Thanks to http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/job.htm for portions of this.
Prologue - Job Is Tested (1-2)
1. Character and wealth; satan allowed to test Job
2. Job loses his health
3. Job’s lament / soliloquy
The Great Debate: First Cycle Of Speeches (4-14)
4. Eliphaz: The innocent don’t suffer (FALSE!).
5. God is just.
6. Job’s friends are no help.
7. Job’s life seems futile.
8. Bildad says God rewards the good.
9. Job says there is no arbitrator between God and man (he didn’t know Jesus).
10. Job despairs of God’s dealings.
11. Zaphar rebukes Job.
12. Job chides his accusers and speaks of God’s power.
13. Job says his friends’ proverbs are ashes and is sure he’ll be vindicated.
14. Job speaks of death’s finality.
The Great Debate: Second Cycle Of Speeches (15-21)
15. Eliphaz says Job presumes much; what has he seen of life?
16. Job says friends are not good. God shattered him.
17. Job has become a byword.
18. Bildad speaks of the wicked.
19. Job feels insulted, everything is against Him. My Redeemer Lives (great song!)
20. Zaphar says the triumph of the wicked is short.
21. Job says God will deal with the wicked.
The Great Debate: Third Cycle Of Speeches (22-31)
22. Eliphaz accuses and exhorts Job.
23. Job longs for God.
24. Job says God seems to ignore wrongs.
25. Bildad – man is terror.
26. Job rebukes Bildad.
27. Job reaffirms his righteousness and the state of the godless.
28. Job tells of earth’s treasure.
29. Job’s past was questionable?
30. Job’s present state is humiliation.
31. Job asserts his integrity.
Young Elihu Speaks (32-37)
32. Elihu in anger rebukes Job.
33. Elihu claims to speak for God.
34. Elihu vindicates God’s justice.
35. Elihu sharply reproves Job.
36. Elihu speaks of God’s dealing with people.
37. Elihu says God is back of the storm?
God Speaks To Job (38:1-42:6) "Who are you?"
38. God speaks to Job; God’s mighty power
39. God speaks of nature and its beings
40, 41. Job: what can I say? God questions Job; God’s power is shown in creatures.
42. Job’s confession; God’s displeased with Job’s friends; God restores Job’s fortunes
Epilogue - Job Is Blessed (42:7-17)
Rabbi Kushner’s book “When Bad Things Happen To Good People” has sold over 4 million copies. It has the following chapter titles which may help us process what is happening:
1. Why do the righteous suffer? We may never know why. The following may help.
2. The Story of a man named Job. satan’s theory was that Job served God because blessed him. Therefore, God allowed Job to be tested. 3 of his so-called friends gave him advice – we have to be careful re: to whom we listen. They thought Job’s suffering was because he was a sinner. One called him a hypocrite, another called him a liar. One said suffering is punishment.
Job 38:1-7 states “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man (MAN UP!) and I will ask you, and you instruct me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding? Who set its measurements? Since you know.” God was being very direct that we are the creation, not the Creator. God is all powerful, all knowing, all-loving and everywhere.
Job 42:7 states “My wrath is kindled against you and against your 2 friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.”
God gets angry at us if we do not follow Ephesians 4: 15 “but [a]speaking the truth in love, [b]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ” We need to be mature and professional as we work here.
3. Sometimes there is no reason. There is cause and effect, we aren’t always in control.
4. (There are) No exceptions for nice people. As I said, Larry was a very nice guy.
5. God leaves us room to be human. It’s normal to be angry, sad, to be afraid, to have guilt, etc. We need to rely on God, our families, friends and each other to get through this.
6. God helps those who stop hurting themselves. We need to mourn our loss, but we need to look forward to the day of reunion with Larry in heaven if we know our Lord. I always like to end with So what?
Job 19: 25 states “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.” Christ is our hope for reunion with our loved ones when we die.
