Job 1:1-5

Job 1:1-5
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.   2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

So who is Job?  He is not a king or ruler but Job was unique in that he was “blameless and upright” making him one of only three Old Testament men who “would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.”  Yet, outside of the book of Job he is only mentioned three times in the entire Bible and each time it is for his righteousness or steadfastness.

Ezekiel 14:14 even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 14:20 even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Apparently Job was very rich, in fact “the greatest of all the people of the east.”  Also, his children got along with each other well enough to want to get together and have feasts.  And, we see again that Job feared God in that he didn’t take any chances and after the feasts would consecrate his children, which is to make or declare sacred, or as the NIV says “have them purified”.  He went as far as to make regular offerings on their behalf just in case they had sinned in their hearts.

So, Job truly feared God.  This makes me wonder if I really fear God, for as Paul says in Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  And this makes me very glad that my salvation comes not from my righteousness, since I have none, but from Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit and giving us your Word that we may come to understand just how sinful we really are.  Through your mercy alone we find salvation in your son, Jesus Christ.  Please, open our hearts to receive understanding, faith and the courage to tell others about the great gift you have given freely to all humanity.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen

All Scripture Quotes are from the ESV Bible unless otherwise noted.