A Righteous Man - Job Chapter One Series

Jewels From Job

Job – Chapter #1

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Job 1:1-2 (NKJV)

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

Four characteristics are spoken about Job.

1. He was blameless.

2. He was upright.

3. He feared God.

4. He shunned evil.

These are four characteristics that all of us need.

Blameless – root word of the Hebrew means to be complete.

Upright – in the Hebrew can also mean straight.

Feared God – see Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9; Psalm 33:8; Psalm 34:11; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:27; Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 23:17; Isaiah 33:6;

Shunned Evil – see Psalm 1.

Other characteristics that could be added about Job.

1. He spoke the truth. Job 27:3-4

2. He maintained moral purity. Job 31:1

3. He loved his enemies. Job 31:29-30

4. He was hospitable. Job 31:31-32

3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. Job 1:3 (NKJV)

THE WEALTH OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

Do we count a man’s worth by how many possessions he has? Job had a lot. But verse one does not look at what he had before it speaks of Job’s worth – it says - Job was a man…. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. Job 1:1 (MSG) Character counts.

Stuff is just stuff. If we treasure gold here on earth we find it to be nothing more then pavement in Heaven.

2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify 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 sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly. . Job 1:2; 4-5 (NKJV)

THE FAMILY OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

Job was a Godly man but also a father who watched out for his children. The main thing he was concerned with was their spiritual welfare. We need to feed our children with bread – but bread alone will not fill their soul. It does not tell us if his children have any thoughts of spiritual things but that did not deter Job from doing what he knew was right. He would offer up sacrifices for his children. He formed a holy habit. This was Job’s regular practice. Job 1:5 (HCSB)

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6 (NKJV)

THE DAY OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

It does not tell us what day of the week that it happened – but it happened all the same - One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. Job 1:6 (HCSB)

It would turn out to be quite a day for Job.

7 And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

THE TEST OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

The Lord questions Satan and asks him where he has been. Down on the earth he says. Then God asks the question, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” Job 1:8 (HCSB) “Lord why didn’t you keep quiet? Why did you have to point Job out to Satan? Maybe, just maybe Job would not have suffered so much. But of course that would not give us this story and the encouragement we can gain from it.”

God testifies of Job that which is found in verse 1. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 (HCSB) Oh that God would testify of us. “I would fear God’s testimony of me – for I know my own heart. Blameless? Upright? Staying away from evil? I fear that God would judge me with the truth.”