"THE BOOK OF JOB" Epilogue - Job Is Blessed (42:7-17) by Mark Copeland

  "THE BOOK OF JOB"

                  Epilogue - Job Is Blessed (42:7-17)

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To review the conclusion of this book, and how Job is blessed in his
   latter days

2) To see what is said about Job's three friends, and how they were
   forgiven

3) To note how the author of the book speaks of "the adversity that the
   LORD had brought upon" Job, even though Satan was the immediate
   cause of Job's suffering

SUMMARY

With Job admitting he had spoken of things he did not understand and
having repented, the Lord now addresses Eliphaz as the representative
of Job's three friends.   They angered the Lord by saying things that
were not right about God.  They are therefore instructed to offer seven
bulls and seven rams, with Job praying in their behalf (42:7-9).

When Job has prayed for his friends, the Lord begins to restore his
losses.  Job is comforted by his family and friends for the adversity
the Lord has brought upon him.  The Lord then blesses Job by giving him
twice the number of livestock he had in the beginning.  He is also
blessed with seven sons and three daughters, the latter being named and
described as the most beautiful in the land, even receiving an 
inheritance along with their brothers.  The book of Job closes with a 
mention of how Job lived another 140 years, seeing his descendants to 
the fourth generation before finally dying (42:10-17).

OUTLINE

I. JOB'S FRIENDS REBUKED (42:7-9)

   A. GOD REBUKES ELIPHAZ & HIS TWO COMPANIONS (42:7)
      1. God's wrath was aroused against them for their "folly" (cf. 
         42:8)
      2. They had not spoken what is right about God, unlike Job
      3. In what way, for hadn't Job accused God of injustice?
         a. Perhaps in regards to the debate over the cause of 
            suffering
            1) They had argued that suffering is always sent by God in
               response to sin
            2) Job had denied that; in this he was right and they were
               wrong
         b. Or in that Job had repented, whereas the three friends had
            not yet done so

   B. THE THREE FRIENDS RESTORED (42:8-9)
      1. God instructs them to offer seven bulls and seven rams, and
         have Job pray for them
      2. This they did, for the Lord had accepted Job

II. JOB RESTORED, COMFORTED, AND BLESSED (42:10-17)

   A. RESTORED BY GOD (42:10)
      1. Upon praying for his friends, the Lord restores what he lost
      2. The Lord restored twice as much as he had lost

   B. COMFORTED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS (42:11)
      1. His brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances come to eat 
         with him and comfort him
         a. Note that it says "for all the adversity the LORD had 
            brought upon him"
         b. While Satan was the instigator of Job's suffering, the LORD
            bore ultimate responsibility by allowing Satan to test Job
      2. They each bring a piece of silver and ring of gold

   C. BLESSED BY GOD (42:12-17)
      1. Job's latter days blessed more than his beginning
      2. His livestock is doubled (14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 
         yoke of oxen, 1,000 female donkeys)
      3. He is blessed with 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters, the 
         latter to whom he provided an inheritance along with their 
         brothers
      4. He lived 140 years, saw descendants to the fourth generation,
         and died full of days

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION

1) What did the Lord say to Eliphaz concerning his words and those of
   his friends? (42:7)
   - "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends"
   - "You have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has"

2) As suggested in the above outline, in what ways might Job spoken 
   right about God?
   - Perhaps in regards to whether suffering is always the consequence
     of sin
   - Or in that Job had repented, whereas the three friends had not yet
     done so

3) What were Eliphaz and his two friends instructed to do? (42:8)
   - To offer seven bulls and seven rams, having Job to pray for them

4) What did the Lord do when Job prayed for his friends? (42:10)
   - He restored Job's losses, giving him twice as much as what he had
     before

5) Who came to comfort Job?  Why? (42:11)
   - His brothers, sisters, and acquaintances
   - For all the adversity the Lord had brought upon him

6) How did the Lord bless the latter days of Job? (42:12-13)
   - More so than his beginning
   - Doubling the number of sheep, camels, oxen and female donkeys
   - Giving him seven sons and three daughters

7) What were the names of his three daughters? (42:14)
   - Jemimah, Keziah, Keren-Happuch

8) What is said regarding the daughters of Job? (42:15)
   - In all the land there were no women as beautiful as Job's 
     daughters
   - Job gave them an inheritance along with their brothers

9) How long did Job live after his suffering? (42:16)
   - One hundred and forty years

10) What was he blessed to see? (42:16)
   - His children and grandchildren for four generations

11) What are the last words of the book? (42:17)
   - So Job died, old and full of days