Job Message -1 Book was compiled by series of sermons. Begins with very pressing questions.

We see many whys about God, Job and Satan. The story of Job is viewed from an angle of before, during and after the trials he went through. Since these are sermons we do not see chronological order. Chapters were randomly picked to suit to the topic author wished to preach. Life before the trials, speaks Jobs character, religious duties and intimate friendship with God. Note worthy thing is blamelessness and uprightness of character were considered as the qualities God looks for them in man. During the trials: It was portrayed how man can suffer physically, mentally and emotionally at the loss of everything. One can see striking difference before trials and after it was before he had support of everybody and everything during he lost everything. Author made it clear how world can react to crisis in ones life. More than physical pain, emotional pain seemed to be more because despised by wife friends misjudged his cause for suffering was due to his sin. For this author says false accusations of friends at that time were difficult to bear. Author teaches a lesson for us from Jobs friends accusations, we must be slow to conclude and not to be over confident in our assessment regarding the situations which we do not understand. Author questions readers how one will assess such situations like that of Job. After trials: It was not given much emphasis, just highlighted blessings of God on Job. Author poses two questions to know the reality of situation. First was Job suffering because God is not happy with him? Second did Job fare badly during the trials. While answering first question he raises thought provoking issues. Can man develop deep love for God independent of outward circumstances and the degree to which we can develop such qualities? God values these qualities which are important for his kingdom. While answering second question one statement of author was very much appealing when assessing significance and blameworthiness of persons failures, God considers severity and intensity of afflictions and trials. Jobs positive quality was; in his entire affliction he recognized sovereignty of God. In concluding remarks author says Job fared well in the midst of all trials. Our focus should not be on the things that come upon us instead on the inward qualities within the person. Message 2 This deals with failures of Job mainly the posture one should adopt before God under all circumstances. Author says what posture we should have i.e., worship and submission in humility in trying situations. This builds relationship between God and us. During initial periods of testing Job worshipped God under tragic situations but physical suffering changed his attitude. Author gives a practical advice about what

we can do in difficult times. Loving God and being faithful are key to accept anything that comes to us and hoping to work for our good. Author made a strong comment that Job should not have cursed the day he was born. Love towards God and trust in Him will keep us out of such thoughts was the authors view, it implies that Job did not love and trust God. Authors view of criticizing Job is that he viewed Gods attributes and nature is never changing. If one accepts this Job will be guilty because God is perfect. Author arrives at conclusion that finite minds reasoning cannot lead to proper conclusion. Finally author speaks about the proper posture to adopt i.e., the quality of commitment, faith, posture are related to knowledge of God; commitment to God and love for truth, goodness and righteousness. Even little knowledge about God is sufficient to submit to Him but this does not comply that one can have love for him, though we believe that He is almighty. Love for truth and sufficient knowledge of God deepen our love for God and one can see progress in knowledge about God, love for truth and commitment. But author pauses here with a question to reader can such life is possible. Life with proper posture depends on direction of heart, longing and willingness to commit oneself to this kind of life and with Lord to help us. The price to be paid is- going through pain, trials and self-discipline, diligent and consistent. Final words of author are compared to Job we are at very comfortable position; we have full revelation and understanding of God, less severe tests compared to Job. We have scripture which reveals God. If we are still hesitant to adopt the posture we are talking about then we are displeasing God. God will not make choice, we have to decide. Message 3 Here author focuses on failures of Job and reasons for it and explains what Jobs posture should have been. He questions why did Job falter, what are the areas of weaknesses in him. Though Job lived righteously he failed because of his deficiency in knowledge of God. Job wavered in regard to the being of God and His ways. Jobs arguments reveal his lack of spirit of humility, another weakness. This is essential for proper relationship with God and others. There is no unquestioning submission to God this revealed during his severe testing times. Author felt that Job could have maintained proper posture before God because he had sufficient knowledge about moral qualities of God. The primary reason for failure is lack of deep and definite posture of commitment to God leading to attributing improper conduct of God. This deficiency of improper posture aggravated his deficiency in the spirit of humility and knowledge about God. At least Job could have asked God for the understanding of the situation. Message 4

This focuses on what brought change in Jobs posture and how Gods speeches contribute to the change in Job and our learning from the way Jobs problems solved. Here author for convenience sake uses two expressions (postures) posture adopted (this takes form before any situation arises) and response posture (reaction to the problems). We can see when God manifested himself to Job. He could find his wrong approach. This helped Job to respond to God properly. The central thing in Gods speech was declaration of His greatness, power and wisdom and knowledge. This led Job to understand mans limitedness and adopted humble posture before God. Message 5 This is nothing but brushing again previous messages, author made some observations on Job and elaborated them in detail. Perplexities during times of severe testing makes people to adopt improper posture towards God and our spirits will be very affected leading us to murmur. Though what we speak may look spiritual and concerned but it should be in line with the truth. Honesty at times to justify being honest speak negatively without self control but Job though honest he did not speak what was deceitful. Job responded to the truth properly when God spoke to him. Though deficiencies in Job was not serious under severe testing he did not falter and spoke words improper and lost focus on God because of external pressure from all sides. Message 6 This message speaks about the silence of God towards Jobs perplexing questions. This silence has been interpreted as Gods inadequacy to answer these questions. The treatment given by God and Job also misinterpreted saying Job was only a pawn between God and Satan. Author gives fitting answer those are the one who questions authority and inspiration of scripture. But the silence of God was understood as His wisdom. The real problem was lack of humble spirit on Jobs part. This was understood well by God and kept him silent. Since at this posture things cannot be seen clearly by Job i.e., he cannot receive even God answered him. Even the Gods character is questioned thinking, it is through his power God demanded submission; if we look worship from this angle it misses moral response from peoples hearts. Author feels that silence of God was due to two reasons, to make Job trust God fully through trials and to appreciate the underlying issues that are crucial to our relationship with God and to life of faith. Message 7 This message deals with two questions, was Satan triumphant and was God satisfied with Job. Author puts it clearly that Job did not follow God just because he was materially blessed. Job did not curse God

as Satan expected. In fact author gives a deep insight, it is not just Satan challenging God but questioning the foundation of Gods kingdom and the fulfillment of Gods purposes for man. Job possessed love for others, true reverence for God and genuine moral qualities. He proved Satan wrong here. These are essential for Gods kingdom to flourish. Author gives two answers, whether God satisfied with Job, we have no and yes from author; satisfied because God commended him before and end of episode; not satisfied because expected more from a person like Job and seriousness of issues involved in Jobs failures (posture and lack of humility). Meaning of episode is author quotes examples of Joseph, Paul and Silas sufferings to highlight Gods sovereignty and glorify God. Message 8 This speaks about understanding the state of a person and how he is faring. It is not the circumstances that reveal how one fares but how he responds to it and really of his inward is counted rather than his outward appearance. Sometimes change in outward manifestations may not presume that there is inward change. But author feels trials are Gods goals to make a person better. Encouraging words from is God takes care of our difficult circumstances in assessing our faith journey. Author shifts to different levels of learning in different people. So Gods ways look to be contradicting when he is dealing with people. Author warns us to be slow to judge looking at perplexing situations and ask for Gods enlightening. Concludes with good remarks; not sensing His presence does not mean God is absent