Job’s Good Life, 1-5

1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was pure and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 1:2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 1:3 His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.

1:4 Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 1:5 When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.

The land of Uz – ‘Job is not an Israelite, he is one of the ‘people of the east’, that is, east of the Jordan (Uz is Edom, south-east of Israel). He is, however, a worshipper of the true God, though he calls him Elohim (God), not ‘Yahweh’, the personal name of God.’ (NBC)

Satan’s Accusation of Job, 6-12

1:6 Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD—and Satan also arrived among them. 1:7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the LORD, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” 1:8 So the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? 1:10 Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. 1:11 But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

1:12 So the LORD said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

v12 ‘I don’t know, for certain, why God should choose to share the making of decisions and the implementing of them with other heavenly beings, as I don’t know why God chooses to use human beings in fulfilling His purpose rather than doing everything Himself, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it arises out of a delight in sharing responsibility rather than insisting that one does everything oneself.  In other words, it’s an expression of love.  I guess also that, in a paradoxical way, the awareness that God involves subordinate heavenly beings as God’s agents heightens the sense that God is the real King.  A king does not do everything himself.  The idea that God shares responsibility and rule in this way also has significant explanatory power, like the awareness that God shares authority with human beings.  Both heavenly and earthly beings have the capacity to ignore the directions God gives them for the exercise of their power, and that offers part of the explanation of why things go so wrong – in heaven, evidently, and not just on earth.’ (Goldingay, Job For Everyone)

Job’s Integrity in Adversity, 13-22

1:13 Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 1:14 and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 1:15 and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

1:16 While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants—it has consumed them! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

1:17 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

1:18 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 1:19 and suddenly a great wind swept across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

1:20 Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground. 1:21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” 1:22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

The Sabeans – Nomadic bedouins living in the area of Uz and to the South.

“The fire of God” – possibly lightning.

Job…tore his robe and shaved his head – Common expressions of grief.

He fell to the ground in worship – ‘After the patriarch had fallen down upon the ground, “he worshipped.” Not, “he grumbled,” not “he lamented,” much less that began to imprecate and us language unjustifiable and improper. But he “fell down upon the ground and worshipped.” O dear friend, when your grief presses you to the very dust, worship there!’ (The Best of Spurgeon, 240)

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” – ‘It is one heart-quieting consideration in all the afflictions that befall us, that God has a special hand in them: “The Almighty hath afflicted me.” [Ruth 1:21] Instruments can no more stir till God gives them a commission, than the axe can cut of itself without a hand. Job eyed God in his affliction: therefore, as Augustine observes, he does not say, “The Lord gave, and the devil took away,” but “The Lord hath taken away.