as we open this book, we are on his torical ground. “ That man was perfect” (1:1). This is a problem to some as they read this and similar statements. Does the Bible teach sinless perfection or eradication of the old nature? We believe not so far as this life is con cerned. Here perfection means in tegrity, sincerity and consistency. In view of the light he had, Job was a well-developed man. But he was not perfect in the absolute sense, as Job himself confesses in 42:6. Noah too was called perfect (Gen. 6:9), but we have the record of his sin in Gen. 9:21. Only “ in Christ Jesus” can any man be perfect in the absolute sense (Col. 1:28), and not until the believer sees Christ face to face at His com ing will he know complete separa tion from sin in his nature (1 John 2 : 2 ) . “If I have seen any perish for want of clothing” (31:19). Job seeks to acquit himself of the charges made against him by his “comfort ers.” Outwardly, what he affirmed about his conduct was doubtless true. He is to be commended for his right eous living, but he went too far in his statements. He showed that he did not realize the true nature of his own heart. After he saw God, he did not talk that way (42:5, 6). In the presence of God, man has little to say of his own righteousness. M emory V erse : "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee” (Psa. 84:5). Job was one of the greatest’ men about whom the Old Testament tells us. “That man was perfect and up-“ right, and one that feared God, and eschewed [kept away from] evil.” Job had seven sons and three daugh ters. God had blessed him with large flocks and herds of sheep, camels, oxen, and asses. He also had many servants and was the greatest of all of the men in the land where he T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S For the Children T h e G ood M a n J ob ( J ob i l l- 5 ; 29:15, 16a)
JULY 6, 1947 A M AN W HO SE NAM E W A S JOB J ob I H ; 271-5; 31:16-28
nothing against himself, he judged himself to be righteous. But he was comparing himself with other hu man beings; he did not weigh him self in the divine balances, hence he was not able to judge his own in herent evil or goodness. He had to
Outline and Exposition J ob ’ s C haracter ( J ob 1:1)
Job was a historical personage, just as Noah and Daniel were (Ezek. 14:14; Jas. 5:11). He was a “perfect” man, which means that he was whole-hearted and sincere, without duplicity toward God or man (Gen. 17:1; John 1:47). He was not sinless, but a man who feared God and hated evil. 'Upright, devout, and benevo lent, the Lord had said of him that there was “none like him in the earth” (v. 8). J ob ’ s D arkn ess (Job 27:1-5) Though they agreed in many things, the debate between Job and his three friends ended without their settling anything. The friends de clared, in effect, “God is just,” and Job agreed; they asserted, "God does not act capriciously,” and again Job assented; they affirmed, “God does not act unjustly,” and once more Job was in agreement with them. But this presented a dilemma to Job: “Either I am what these men say I am, a hypocrite, or God is acting un justly.” But since neither the friends nor Job had any knowledge of what was going on in the unseen world, they could not understand what was God’s purpose in Job’s difficulties. Job could honestly testify, “ I know I am not a hypocrite,” and, “ I know that God is just.” He doubtless rea soned: “Shall I abandon the truth I know of myself? But this I cannot do. Shall I abandon the God whom I trust? This also I cannot do.” Hence he remained in darkness, even though his underlying faith in God endured the trial. J ob ’ s S elf - vindication (J ob 31:19-28) This chapter is full of “I,” “my,” “me,” “mine,” and like expressions. About eighty times Job speaks of himself. His friends had said there must be sin in Job’s life, so Job went back over his record, but could find no evil acts. Because he could find
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A . K ent For the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon outlines of Internation al Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by the Interna tional Council of Religious Education; used by permis-
learn that .in himself there was no good, and though he knew nothing against himself, that did not justify him. This was the truth another good man had to learn centuries later (Rom. 7:18; 1 Cor. 4:4). Points and Problems “ There was a man” (1:1). This statement lifts the record of the book of Job out of the realm of mythology. Job was a real person, not a ficti tious character. The first chapter shows him to be a man from a defi nite place, of a definite character, who had sons and daughters, and was owner of certain possessions. Fur thermore, he offered sacrifices in patriarchal fashion. In addition to this testimony, the prophet Ezekiel mentions him in the same breath with Noah and Daniel whom we recognize as historical characters (Ezek. 14: 14, 20). And in the New Testament, James speaks of the pa tience of Job (Jas. 5: 11). Thus,
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