Job

I. Prologue (1:1-2:13)

A. Introduction (1:1-5)
B. First test (1:6-22)

1. Heavenly agreement to test Job (1:6-12)
2. Job loses possessions and children (1:13-19)
3. Job mourns (1:20-22)

C. Second test (2:1-10)

1. Heavenly agreement to test Job further (2:1-6)
2. Job loses his health (2:7-8)
3. Job's wife suggests cursing God (2:9)
4. Job accepts bad with good (2:10)

D. Job's three friends arrive (2:11-13)

II. Job Curses the Day He Was Born (3:1-26)

III. Cycle of Speeches (4:1-31:40)

A. First cycle (4:1-14:22)

1. Eliphaz (4:1-5:27)

a. Job does not follow own advice (4:1-6)
b. Righteous do not perish (4:7-11)
c. None is righteous but God (4:12-21)
d. Fools suffer (5:1-7)
e. God makes all things right (5:8-16)
f. God is disciplining Job (5:17-27)

2. Job (6:1-7:21)

a. My condition (6:1-7)
b. Please finish me off, God! (6:8-13)
c. Worthlessness of friends (6:14-27)
d. Look at me! (6:28-30)
e. My horrible condition (7:1-6)
f. My life is almost over (7:7-10)
g. Why is God obsessed with humans? (7:11-21)

3. Bildad (8:1-22)

a. God is just, Job's children were sinful (8:1-7)
b. Look to traditional wisdom (8:8-10)
c. Those who forget God are destroyed (8:11-19)
d. God will restore Job (8:20-22)

4. Job (9:1-10:22)

a. Who can be just before God? (9:1-12)
b. Who can answer God? (9:13-24)
c. No alternative to condemnation (9:25-35)
d. Why does God torture humans? (10:1-17)
e. Why was I born? (10:18-22)

5. Zophar (11:1-20)

a. God exacts less than Job deserves (11:1-6)
b. Can you know? (11:7-12)
c. Repent and God will restore (11:13-20)

6. Job (12:1-14:22)

a. Traditional wisdom does not explain real life (12:1-6)
b. Everything knows God's power and involvement (12:7-12)
c. No one can withstand God (12:13-25)
d. Do not defend God (13:1-12)
e. I will defend myself (13:13-19)
f. May God leave me alone and remove dread (13:20-28)
g. Let humans rest (14:1-6)
h. Death ends all (14:7-17)
i. God destroys hope (14:18-22)

B. Second cycle (15:1-21:34)

1. Eliphaz (15:1-35)

a. Job condemns himself (15:1-6)
b. Doesn't Job know none are righteous? (15:7-16)
c. The wicked suffer constantly and are doomed (15:17-35)

2. Job (16:1-17:16)

a. Miserable comforters (16:1-5)
b. God has attacked an innocent person (16:6-17)
c. A cry for justice (16:18-22)
d. Hope is gone (17:1-16)

3. Bildad (18:1-21)

a. We have wisdom too (18:1-4)
b. Surely God punishes the wicked (18:5-21)

4. Job (19:1-29)

a. I feel rejected by God, family, and friends (19:1-22)
b. I know my redeemer lives and vindication will come (19:23-29)

5. Zophar (20:1-29)

a. The wicked prosper only for a short time (20:1-11)
b. The wicked will eventually be destroyed (20:12-29)

6. Job (21:1-34)

a. The wicked do prosper all their lives (21:1-16)
b. How often are the wicked really punished? (21:17-26)
c. Haven't you heard stories that contradict your wisdom? (21:27-34)

C. Third Cycle (22:1-28:28)

1. Eliphaz (22:1-30)

a. Can anyone help or hurt God? (22:1-4)
b. Job's wickedness is great (22:5-11)
c. God watches and punishes (22:12-20)
d. Repent and be saved (22:21-30)

2. Job (23:1-24:25)

a. God might answer if I could find him (23:1-7)
b. I cannot find God (23:8-9)
c. God can certainly find me! (23:10)
d. I have followed His ways (23:11-12)
e. God has determined to destroy me (23:13-14)
f. I am terrified of God (23:15-17)
g. Why is there such great violence and injustice? (24:1-25)

3. Bildad (25:1-6)

a. God's power is great (25:1-3)
b. Who can be righteous before God? (25:4-6)

4. Job (26:1-27:6)

a. God's power is frightening (26:1-14)
b. I maintain my integrity (27:1-6)

5. Zophar or Job? (27:7-23)

a. The godless have no hope (27:7-12)
b. The wicked are punished (27:13-23)

6. Where is wisdom - Job? (28:1-28)

a. Miners' work, though hidden from most, can be seen (28:1-11)
b. Wisdom cannot be found (28:12-14)
c. Wisdom cannot be purchased (28:15-19)
d. The living and dead cannot find wisdom (28:20-22)
e. God knows wisdom's location (28:23-27)
f. To fear God is wisdom (28:28)

7. Job (29:1-31:40)

a. I wish I were back in my younger days (29:1-25)
b. Now I am mocked (30:1-15)
c. God has tortured me (30:16-23)
d. No needy person should suffer like me (30:24-31)
e. Final challenge (31:1-40a)

1) I have tried to live right (31:1-4)
2) I have not lied (31:5-8)
3) I have not committed adultery (31:9-12)
4) I have not mistreated my servants (31:13-15)
5) I have been charitable (31:16-23)
6) I have not been materialistic (31:24-28)
7) I have not been spiteful (31:29-32)
8) I have not concealed my sin (31:33-34)
9) If only God would listen (31:35-37)
10) I have not abused my tenant farmers (31:38-40a)

f. Conclusion of Job's speeches (31:40b)

IV. Elihu Speeches (32:1-37:24)

A. Introduction (32:1-5)

1. Job's three friends cease speaking because Job believed himself to be righteous (32:1)
2. Elihu is angry (32:2-5)

a. With Job because he justified himself rather than God (32:2)
b. With the friends because they could not answer Job (32:3)
c. Because he had maintained silence due to his youth (32:4)
d. Now he is angry enough to speak (32:5)

B. Elihu's comments (32:6-37:24)

1. Wisdom is dependent on spirit, not age (32:6-10)
2. I will provide my answer (32:11-22)
3. I am human, so Job has no need to fear (33:1-7)
4. Job declares himself innocent and God guilty (33:8-11)
5. How God works with people (33:12-33)

a. Teaches through dreams (33:12-18)
b. Teaches through pain (33:19-22)
c. Intercessory prayer (33:23-26)
d. Testimony of others (33:27-28)
e. God constantly teaches in these ways to save people (33:29-30)
f. Job should listen (33:31-32)

6. Job has questioned theological beliefs (34:1-9)
7. God is righteous and punishes wicked (34:10-34)
8. Job should face further trials for daring to rebel (34:35-37)
9. God is not helped or hurt by humans (35:1-8)
10. Job's pride makes his cries empty (35:9-16)
11. God blesses the righteous and destroys the wicked (36:1-16)
12. Job is obsessed with the wicked prospering (36:17-20)
13. Job must avoid becoming wicked (36:21-23)
14. God's power is great (36:24-37:13)
15. Can Job (or anyone) understand God or equal His power? (37:14-24)

V. God Speaks with Job (38:1-42:9)

A. God's first speech (38:1-40:2)

1. God's voice from the whirlwind questions Job (38:1-3)
2. Series of questions emphasizing God's knowledge and power (38:4-39:30)
3. Job is asked to respond (40:1-2)

B. Job humbly responds (40:3-5)
C. God's second speech (40:6-41:34)

1. Will Job condemn God? (40:6-9)
2. Try being God (40:10-41:34)

a. Try running the world in complete justice (40:10-14)
b. Try controlling Behemoth (40:15-24)
c. Try controlling Leviathan (41:1-34)

D. Job responds (42:1-6)

1. No one can thwart God (42:1-2)
2. I do not understand (42:3)
3. Job will question and God will answer (42:4)
4. Job now has encountered God (42:5)
5. Job's final response - repentance or defiance? (42:6)

E. God speaks regarding the three friends (42:7-9)

1. Friends have not spoken correctly of God as Job has (42:7)
2. Friends must offer a sacrifice and Job will intercede for them (42:8)
3. Friends offer a sacrifice and God accepts Job's prayer for them (42:9)

VI. Epilogue (42:10-17)

A. God restores Job's fortunes (42:10-16)

1. God gives Job twice as many possessions as he previously had (42:10)
2. Job's relatives and friends return with sympathy, comfort, and gifts (42:11)
3. List of Job's possessions (42:12)
4. Job has ten more children (42:13)
5. Names of the daughters (42:14)
6. Job gives his daughter an inheritance (42:15)

B. Death of Job (42:16-17)