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Call to worship: Lamentations 3:19-33

Text: Job 1

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. In verses 1-5, the book's author describes the righteous character of Job. What few things does he mention? Or how does he describe Job? Why is this assertion, that Job is 'blameless,' etc., so important to the overall purpose of the book? Consider what his friends will eventually assert against him? That is, do bad things happen to good people? Is suffering always punitive? Or is there sometimes something more, something bigger going on behind the scenes? Is there such a thing as a righteous sufferer? How might this ultimately point us to Jesus?
2. In verses 6-12, it appears that God holds court with angelic beings. Somewhat intruding upon this assembly, we're introduced to 'the Satan' or 'adversary.' Later biblical revelation reveals this is quite simply 'satan,' 'the devil.' Notice God's control over every aspect of the situation. These are not equal parties. The Bible doesn't endorse dualism. God is God, and Satan is not. How is this shown throughout this scene?
3. In the same scene, note that God affirms what the author has already stated about the character of Job. Again, why is this important to the book's purpose? How does it strike you that it's not Satan who inquires about Job, but God Who takes the initiative to bring up Job to Satan? In other words, what do we make of the fact that Job's impending sufferings occur at God's sovereign initiative? Further, Satan has considered Job. What does he think of Job? As God gives Satan leash enough to do his worst to Job, what does that say about God's confidence in genuine faith? We might ask, what does that say about God's confidence in the stability of His own gift (of faith)?
4. At the end of the day, God wants to put this on display—genuine faith is unbreakably God-glorifying. Satan refuses to believe this. Is our faith what Satan believes it is, or what God knows it is? Is God enough for us? Strip all away, and I mean all, are we still holding fast to Christ? Have we thought that God's glory is more important to God than our comfort? And that it's not wrong of God to take the measures He does to show that (v.22)? Have we considered that it might be in our best interest to undergo seasons of suffering in this world? Can we see in how God limits Satan's terror that we are never out of God's hands? That His rod is yet ever-dipped in honey in the end?
5. In verses 20-22, Job responds. Along with the worthiness of God to be worshipped on His own merits, our response to suffering is a major theme of Job. Would you respond to Job's tragedies the way Job did? He didn't blame it on Satan. He attributed it to the sovereign right of God. And, though he grieved greatly, he still worshipped God and blessed His Name! Job didn't sin! Nor did he charge God with any wrong in the whole ordeal! Again, would you respond like this? Do we respond like this to far, far lesser trials? Another question, how in the world does Job respond like this? What must he believe, what truths must his faith be rooted in to respond the way he does to these unfathomable calamities? What does Job believe about God and life and grace and suffering to enable him to 'kiss the rod' like this? Ask God to get you there!