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[[start page]] 246 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Lesson VI. November 7, 1948 DRAMA IN THE BIBLE SENIOR TOPIC: DRAMA IN THE BIBLE Job 1:1; 2:1-6; 42:1-6, 10a AUTHORIZED VERSION 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [[italics]]was[[/italics]] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [[italics]]there[[/italics]] is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he [[italics]]is[[/italics]] in thine hand; but save his life. 1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every [[italics]]thing[[/italics]], and [[italics]]that[[/italics]] no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who [[italics]]is[[/italics]] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eyes seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor [[italics]]myself[[/italics]], and repent in dust and ashes. 10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job. REVISED VERSION 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. 1 Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah. 2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face. 6 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life. 1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. 3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understand not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I had heard of thee by hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee; 6 Wherefore I abhor [[italics]]myself[[/italics]], And repent in dust and ashes. 10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job. MOTTO TEXT - He knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10. LESSON SETTING Time: B. C. 1520 Place: Uz. LESSON OUTLINE I. Job's Personality. (V. 1.) II. Job's Trial. (VV. 1-6.) III. Job's Repentance. (VV. 1-6, 10a.) INTRODUCTION The Book of Job stands by itself. It is one of the grandest portions of inspired Scriptures. It is a heaven-replenished storehouse of comfort and instruction. Job's history was well known to early Christians as an example of patience, understood by them typically and allegorically of Christ. After the second [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 247 century the book was read in the churches during Passion Week. It stands unique and independent among the books of the Bible. In its prose parts it is so simple and easy that a child may understand it; in its poetic portion, it is the deepest and obscurest book in the Old Testament. "It contains milk for babes and strong meat for those of full age. It is studded with passages of grandeur and beauty, tenderness and pathos, sublimity and terror." It is acknowledged to surpass in sublimity and majesty every other book in the world. In recent times it has been studied as a masterpiece of poetry, a fountain from which some of the greatest poets have drawn their inspirations. EXPOSITION I. JOB'S PERSONALITY. (V. 1.) (1) [[bold]]There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one tha feared God, and eschewed evil.[[/bold]] Job is a historic character, mentioned with Noah and Daniel. [[bold]]There was a man[/bold]] - He had an actual existence. He lived in the time of the patriarchs and died at about two hundred years. As a man he was subject to like passions as we are. He was a worthy man, of note and eminence, a magistrate, a man in authority. [[bold]]the land of Uz[[/bold]] - His homeland, east or southeast of Palestine, adjacent to the Edmonites, who appear at one time to have occupied it. Probably in Arabia Desert, which lay toward Chaldea, near Euphrates, probably not far from Ur of the Chaldees, whence Abraham was called. Job, like Abraham and Daniel, was found "faithful among the faithless." to be godly among the ungodly is a high excellence and honor. The name "Job" denotes "the persecuted," or "the penitent." Others make it to signify one that grieves or groans. [[bold]]was perfect and upright[[/bold]] - A good man, eminently pious, and better than his neighbors. This description is intended to show us, not only what reputation he had among men, that he was generally taken for an honest man, but that was really his character, for it is the judgment of God concerning him, and we are sure that is according to truth. He was perfect - complete in all parts of his moral character. Like a human being with no member or organ wanting or imperfect. He was conscientious in the discharge of all the duties of life. His perfection was rather one of purpose than performance, aimed constantly at perfection. Not sinless, but sincere, without guile, without hypocrisy toward God or double-dealing toward men. [[bold]]and one that feared God[[/bold]] - He worshiped God according to His will, and governed himself by the rules of divine law in everything. [[bold]]and eschewed evil[[/bold]] - Departed from evil, from its practice and presence. He hurried away from it as from the presence of a monster; avoided it as offence to God, and in itself loathsome and abominable. II. JOB'S TRIAL. (VV. 1-6.) (1) [[bold]]Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.[[/bold]] Sometime after the events stated came [[bold]]the sons of God[[/bold]] - the angels attended God's throne, and Satan among them. Satan, that sworn enemy of God and all good men, is here to push forward his malicious prosecution of Job, whom he hated because God loved him, to do all he could to separate him and his God, to sow discord and make mischief between them, urging God to afflict him, and then urging Job to blaspheme God. One would have thought that he had enough of his former attempt upon Job, in which he was so shamefully baffled and disappointed; malice is restless. The devil and his agents are so. A severe trial: Satan's efforts to rob Job of his integrity; Job's to retain it. Satan, an earnest pleader against the saint; Christ, an earnest pleader for them. Satan's malice and calumny the occasion of Job's sufferings, and so of his subsequent glory. It was God's secret purpose to exhibit the reality and preciousness of His servant's faith. (2) [[bold]]And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.[[/bold]] God's all-seeing eye never loses sight of Satan. In response to His enquiry, [[bold]]From whence comest thou[[/bold]] - Satan replied, carefully omitting the harm he did, [[bold]]From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.[[/bold]] Satan is never still, but is constantly busy, seeking to do damage, to stir up strife and discord, to separate men from God. (3) [[bold]]And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although[[/bold]] [[end page]]
