Five Things We Can Learn from the Book of Job

If there is ever a time in your life when you find yourself in the valley of despair, let God reach out to you through His great Old Testament servant—Job. It has to be one of the most encouraging of the sixty-six books of the Bible when life’s adversities brings us to our knees. Job reminds us of the love God, that we should love Him more, and that God’s tender heart and listening ears will hear our pleas.

One of the questions of life is, “Why do the people of God suffer?” The psalmist gives us some insight into the reason for Christian suffering when he says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word,” and “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psa. 119: 67,71). Then too, there are the words of James which say, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (Jas. 1:2,3). Why do we suffer? We suffer so that we might learn God’s will, and to be stronger in our daily walk with the Lord.

Let’s look at a five lessons from the book of Job, and observe how that the lessons from this ancient servant can have a positive impact on our lives today.

The Devil is Diabolical in His Schemes
God wants to surround us with His great love, and yet the devil pulls out all stops in his attempts to overwhelm us. Sometimes that great tempter is victorious. We should give the devil his due—he’s relentless. Consider the following scriptures: "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Lk. 22:31). "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pt. 5:8,9).

While we should know that the devil is always after us, we would do well to remember the words of Paul when he said, “Neither give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27).

We Must Humble Ourselves Before Our Savior
In the book of Job, we find valleys of despair and mountains of devotion. Job deals with all ranges of emotions—from depression to great confidence. I’m always impressed with these words of Job: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). On another occasion he said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5,6). Job was humbled by the fact that the same God who framed the world, was equally capable of guiding his life.

The Prosperity of the Wicked is Short-lived
Christians will often ask, “why do the unrighteous prosper while the righteous suffer?” If you want to read a divine commentary on this, then read one of the psalms of Asaph—Psalm 73.

“Job’s days were ‘swifter than a weaver’s shuttle’ and would ‘soon flee away’ (7:6; 9:25) but he could look forward to an enduring reward.”

Jesus Sheds Light on the Old Testament Scripture
Someone has said that the Old Testament con-cealed is the New Testament revealed. The book of Job is a perfect illustration of that principle.

Job 9:33 says, “Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” This patriarch of old is crying out for an advocate to plead his case. It has been said this way, "Yes, someone between God and man—heaven and earth—to assist Job in his pitiful plight. That man’s wife, three best friends and a young, self-appointed prophet only added additional sorrow to his life. How lonely was Job without a daysman to make intercession!"

You and I are blessed today to have exactly what Job was longing for. Our daysman comes in the form of Jesus the Christ. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tm. 2:5).

The Future that Awaits Us is Special
In spite of the pain brought on by heartache and physical maladies, Job spoke of heaven and said, “the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be at rest” (Job 3:17).

Job cried, “If a man die shall he live again?” Notice the answer that Paul sounds forth like a trumpet many years later when he says, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:55-57).

Don’t you just love the way the Holy Spirit closes this remarkable volume? Through the penman he says, “So Job died, being old and full of days.” Likewise, our lives can be full if we’ll walk daily with the Lord.


Sources:
1. All Scripture references are from the King James Version.
2. Ramsey, Johnny. Practical Bible Studies. Vol. 2, Job-Malachi. Henderson, TN: Hester Publications, 2003.