Job 1:6-12 - Homiletics

The fundamental controversy of the poem.

I. THE OCCASION OF THE CONTROVERSY . The presence of Satan among the sons of God.

1 . The celestial assembly.

2 . The unexpected visitor.

II. THE PARTIES TO THE CONTROVERSY . Jehovah and Satan.

1 . Jehovah.

2 . Satan.

III. THE SUBJECT OF THE CONTROVERSY . The disinterested character of piety or religion.

1 . The Divine challenge. "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth?" The language of:

2 . The Satanic answer. "Doth Job fear God for nought?" etc. Containing:

IV. THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONTROVERSY . By the trial of the patriarch.

1 . The Divine permission. "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power." A permission

2 . The Divine limitation. "Only upon himself put not forth thine hand;" which reminds us

Learn:

1 . That if Satan can find his way into the assemblies of God's sons in heaven, it need hardly surprise one to detect him amongst the congregations of God's children on earth.

2 . That if so eminent a saint as Job did not escape impeachment by the devil, it will not be wonderful if lesser saints should be accused.

3 . That if God permitted a Job to be put into the devil's power, as Christ allowed a Peter to be cast into Satan's sieve, it may almost be expected that ordinary Christians will also be subjected to trial.

4 . That if God set a limit to Satan's power in dealing with his servant Job, he will not accord unlimited authority to the adversary when he comes to try those who are less able to withstand his assaults.

5 . And that if Job was sustained when passing through the fiery ordeal, so will all who like Job are sincere in heart be upheld in the day of their calamity.