Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job 2 marks a significant escalation in the trials faced by Job, testing the very core of his faith and integrity. While Job 1 focused on the loss of possessions and family, Job 2 delves into the realm of physical suffering, bringing Job to the brink of despair. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that trials are an inevitable part of the human experience, and it challenges us to examine our own understanding of God's sovereignty and goodness in the midst of adversity.
Satan's Renewed Assault (Job 2:1-8)
Following the initial devastation, the scene returns to the heavenly court. Job 2:1-3 reiterates the setting from Job 1, where the "sons of God" present themselves before the Lord, and Satan arrives among them. The Lord once again affirms Job’s blamelessness and integrity, highlighting that he still holds fast to his righteousness despite the immense losses he has suffered. God states in Job 2:3, "And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." This infuriates Satan, who then proposes a new tactic: direct physical affliction.
Satan’s accusation shifts from Job's possessions to Job's person. He argues in Job 2:4 that a man will give up everything to save his own life. He suggests that Job’s faithfulness is conditional, based on his comfort and well-being. Satan boldly claims that if God were to strike Job's body, Job would curse Him to His face (Job 2:5). The Lord, in His sovereign wisdom, grants Satan limited power over Job's body, with the crucial restriction that he cannot take Job's life (Job 2:6).
Immediately, Satan inflicts Job with painful sores from head to toe (Job 2:7). Reduced to sitting in ashes and scraping his skin with a piece of broken pottery, Job is now enduring agonizing physical torment. This is a stark image of human suffering, highlighting the depth of Job's ordeal.
A Wife's Plea and Job's Steadfastness (Job 2:9-10)
Amidst this unimaginable suffering, Job receives an unexpected challenge from his own wife. Overwhelmed by the relentless adversity, she urges him to "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). Her words reflect a sentiment of utter despair and a perceived futility in maintaining faith in a God who allows such suffering. She has become a "hurt-mate," unintentionally echoing Satan’s desire for Job to renounce his faith.
However, Job's response is a powerful testament to his unwavering faith. He rebukes his wife, asking, "Shall we accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). This profound statement reveals Job's understanding of God's sovereignty and his willingness to accept both blessings and trials from God's hand. Job recognizes that God is not merely a provider of comfort and ease but the ultimate authority over all aspects of life. The verse concludes with the simple yet powerful statement: "In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." He refused to succumb to bitterness or blasphemy, even in the face of unbearable pain.
This passage teaches us that true faith involves accepting God’s will, even when it is difficult to understand. It reminds us that God is not a cosmic vending machine dispensing only good things, but a sovereign Lord who allows trials for His own purposes, which may not always be immediately clear to us. Like Job, we are called to trust in God's goodness and wisdom, even when we face circumstances that seem unfair or incomprehensible.
The Silent Comfort of Friends (Job 2:11-13)
News of Job's suffering reaches his three friends: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11). They travel a long distance to sympathize with him and comfort him. Initially, their intentions are noble. They seek to offer solace and support to their grieving friend.
However, upon seeing Job's condition, they are overwhelmed by the severity of his suffering. Job 2:12 describes their reaction: "When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads." Their grief is palpable, demonstrating the depth of their empathy.
For seven days and nights, they sit with Job in silence, offering no words of comfort or explanation (Job 2:13). This period of silent mourning highlights the inadequacy of words in the face of profound suffering. Sometimes, the most meaningful comfort we can offer is simply our presence and shared sorrow. This is a reminder to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Before attempting to offer explanations or solutions, it's important to simply be present and acknowledge the pain of those who are suffering.
This initial act of compassion, however, sets the stage for the dialogues that will unfold in the following chapters, where Job's friends attempt to explain the reasons for his suffering, often falling short of providing true comfort and understanding.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job 2 marks a significant escalation in the trials faced by Job, testing the very core of his faith and integrity. While Job 1 focused on the loss of possessions and family, Job 2 delves into the realm of physical suffering, bringing Job to the brink of despair. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that trials are an inevitable part of the human experience, and it challenges us to examine our own understanding of God's sovereignty and goodness in the midst of adversity.
Satan's Renewed Assault (Job 2:1-8)
Following the initial devastation, the scene returns to the heavenly court. Job 2:1-3 reiterates the setting from Job 1, where the "sons of God" present themselves before the Lord, and Satan arrives among them. The Lord once again affirms Job’s blamelessness and integrity, highlighting that he still holds fast to his righteousness despite the immense losses he has suffered. God states in Job 2:3, "And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." This infuriates Satan, who then proposes a new tactic: direct physical affliction.
Satan’s accusation shifts from Job's possessions to Job's person. He argues in Job 2:4 that a man will give up everything to save his own life. He suggests that Job’s faithfulness is conditional, based on his comfort and well-being. Satan boldly claims that if God were to strike Job's body, Job would curse Him to His face (Job 2:5). The Lord, in His sovereign wisdom, grants Satan limited power over Job's body, with the crucial restriction that he cannot take Job's life (Job 2:6).
Immediately, Satan inflicts Job with painful sores from head to toe (Job 2:7). Reduced to sitting in ashes and scraping his skin with a piece of broken pottery, Job is now enduring agonizing physical torment. This is a stark image of human suffering, highlighting the depth of Job's ordeal.
A Wife's Plea and Job's Steadfastness (Job 2:9-10)
Amidst this unimaginable suffering, Job receives an unexpected challenge from his own wife. Overwhelmed by the relentless adversity, she urges him to "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). Her words reflect a sentiment of utter despair and a perceived futility in maintaining faith in a God who allows such suffering. She has become a "hurt-mate," unintentionally echoing Satan’s desire for Job to renounce his faith.
However, Job's response is a powerful testament to his unwavering faith. He rebukes his wife, asking, "Shall we accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). This profound statement reveals Job's understanding of God's sovereignty and his willingness to accept both blessings and trials from God's hand. Job recognizes that God is not merely a provider of comfort and ease but the ultimate authority over all aspects of life. The verse concludes with the simple yet powerful statement: "In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." He refused to succumb to bitterness or blasphemy, even in the face of unbearable pain.
This passage teaches us that true faith involves accepting God’s will, even when it is difficult to understand. It reminds us that God is not a cosmic vending machine dispensing only good things, but a sovereign Lord who allows trials for His own purposes, which may not always be immediately clear to us. Like Job, we are called to trust in God's goodness and wisdom, even when we face circumstances that seem unfair or incomprehensible.
The Silent Comfort of Friends (Job 2:11-13)
News of Job's suffering reaches his three friends: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11). They travel a long distance to sympathize with him and comfort him. Initially, their intentions are noble. They seek to offer solace and support to their grieving friend.
However, upon seeing Job's condition, they are overwhelmed by the severity of his suffering. Job 2:12 describes their reaction: "When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads." Their grief is palpable, demonstrating the depth of their empathy.
For seven days and nights, they sit with Job in silence, offering no words of comfort or explanation (Job 2:13). This period of silent mourning highlights the inadequacy of words in the face of profound suffering. Sometimes, the most meaningful comfort we can offer is simply our presence and shared sorrow. This is a reminder to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Before attempting to offer explanations or solutions, it's important to simply be present and acknowledge the pain of those who are suffering.
This initial act of compassion, however, sets the stage for the dialogues that will unfold in the following chapters, where Job's friends attempt to explain the reasons for his suffering, often falling short of providing true comfort and understanding.