Job 1 : Bible Overview Reading Plan<\/p>\n
The book of Job is matchless for causing us to reflect on the question of innocent suffering. That is made clear in Job 1, which in some ways sets up the rest of the book. Job \u201cwas blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil\u201d (Job 1:1<\/a>). Although Job was blessed with wealth and a large family, he took nothing for granted. He even engaged in what might be called preemptive intercession on behalf of his grown children: he prayed and offered sacrifices on their behalf, fearful that perhaps at an otherwise innocent gathering, one of his children had sinned and cursed God (Job 1:5<\/a>).<\/p>\n Job does not know, as the reader knows, that another drama is playing out in the throne room of God. Little is said about these \u201csons of God,\u201d these angels, who approach the Almighty; little is said about Satan, though transparently he is evil and lives up to his name, \u201cAccuser.\u201d The exchange between Satan and God accomplishes three things. First, it sets up the drama that unfolds in the rest of the book. Second, implicitly it establishes that even Satan himself has restraints on his power and cannot act outside God\u2019s sanction. Third, it discloses that Satan\u2019s intention is to prove that all human loyalty to God is nothing more than crass self-interest, while God\u2019s intention is to demonstrate that a man like Job is loyal and faithful regardless of the blessings he receives or does not receive.<\/p>\n Job, of course, knows nothing of these arrangements. He couldn\u2019t, for the drama that follows would be vitiated if he did. In short order Job loses his wealth and his children, all to \u201cnatural\u201d causes that Job knows full well remain within God\u2019s sway. When the last bit of bad news reaches him, Job tears his robe and shaves his head (both signs of abasement) and worships, uttering words that become famous: \u201cNaked I came from my mother\u2019s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised\u201d (Job 1:21<\/a>).<\/p>\n The narrator comments, \u201cIn all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing\u201d (Job 1:22<\/a>)\u2014which of course means, in the context of this chapter, that God\u2019s assessment of the man was right and Satan\u2019s was wrong.<\/p>\n –DA Carson, For the Love of God<\/p>\n This academic year CCC is reading through a bible overview reading plan.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n