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Call to worship: Psalm 13

Text: Job 2

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. In 2:1-6, what are the similarities with 1:6-12? What are the differences? Consider the first word of verse 1, God's additional clarification in verse 3, and Satan's next grant request in verses 4-5.
2. In 2:7-9, Satan afflicts Job with loathsome sores, though that's hardly the total picture of his physical torments. Consider also 7:4-5, 7:13-14, 10:11, 16:15-16, 17:1, 18:13, 19:17, 19:20, 19:26, 21:6, 30:15, 30:27, 30:30. In Satan's mind, how does this stand as a more validating test of Job's devotion to God and of God's worthiness to be worshipped simply for Himself?
3. In 2:9 specifically, a trial comes upon Job that even we were not expecting. It's not mentioned in the conversation between God and Satan in 2:1-6. It's a devious surprise. What is it? Why might this be the worst affliction of all? Consider Genesis 2:18 and the overall role-design of God in marriage pre-Fall. How does Satan attack that in Genesis 3? How does Jesus give grace for it's heavenly renewal? How are any married individuals among us doing with the whole 'for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health'? How does Mrs. Job do? How does Job respond to her? Be careful to notice what he doesn't say.
4. In 2:10, Job responds. What is his response to this additional trial? Was Satan right? Or was God? Did Job's God-given faith prevail? What does that teach us about God's grace in the midst of suffering? How might that teach us that suffering, considered in Christ, is itself a grace? After all this, is this how you would have responded?
5. In 2:11-13, we're introduced to Job's three friends. They often (and for good reason, as we'll see) receive a bad wrap. Here, however, how would you characterize their approach to Job? Might they be the counter to Job's wife? What might this say about the need and place of truly wise caregivers of the soul in each one of our lives? If and when we're ever isolated to the ash heap of suffering, will we survive it to the glory of God to the end without good counsel? Job's friends turn out not to be so helpful. He endures without wise counsel, but should that be normative for us? Or is Job exceptional? And to whom does Job (indeed, many aspects of his suffering in this passage) direct us? Will He, Jesus, ever fail to care for what He's purchased with His own blood? Take heart in covenant mercy!