Title: Godly Job's First Trial/1:1-22
Content Title: The First Trial of the Pious Job
Text: 1:1-22
Introduction
First, by recording the place where Job lived and his religious attitude, the text reveals the source of his wealth and explains the cause of his falling into extreme calamity.
In addition, as the harmony of Job's family and his piety are briefly described in the text, the writer's careful intention to clearly express the psychological shock and depth of conflict that he suffered when he suffered.
These stories are written in the form of prose to mobilize the reader's imagination and lead the atmosphere of the entire book in a literary way.
These texts can be divided into the following
That is, 1. The first part of the first part showing the place where Job lived and his personality (verse 1).
2. The middle part depicting Job's family and rich possessions (verse 2.3)
3. It consists of the second half (verse 4.5), where Job's faith, which maintains reverence even at home, is recorded.
Main subject
1. Job's environment (1:1-5)
1) Job was a righteous man who pursued a pure and honest life (verse 1).
In light of the philosophy of wisdom at the time, which had the black and white logical thinking of holiness-blessing and sin-punishment, it seems that Job was receiving natural blessings from God.
However, the author's reference to Job's righteousness here is not intended as a source of blessing, but rather to limit the problem of accusations against Job
In other words, this appears to be merely an account of the incident trying to assert that the accusations of Job's affliction and those around him were not outrageous as his moral "sin".
2) The blessings given to Job who were sanctified before Hanami are recorded (verses 2-4)
As the text shows, Job was a faithful man who did not leave God not only in life but also in heart.
That is, he not only turned away from evil, but also feared the transgressions of his children, so he offered burnt offerings according to their number.
This shows that Job was a true believer who valued secret fellowship with God rather than offering formal sacrifices (John 4:24). Because of this true faith, Job not only received great approval from God, but also received great blessings.
In particular, the number of “seven sons” and wealth that Job acquired was a very ideal form of blessing from the Old Testament blessing.
However, it is very interesting that Job, who received this blessing, was a Gentile.
In the text, the East (verse 3) refers to the enemies of Israel in the East, that is, the Edom, Moab, and Ammonites, and is used as a contrasting word with the Philistines of the West (Isa 11:14). As a place of residence, it is inferred that Job was also a Gentile (Judges 6:3 / Jer 49:28) Nevertheless, it was because of his outstanding faith as a Gentile that Job was chosen by God (verse 5).
Therefore, this fact can understand the author's intention to show the providence of God working directly even in places remote from Israel.
On the other hand, as mentioned in the text, there are many examples of blessings from God.
First of all, there is a case where the Lord blessed Abraham, the father of faith, in all things (Genesis 24:1) as an example of receiving a blessing like Job, and a case where Isaac received a blessing from God that was rejected by God for greatness and prosperity (Gen. ) is there
And there is a case where David received the blessing of spreading his fame to all nations (1 Chronicles 14:17), and there was also a case where Solomon gained worldwide honor and fame (1 Kings 4:29-34).
From these facts, we can learn that God remembers the honest and that human attitude toward God should be 'pure and holy.
Therefore, believers should always ponder the truth that they must obey God's Word and be in His love.
2. Satan's first trick and Job's first trial (1:6-22)
* The first half provides the source of Job’s ordeal by visually expressing the encounter between God and Satan (verses 6-12)
*The middle part (verses 13-19) implying Satan's swiftness and cruelty by showing the calamities that continue to occur.
*The second half (verses 20-22) depicts Job's victory over Sada in the midst of severe psychological conflict and bitterness.
1) It was intended to implicitly reveal God's ultimate intention to take advantage of Satan's cunning schemes.
In the text that records the dialogue between God and Satan in a very allegorical way, there is a scene where God's pride in Job and Satan's evil schemes clash with the human Job (6-12).
What we can see from these verses is the clear limitations of Satan and the absolute authority of God.
Also, behind God's permission of Satan's plan in the text, God's love for Job to gain deeper spiritual insight is also hidden.
Therefore, in order to explain this intention, the author of this book dealt with the problem between God and Satan as a dialogue.
2) It shows that human good deeds cannot determine the future.
In all verses of the text, we can see that Job, ignorant of the great plan that is taking place in heaven, is grateful for the happiness of his father and does not deviate from God's law.
In fact, you can think of these flaws as a sufficient condition to receive God's blessing, but contrary to such objective expectations, Job was plunged into disaster.
Therefore, as we can see from the text, God's blessings and discipline are not governed by human good deeds, but are executed under God's intention (1 Peter 4:12).
On the other hand, in the text and (6-12) 2:1-6, there are two scenes of the heavenly meeting.
However, this indicates that the history of spiritual existence is intervened behind human affairs.
In particular, in the text, Satan appears as a dissident and accuser (Rev 12:10), which contrasts sharply with the figure of Jesus Christ as our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
Through the content of the text that contains these facts, we can see that God allowed Satan to act with restrictions (verse 12) and that trials can come even to the righteous (Genesis 37:28-29/Acts 4:21) and that after trials, God’s You can realize that a deep meaning is implied (Psalm 66:1-12)
conclusion
Therefore, we can get the truth that Satan's works are permitted only to accomplish God's good, and even if the saints are tormented by Satan's tricks, persevere to understand the providence of God implied behind them (James 1:2-4). ) You can also learn a lesson in life that you should pray (Colossians 1:9-12).