The Strand Study Bible

JOB 2:8

JOB 3:13

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8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, 1 Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? 2 shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? 3 In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Months later (Job 3:7), Job’s three friends pay him a visit 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the 4 Temanite, and Bildad the 5 Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. Job 3 Job longs for death Date - c. 1625 BC/AM 2375 1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job spake, and said, 3 7 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. 4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. 7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. 8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. 9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: 10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. 11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

1. that is, “Dost thou still pride yourself on your innocence?” - Job 19:13-19 2. Job 1:21-22 & Mt 5:45 3. Jms 5:11 4. Gen 36:11 & I Chro 1:36 5. Gen 25:2 & I Chro 1:32 6. Rom 12:15 7. Jere 20:14-18

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

CANAAN

Land of Uz

EGYPT

EDOM

RED SEA

Job’s three friends pay him a visit Map #43

12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and 6 wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon 13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, 2:8 Outside the village, on the heap where garbage is cast and burned, Job sits among the ashes where he is recognized as being in quarantine. 2:13 Initially, Job’s three friends were “ very ” concerned about Job’s well being. However, after hearing Job complain, it didn’t take long for Job’s three friends to begin criticizing him. THE ADAGE IS TRUE : The more we complain the more we will be open to criticism 3:1 Job did not “curse” his day because he lost his wealth (1:14-17) or his children (1:18-22) or his health (2:1-8) or his wife’s respect (2:9-10), or even the respect of his three friends (2:11-13). Job cursed his birth and thus his life and ranted on God because God removed His presence from Job’s life and Job couldn’t “find” Him (vs 23). Job had forgotten, momentarily, that great faith is always attributed to a great trust in God’s Word (Lk 7:1-9). God was longing for Job to trust His power (His Word) over His presence ( II Pet 1:19 ). Jesus Himself demonstrated that truth for us in Mt 8:5-13 when He healed the Centurion’s servant. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: When you’ve got God’s Word, you’ve got God; you don’t need His presence when you already have His promise (Jn 4:46-53) NOTE – Satan has been around a lot longer than we have, thus He can certainly find our vulnerable point and exploit it. Job’s greatest fear was losing his health ( Job 3:25 ). Satan no doubt overheard him say so. Although Satan cannot read our minds, he can listen to our conversations. Is it no wonder God warns us to say less, not more (Eccl 4:6 & 5:5 & 10:11)?