The Perfect View of God

Job 2

This is a short chapter (only 13 verses) yet it is very potent.  I’m getting a sense of what God means when he refers to Job as “perfect” and “upright”. It has nothing to do really with what he does in his life (his charity, his acts of worship, etc.).  It is really more about how Job views God I think.  He has the most perfect and upright view of God.  God is to be praised, trusted, and honored no matter what.  In other words, Job’s reverence to God is unconditional.  This is the complete opposite of what Satan had claimed in chapter 1 when he said

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” – Job 1:9

Satan claimed that Job’s view of God was conditioned by all the blessing in his life.  Not only was this not true, but Job’s view of God was even higher than what Satan could imagine.  Job accepts the fact that God does whatever He wishes and without explanation.

This is clear by Job’s actions, but it really comes to light by the words he speaks in this chapter when he says

“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” – Job 2:10

Wow!  This is Job’s response to his wife who tell him to “curse God and die” (exactly what Satan wanted him to do).  Job is saying here that he’s not holding God to some kind of contract agreement where God will blesses him and he in turn serves Him.  Instead, Job is showing us that God is sovereign in all things and owes no one anything.  It is this view of God I think that God refers to as Perfect and upright.

This is not just faith . . . not just obedience . . . this is the proper view of God.  He is sovereign in all things both good and evil.  This is why God held Job is such high regard in the first place.  If only we could attain a mere portion of that view of God!  This is where we should seek to be.

God's Confidence in Job

Job 1

There are so many ideas introduced in the chapter that it’s easy to go in several directions as your ponder the contents.  It amazes me to think that this book could quite possibly be the oldest book of the Bible and as such, this first chapter would then be the first thing ever penned from the collection of writings that would ultimately form our Bible.  I’m also fascinated by the meeting of these “sons of God” and the apparent familiarity Satan has with God and his holy angels.  I’m intrigued by Satan’s response,

“From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” – Job 1:7

 After God inquires of him as to what he has been up to (so to speak).  There is so much insight to gleam from the fact that Satan’s preoccupation at this time is roaming the earth. 

However, this time around, I can’t help but to revisit the overwhelming thought I had once before as I read this chapter in the past which is this – what incredible confidence God has in his servant Job!  It’s interesting to note that it was God who brought up the subject of Job to Satan.  God is clearly pleased with Job and confident that he can withstand the direct attack of Satan.   God proudly declares

“there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” – Job 1:12

and is willing to put Job to the test to demonstrate to Satan exactly how upright his servant is.

It’s also interesting to me how this whole concept of “cursing God” is explored in this book.  Notice Job prays for his children just in case they may

“have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” – Job 1:5

. . . which is apparently what people they day would do when they lost faith in God.  Notice Satan claims of Job that

“he will curse thee to thy face” – Job 1:11

I’m moved by the great confidence of God in Job as He removes all restrictions from Satan concerning Job (except for causing physical harm to Job) and allows anything to be done unto him.  What Satan does to Job is devastating, cruel, and swift.  Still Job’s immediate response is as God had predicted – perfect and upright.   He doesn’t charge God, he worships God instead.  This man’s faith is incredible and God’s confidence in him is astounding!