Job
JOB 1-2
JOB'S PRESTIGE (1:1-5)
His faith (1:1):
His fortune (1:3):
His family (1:2, 4-5): "He had seven sons and three daughters."
JOB'S PAIN (1:6-22; 2:1-10):
The record of his trials (1:13-19; 2:7-8)
First wave (1:13-19):
Second wave (2:7-8):
The reason for his trials (1:6-12; 2:1-6):
The first confrontation (1:6-12):
The assembling (1:6-7):
The appraisal (1:8):
The accusation (1:9-11):
The agreement (1:12):
The second confrontation (2:1-6):
The review (2:1-3):
The reproach (2:4-5):
The restriction (2:6):
The reaction to his trials (1:20-22; 2:9-10)
Following the first wave of tragedy (1:20-22):
Following the second wave of tragedy (2:9-10):
JOB'S PITY (2:11-13):
Who they are (2:11):
What they do (2:12-13):
JOB 3-7
JOB'S DESPAIR (3:1-26)
I wish I had never been born (3:1-10): Job curses the day of his birth, wishing it could be blotted off the calendar.
I wish I had been stillborn (3:11-19): For Job the next best thing to never having been born would have been dying at birth. He laments that his mother let him live.
Why is life given to those in despair (3:20-26): Job wonders why life is given to the miserable. He has no peace or rest-only trouble.
ELIPHAZ'S DENUNCIATIONS (4:1-5:27): Eliphaz responds to Job's groaning.
Practice what you preach (4:1-6): Job has encouraged the weak in the past, and Eliphaz rebukes him for not heeding his own advice now.
Does the innocent person perish? (4:7-11): Eliphaz makes the case that the Lord does not allow trouble to befall the innocent, implying that Job must be sinning.
It came in a vision at night (4:12-17): Eliphaz claims to have received his knowledge from a spirit in the middle of the night!
Alive in the morning, dead by evening (4:18-21): Eliphaz claims that humans cannot be trusted; they are frail and die in ignorance.
The godless are born to grief (5:1-7): Again Job is said to be suffering for his sin.
Present your case to God (5:8-16): Eliphaz urges Job to bring his case before God, who is able to do anything.
Don't despise God's discipline (5:17-27): Eliphaz exhorts Job to trust that God will heal and protect him once he has punished him.
JOB'S DEFENSE (6:1-7:21): Job responds to Eliphaz's ill-informed rebuke.
Don't I have a right to complain? (6:1-7):
I wish that God would kill me (6:8-13):
You are unreliable (6:14-21):
Show me where I am wrong (6:22-24):
Stop assuming my guilt (6:25-30):
Life is long and hard (7:1-5):
Life is but a breath (7:6-10):
Why have you made me your target? (7:11-21):
JOB 8-14
BILDAD'S DENUNCIATIONS (8:1-22)
Your words are a blustering wind (8:1-7): Bildad tells Job that he is being senseless-if he confesses his sins, he will be restored.
The godless will die (8:8-19): Bildad tells Job to ask the former generation and learn that those without God wither and die like a plant without water.
God rewards the righteous (8:20-22): Bildad advises Job to repent and be restored.
JOB'S DEFENSE (9:1-10:22): Job defends himself against Bildad.
How can a mortal argue with God? (9:1-14): Job is frustrated because, though he feels he is innocent, he cannot challenge such a mighty God.
God destroys both the blameless and the wicked (9:15-31): Job argues that it doesn't matter if he is innocent, because God attacks him without reason.
If only there were a mediator (9:32-35): Job longs for a mediator to bring him and God together to resolve the issue.
Why are you treating me so terribly? (10:1-7): Job begins to formulate his complaint to God.
Did you create me to condemn me? (10:8-17): Job asks if God's plan was to destroy him even as his body was being formed in his mother's womb.
Better to never have been born (10:18-22): If Job was created only to be condemned, it would be better to have died at birth.
ZOPHAR'S DENUNCIATIONS (11:1-20): Zophar begins his rebuke.
God is punishing you less than you deserve (11:1-6): Zophar wishes Job could see himself as God does.
You cannot comprehend God's ways (11:7-12): God's ways are beyond human understanding.
Confess your sins and find hope (11:13-20): Zophar, like the other friends, assumes that Job is suffering because of his sin.
JOB'S DEFENSE (12:1-14:22): Now Job must defend himself before Zophar.
What a know-it-all! (12:1-2): Job sarcastically says that Zophar knows everything.
Even the animals know (12:3-12): Job asserts that even the animals know that God sometimes allows the evil to scoff at the good.
God is omniscient and omnipotent (12:13-25): Job knows that God knows all and that he is in control of everything that happens.
Listen rather than accuse (13:1-6): Job challenges Zophar to hear his defence.
Don't put words in God's mouth! (13:7-12): Job accuses Zophar of using lies to defend God's actions.
I will risk death to declare my innocence (13:13-19): Job is willing to risk death to speak his mind to God and prove his innocence.
Two things I beg of you (13:20-25): Job asks God to stop afflicting him and to cease terrifying him with his awesome presence.
God's bitter accusations (13:26-28): Job feels that God has been storing up accusations against him.
Life is short and full of trouble (14:1-6): Job asks for a little mercy from God since humans are so frail.
Death is eternal (14:7-12): Job declares that people, unlike trees that sprout again after they are cut down, never rise again after death.
Oh, to live again after death (14:13-22): Job wishes that God would think of him after he dies; that would give him hope. But he does not seem to believe that God will do so.
JOB 15-19
ELIPHAZ'S DENUNCIATIONS (15:1-35): Eliphaz begins a second round of rebukes from Job's friends.
Nothing but a windbag (15:1-16): Eliphaz tells Job that he is acting like a wise man, but really he is foolish.
Sinful people suffer (15:17-35): Eliphaz again assumes that Job is suffering because of sin in his life, so he tells how the wicked suffer many troubles.
JOB'S DEFENSE (16:1-17:16): Job responds to Eliphaz with increased frustration.
What miserable comforters! (16:1-4): Job accuses his friends of an endless flow of foolish and critical words.
I would help you (16:5): Job says that he would help his friends if they were suffering.
Betrayed by God and people (16:6-18): Job says that both God and others have turned against him.
An advocate in heaven (16:19-22): Job trusts that someone is presenting his case before God.
Defend my innocence (17:1-9): Job calls upon God to defend him because Job has become a mockery to those around him.
My hopes have disappeared (17:10-16): Job despairs and resigns himself to death as he looks upon his seemingly hopeless situation.
BILDAD'S DENUNCIATIONS (18:1-21): Bildad begins his second round of rebukes.
Be reasonable (18:1-4): Bildad rebukes Job for merely reacting in his grief and not speaking reasonably to his friends.
Terrors surround the wicked (18:5-21): Assuming that Job is suffering because of his sin, Bildad describes the terrible woes of the wicked.
JOB'S DEFENSE (19:1-29): Job continues to feel persecuted.
Insulted 10 times (19:1-5): Job complains that his three "friends" have reproached him 10 times.
God must hate me (19:6-12): Because of his suffering, Job concludes that God must have something against him.
Forsaken by family and friends (19:13-22): Job says that all his family and friends have turned against him.
Chisel my words in stone (19:23-24): Job wishes that his words could be eternally chiselled into a rock.
My Redeemer lives (19:25-29): Though Job is distressed that no one believes him now, he trusts that one day he will be vindicated and see God for himself.
JOB 20-24
ZOPHAR'S DENUNCIATIONS (20:1-29)
I resent your rebuke (20:1-3): Zophar feels insulted by Job's rebuke.
The ways of the wicked (20:4-29): Zophar returns to his theme of describing the sad fate of the wicked.
JOB'S DEFENSE (21:1-34): Job attacks Zophar's false assumption that the wicked are always punished for their sins in this life.
The wicked prosper (21:1-18): It seems to Job that the more wicked people are, the more they prosper!
Don't punish their children (21:19-21): Job rejects the theory that justice is served when the children of the ungodly are punished.
Death comes to good and bad alike (21:22-26): The same fate eventually awaits all people-good or bad, rich or poor.
No guarantee of justice in this life (21:27-34): Often the wicked flourish until death and then are buried with great honour.
ELIPHAZ'S DENUNCIATIONS (22:1-30): Eliphaz begins the third round of rebukes toward Job.
Your guilt has no limit (22:1-5): Eliphaz accuses Job of endless sin.
A list of possible sins (22:6-11): Eliphaz lists examples of sins that Job must have committed to incite God to punish him.
You think God doesn't see you (22:12-20): Eliphaz says that Job must think that God does not see or care about what he does.
Repent and be restored (22:21-30): Eliphaz advises Job to repent so that God can bless him once again.
JOB'S DEFENSE (23:1-24:25): Job begins to respond less to Eliphaz and more directly to God himself.
Where can I find God? (23:1-9): Job longs to find God and plead his case before him.
Tested like gold (23:10-12): Job is certain that he will be found innocent after he endures his trials like gold in a refining fire.
God will do as he pleases (23:13-17): Job acknowledges that God's decree concerning his life will be carried out regardless.
Why aren't the ungodly judged? (24:1-17): Job cannot understand why God allows the unrighteous to go unpunished.
Fallen in a flash and forgotten (24:18-25): Job admits that the wicked do not last long.
JOB 25-31
BILDAD'S DENUNCIATIONS (25:1-6): Bildad gives the final rebuke of Job's three friends.
God is powerful (25:1-3): Bildad begins by asserting that God is powerful.
No one is righteous (25:4-6): Bildad tells Job that no one can stand before God and claim to be righteous.
JOB'S DEFENSE (26:1-31:40): Job begins his final defence before his friends.
How have you helped anyone? (26:1-4):
Creation is but a minor work of God (26:5-14):
A twofold vow (27:1-6):
The godless have no hope (27:7-23):
Finding valuable things (28:1-11):
Wisdom cannot be found or bought (28:12-21):
God knows where wisdom is hidden (28:22-28):
Once respected for who I was (29:1-11):
Once respected for what I did (29:12-25):
Now despised by the despicable (30:1-14):
Unending pain and unanswered prayers (30:15-31):
Have I lusted? (31:1-12):
Have I mistreated others? (31:13-23):
Have I worshiped money or idols? (31:24-28):
Have I concealed any other sin? (31:29-40):
JOB 32-37
ELIHU'S MONOLOGUE: WHY ELIHU SPEAKS (32:1-33:7): Another man named Elihu rebukes Job and his three other friends.
An angry young man (32:1-15): Elihu, who is younger than Job and his friends, becomes angry with Job for refusing to acknowledge his sin. He rebukes the others for not giving adequate rebuttals to Job's answers.
Listen to me (32:16-22): Now that he has listened to Job and his friends, Elihu demands that they listen to his pent-up words.
You can trust me (33:1-7): Elihu assures Job that he will speak the truth sincerely and that he is not to be feared.
ELIHU'S MONOLOGUE: WHERE JOB IS WRONG (33:8-34:37): Elihu corrects what he believes are Job's wrong assumptions.
God speaks to us in many ways (33:8-22): Job accused God of not responding to people's complaints. Elihu argues that God speaks to people through dreams, visions, and even through pain and sickness, but people do not recognize it.
God listens to us (33:23-30): Elihu asserts that God listens and answers the prayers of those who have a mediator who shows that they are righteous.
Be quiet and listen (33:31-33): Elihu tells Job to speak if he has something to say. Otherwise he should remain silent and ponder the wisdom that Elihu will teach him.
Listen to me, you wise men (34:1-4): Elihu calls for all who are wise to discern whether Job is right.
Job is bitter and arrogant (34:5-9): Elihu accuses Job of being arrogant in his claim to be innocent. He believes that Job seeks the companionship of evil people.
God repays people according to their deeds (34:10-32): This is why Elihu believes Job is arrogant. He argues that Job cannot be righteous, because he is suffering, and God does not unjustly punish the righteous and allow the wicked to go unpunished.
God does not answer to you (34:33-37): Elihu accuses Job of blasphemy and rebellion because he has accused God of allowing him to suffer unjustly.
ELIHU'S MONOLOGUE: WHAT JOB MUST REALIZE (35:1-36:21): Elihu continues to correct Job's thinking.
You cannot force God's hand (35:1-8): Elihu tells Job that he should not expect God to respond to him simply because Job is righteous. Our actions cannot force God to do anything.
In God's good timing (35:9-16): The Almighty does indeed provide comfort for the oppressed, but all in his timing.
God uses suffering for good (36:1-15): Elihu asserts that God uses suffering to correct and instruct people.
Change your attitude (36:16-21): Elihu tells Job to be patient in his troubles and to view his suffering as God's way of helping him.
ELIHU'S MONOLOGUE: WHAT GOD HAS DONE (36:22-37:24)
Who understands God's ways? (36:22-37:13): Elihu catalogues many wonders in nature that show God's greatness. In view of such greatness, how can Job tell God what to do?
You know nothing (37:14-24): Elihu tells Job to stand in awe of God and show him reverence.
JOB 38-42
THE LORD'S RESPONSE (38:1-39:30): The Lord finally speaks and humbles Job with a series of questions about nature.
First series of questions, concerning God's creation (38:1-38):
The earth (38:1-7, 17-18)
The oceans (38:8-11, 16)
Light (38:12-15, 19-21)
Snow and rain (38:22-30, 34-38)
The stars (38:31-33)
Second series of questions, concerning God's creatures (38:39-39:30):
Lions (38:39-40)
Ravens (38:41)
Mountain goats (39:1-4)
Wild donkeys (39:5-8)
The wild ox (39:9-12)
The ostrich (39:13-18)
The horse (39:19-25)
The hawk (39:26-30)
JOB'S REACTION (40:1-42:17)
His repentance (40:1-42:6)
First occasion (40:1-5): Job is humbled regarding his wisdom.
The confrontation (40:1-2): The Lord asks Job for his answers to all these questions.
The confession (40:3-5): "I am nothing-how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence."
Second occasion (40:6-42:6): Job is humbled regarding his power.
The confrontation (40:6-41:34): The Lord asks Job if he is able to capture two fearful creatures.
####### The behemoth (40:15-24): It is difficult to be certain what this creature was. Some scholars believe it may have been a land dinosaur; others believe it was a hippopotamus. Whatever it was, it was very imposing. ####### The leviathan (41:1-34): Some scholars believe this mysterious creature may have been an aquatic dinosaur; others believe it might have been a crocodile.