21:27, Job said, "Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me." In other words, "You know, I've had it with you guys. All you do is think what I lacked against God." And that their comments just proved that they didn't love him. “Oh, Job. You’ve got a lot of sin in your life. We know, we’ve got a good theology. Our theology is that if you’ve got problems, you’ve got sin.” Job's friends ran through weeks of his personal inventory and they came up with nothing. Job 32:2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. Job 37:14 "Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.

Verses regarding "Patience":
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1 [ God Disciplines His Sons ] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 5:11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

[JimfromOhio]

I think it is clear that at times Job does question God, that is why when God speaks He does it so forcefully, and Job is brought to repent.

Job made a mistake of listening to his friends and God reminded Job of His Character in Job Chapters 40 and 41. In Job 42. "And Job answered the Lord and said, O, I see, I get it, You can do everything and no thought can be withheld from You and who's ever going to hide counsel without knowledge, therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, things too wonderful for me which I knew not."

Job was saying in today's language: "God, I understand, You're God, You're sovereign, You can do anything. You know everything. You have all the privileges. I'm a fool for even opening my mouth, I apologize. I've been talking about things far beyond my understanding which I knew not."

Read Job 42:7-9 regarding God's rebuke to Eliphaz and his friends for judging Job wrongly.

[JimfromOhio]

Ecclesiastes has a ton of places where King Solomon (he wrote it, correct?) questions God.

Not really. Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes because he has learned the hard lesson from his pride. Solomon was the wisest man ever lived (other than Christ). Solomon was humbled by God and then he wrote from his experiences. Solomon explained to us the reality of life from God's point of view. If God is ALL good, then Solomon would not write the negative side of God in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. In Ephesians 1:11, "He works all things according to the purpose of His own will."

This is my thoughts from reading Ecclesiastes
I arrived naked from the womb of my mother; I will leave in the same condition--with nothing. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth. A right time for birth and another for death. A right time to plant and another to reap. A right time to get sick and another to heal. A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer. A right time to make love and another to abstain. A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses. A right time to hold on and another to let go. A right time to rip out and another to mend. A right time to shut up and another to speak up. A right time to love and another to hate.

Reading Ecclesiastes helps alot. Hearing stories from my elders (old relatives and older Christians) reminded me that their experiences speaks the truth. As they say, "History repeats itself in every generation." Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Reading Ecclesiastes have reminded me that people have been taking "life" for granted. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.

[JPPT1974]

In Job, we ask ourselves why are
We allowed to suffer and where is
God in all of this. God wants us to perservere
And try to keep the faith in Him
No matter what happens in order for our faith
To grow strong in Him!

[jsimms615]

there is some good commentaries on
www.crosswalk.com
www. studylight.org
look under bible study tools.

[Flynmonkie]

One of my favorite books! Lots of great responses here!
Take time and enjoy it! Much to glean. I believe Job teaches about humility. To me, humble is always the best way to start!:prayer: