Happy Friday! Let me welcome you again to Bible Study Snacks. I sincerely hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!
This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapters 4:1-14:22. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!
As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...
"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"
If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...
OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...
1) Examine the counsel of Job's friends, what their observations were, and upon what they based their conclusions regarding Job's suffering.
2) Consider Job's response to his friends, how he took their "advice", and how he continued to vent his complaint over his suffering.
For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 4:1- 14-22...
Following Job's outburst in which he cursed the day of his birth and wondered why those who long for death continue to live, his three friends begin offering their counsel. Eliphaz the Temanite starts with expressing his view that the innocent don't suffer, the wicked do. As support for his position, he refers to a vision that he had. Admonishing Job, Eliphaz then directs Job to seek God's forgiveness, reminding him of the blessings that would come if Job repented (Job 4:1-5:22).
Job defends his rash words as being prompted by his grief, and again expresses his desire for death. Reprimanding his friends as being a "deceitful brook", he challenges them to show him where he has sinned. He then resumes his complaint, asking God a multitude of questions (Job 6:1-7:21).
Bildad the Shuhite steps in and rebukes Job for his strong words. Maintaining that God is just, he implies that Job's sons died because of their own transgressions, and if Job were only pure and upright he would be blessed by God. Appealing to wisdom of the ancients, he contends the wicked are without support, and that God will not cast away the blameless. If Job would only repent, God would fill him once again with laughter and rejoicing (Job 8:1-22). Job basically agrees, but wonders who can really be righteous in God's sight in view of His wisdom and strength.
He then complains of God's inaccessibility, and maintains his own integrity while concluding that God destroys the blameless along with the wicked. Feeling hopeless, Job laments about the lack of a mediator between him and God. Once again, he gives free course to his complaint as he lashes out with more questions directed toward God (Job 9:1-10:22).
Finally, Zophar the Naamathite jumps into the dialogue with his own rebuke of Job for his rash words. Indicating that Job has actually received less suffering than he deserves, he reproaches Job trying to search out the deep things of God. Instead, Job should be putting away iniquity and wickedness, for then he would abide in brightness, security and hope (Job 11:1-20). In response, Job criticizes his friends for their trying to convey wisdom but succeeding only in mocking him.
Affirming the wisdom of God, Job says the advice of his friends has been of little help. He calls them "forgers of lies" and "worthless physicians" who have only given him "proverbs of ashes" and "defenses of clay." Confident of his own integrity, Job again expresses his desire to speak with God to ask Him what he has done to deserve such suffering. Once again feeling hopeless, he longs for death (Job 12:1-14:22).
1) Which of his three friends first responded to Job? (Job 4:1)
2) What was his main argument? (Job 4:7-8)
3) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (Job 4:12-13)
4) What does he encourage Job to do? (Job 5:8)
5) What does he encourage Job not to do? (Job 5:17)
6) How does Job justify his rash words? (Job 6:2-3)
7) For what does Job long? (Job 6:8-9)
8) How does Job describe his friends? (Job 6:14-15)
9) What challenge does Job give his friends? (Job 6:24)
10) As Job resumes his complaint, what does he say has been given to him? (Job 7:3,5)
11) How does he describe his days? (Job 7:6)
12) In such anguish, what does Job say he will do? (Job 7:11)
13) What does he ask of God? (Job 7:20-21)
14) Who is the second person to respond to Job? (Job 8:1)
15) For what does he rebuke Job? (Job 8:2)
16) What does he counsel Job to do? (Job 8:5-7)
17) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (Job 8:8-10)
18) What does Bildad conclude concerning God? (Job 8:20)
19) How does Job initially respond to Bildad? (Job 9:2)
20) What does Job bemoan? (Job 9:32-33)
21) As Job gives continues his complaint, what does he ask of God? (Job 10:1-2,18,20)
22) Who is the third person to respond to Job? (Job 11:1)
23) What does he affirm concerning Job? (Job 11:6)
24) For what does he reproach Job? (Job 11:7)
25) What does Zophar say would be true of Job if he repented? (Job 11:13-16)
26) How does Job mock his friends? (Job 12:2)
27) How did Job feel he was being treated by his friends? (Job 12:4)
28) How does Job describe his friends? (Job 13:4)
29) How does Job describe their speeches? (Job 13:12)
30) What two things does Job request if God should grant him an audience? (Job 13:20-21)
31) What does Job wish God would reveal to him? (Job 13:23-24)
32) How does Job view the life of man? (Job 14:1-2)
33) From his earthly perspective, how does Job compare himself with a tree? (Job 14:7-12)
34) What request does Job make again? (Job 14:13)
After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!
As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!
God bless you!
Sheri
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