July Bible Study

Job - An Invitation to Trust God's Wisdom

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Introduction

The book of Job is an invitation to trust God’s wisdom. A suggested purpose of the book is to answer the question, “How should the righteous suffer?” The book of Job encourages us to focus on the questions inferred by Job’s suffering. We learn that Job’s suffering has a twofold explanation: to demonstrate God’s value and glory, and its ongoing purpose was to refine Job’s righteousness. His suffering is not punishment. It is not a sign of God’s anger. Job’s pain is not the pain of the executioner’s whip but the pain of the surgeon’s scalpel. The removal of the disease of pride is the most loving thing God could do, no matter what the cost.

1. Job Bible Study Toolbox

A. Click here to watch an intro Video (7:14) entitled “Wisdom Series – Job” at bibleproject.com.

B.  Click here to watch another video (11:00) on an overview of Job.

2. Discourse of Wisdom
  • Job is the first of five books commonly referred to as “The Books of Poetry”. These include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
  • Job is written in dense Hebrew poetic style as opposed to the narrative style of other books.
  • Specifically, Job, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes are referred to as “Wisdom Literature”.
  • The author of Job is unknown.
3. Intro to Biblical Poetry:
  • Job – How to suffer
  •  Psalms – How to pray
  •  Proverbs – How to act
  •  Ecclesiastes – How to enjoy
  •  Song of Solomon – How to love
4. 5 Milestones of Job

1. God Tests Job. The book of Job questions God’s justice. Will upright and blameless Job continue to serve God if he loses everything, or will he stay faithful?

2.  Job Accuses God. Job accuses God of acting unjustly while his friends blame him for wrongdoing. They all believe God operates the universe according to rules of justice.

3. Job Questions God. Job reviews his good works and questions why God would allow him to suffer, but he sees his pain through the lens of his limited view.

4. God’s Virtual Tour. God responds to Job personally with a virtual tour of the world. He reminds Job that His worldview is infinite while Job’s view is limited.

5. Job Learns Trust. God responds to Job personally with a virtual tour of the world. He reminds Job that His worldview is infinite while Job’s view is limited.

5. Job Questions
  • Is God wise and just?
  •  Does God run the universe on the strict principle of justice?
  •  How is Job’s suffering to be explained? Why do we suffer?
  •  Who or what causes our suffering?
  •  Why doesn’t God do something?
6. God’s Responses to Job
  • Foremost, God is not obligated to answer all of our questions.
  •  God gives Job an invitation to trust His wisdom.
  •  Job is not in a position to question God.
  •  God honors Job’s struggles, honesty, and prayers.

Bible Study Agenda

Click To Jump To Date:

July 8th
July 15th
July 22nd
July 29th

July 1st

Theme: In Spite of Myself
Focus: The book of Job champions the absolute glory and perfection of God. It sets forth the theme echoed in Psalm 18:3 (“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised”). God is deserving of our constant praise simply on the basis of Who He is, apart from the blessings He bestows. The satan denied this truth (Job 1:9-11), but Job proved him wrong (Job 1:20-22; 2:10).

Scriptures:

    • JOB 1:9-11 – Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
    • JOB 1:20-22 – Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh. Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
    • JOB 2:10 – “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.

Discussion Questions:

    • When you are going through a trial, at what point do you begin to praise God for Who He is & for victory?
    • What confession(s) of faith should be on your lips daily?

July 8th

Theme: I’ve Been Through the Storm – Part 1
Focus: In Job, the question of suffering is addressed in detail. Why do we suffer? Who or what causes it? Why doesn’t God do something?
Not all questions are answered, but some important points are made:

      • Man is unable to subject the painful experiences of human existence to a meaningful analysis. God’s sovereignty are beyond man’s ability to fathom. Man simply cannot tie all the “loose ends” of the Lord’s purposes together. We must learn to trust in God & His wisdom, no matter the circumstances.
      • Suffering is not always the result of personal sin. The erroneous conclusion drawn by Job’s friends is that suffering is always a consequence of sin. Job proves this is not the case.
      • Suffering may be allowed as a compliment to one’s spirituality. God allowed Job to suffer to prove to the satan what kind of man he really was. God had amazing confidence in Job!

Scriptures:

    • Read JOB 36:15-23
    • Read JOHN 9: 1-24
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Discussion Questions:

    • How do you define suffering?
    • Recall a storm in your life. Who did you blame? What did you learn from your suffering?
    • Ponder this: Repent of all the times you have questioned God or found fault with him in the way he has treated you. Pray that God would humble you to see these murmurings as sinful.

July 15th

Theme: I’ve Been Through the Storm – Part 2
Focus: In Job, the question of suffering is addressed in detail. Why do we suffer? Who or what causes it? Why doesn’t God do something?
Not all questions are answered, but some important points are made:

      • Man is unable to subject the painful experiences of human existence to a meaningful analysis. God’s sovereignty are beyond man’s ability to fathom. Man simply cannot tie all the “loose ends” of the Lord’s purposes together. We must learn to trust in God & His wisdom, no matter the circumstances.
      •  Suffering is not always the result of personal sin. The erroneous conclusion drawn by Job’s friends is that suffering is always a consequence of sin. Job proves this is not the case.
      •  Suffering may be allowed as a compliment to one’s spirituality.
        God allowed Job to suffer to prove to the satan what kind of man he really was. God had amazing confidence in Job!

Scriptures:

    • Read JOB 36:15-23
    • Read JOHN 9: 25-41
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Discussion Questions:

    • What did Jesus mean when He said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind” (verse 39)?
    •  How can certain “traditions” keep people from receiving their blessings?
    • Ponder this: Be satisfied with the sovereign & holy will of God and do not murmur.

July 22nd

Theme: Waiting is a Hard Thing to Do! 
Focus: The book of Job portrays an enduring picture of “patience”. Such patience describes the trait of one who is able to abide and hold up under the immense weight of trials. From the “patience of Job”, we learn what it means to maintain fidelity to God, even under great trials in which we do not understand what is happening.

Scriptures:

    • JOB 6:11 – What strength do I have that I should continue to hope?
      What is my future, that I should be patient? 

    • JOB 27: 2-6 – As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter, as long as my breath is still in me and the breath from God remains in my nostrils, my lips will not speak unjustly, and my tongue will not utter deceit. I will never affirm that you are right. I will maintain my integrity until I die. I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live!

    • JAMES 5:10-11 – Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

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Discussion Questions:

    • What does the “patience of Job” mean to you?
    • Why is patience named as a Fruit of the Spirit?
    • Ponder this: Be careful what you ask for. For sure, when you ask God for patience, a situation will certainly come along to test your patience! Why? So that you place ALL of your trust in Him to bring you through it.

July 29th

Theme: When I See Jesus…Amen
Focus: The book of Job prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. God is always looking for teaching moments. From the very beginning of Job’s journey’s, God was determined to get the glory and point humanity toward His Son. Jesus’ coming is anticipated in several ways. Job longs for a mediator between him and God (Job 9:33; 33:23), and Jesus is the One (1 Timothy 2:5). Job confessed his faith in a Redeemer who would one day come (Job 19:25) and Christ is that Redeemer (Ephesians 1:7).

Scriptures:

    • JOB 9:33 – There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us.

    • JOB 19:25 – But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last.

    • JOB 33:23 – If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him.

    • 1 TIMOTHY 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human, who gave Himself – a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

    • EPHESIANS 1:7 – We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

Discussion Questions:

Ponder this: The absence of answers in Job can lead us directly to Jesus. Ultimately, the questions raised by Job regarding the mystery of injustice and the cause of human suffering only find their answer in the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross gives human suffering its meaning and significance. It also provides hope for a new world where suffering shall cease. The answers to the questions raised by the book of Job are answered in the question of Jesus on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) . In reality, it is in the silence of the book of Job, in its lack of answers, that the book most compellingly speaks of Jesus.