Read Job 2:1–10
Questions from the Scripture text: What was there in Job 2:1? Who came to do what on that day? Who came among them? What does YHWH ask in Job 2:2? How does the adversary answer? About whom does YHWH ask him (Job 2:3)? What does He call him? What does He say about him? What does He point out that Job is still doing? Despite what? But how does the adversary answer now (Job 2:4)? What does he say will happen, under what circumstances (Job 2:5)? What does YHWH permit (Job 2:6)? Within what limit? From where does the adversary go (Job 2:7)? What does he do to whom? How much? What does Job take, to do what, where (Job 2:8)? Who speaks to him in Job 2:9? What is the point of her rhetorical question? What does she tell him to do instead? What does Job say about her speech (Job 2:10)? What is the point of his rhetorical question? What assessment does the text make about him?
What is happening when the devil attacks us? Job 2:1–10 prepares us for the opening part of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, when the devil attacks believers, the Lord is doing them good through it.
God still sovereign. The superintending sovereignty of God over the actions of demons and angels is again explained to us in terms of a council meeting, in which the subordinate powers report before the Lord (Job 2:1-2). Notice that, while Job was “in the adversary’s hand” (cf. Job 1:12), YHWH does not diminish His own superintending sovereignty (“you incited Me against him, to swallow him without cause,” Job 2:3). Now, more than ever, Job is YHWH’s servant, blameless, upright, fearing God, shunning evil. As always ultimately occurs, Satan’s attack has backfired. Job has been sanctified, and God has been glorified.
Satan still satanic. Alas, the adversary’s malice is not satisfied (Job 2:4). The selfishness described in Job 2:5 is characteristic of Satan, but at this point it rings hollow about Job. Again, we have the “two hands”: “stretch out Your hand” in verse 5, and YHWH saying, “he is in your hand,” in Job 2:6. Satan’s evil is his own, but YHWH’s good and sovereign hand overrules. Satan’s malice is restrained by the good will of God: “spare his life.” This is always the case, dear Christian. The almighty providence of God is always overruling; the good providence of God is always prevailing. Truly, His goodness and mercy are hot on your heals, always.
Job still being sanctified. Job is left miserable from head to toe, but we find out from his wife that he continues to be YHWH’s servant, blameless, upright, fearing God, shunning evil. She is actually irate that he continues to “hold fast to [his] integrity” (Job 2:9), even suggesting that he do precisely as Satan had said (Job 2:5). Without knowing it, she has been left alive as a tool of the devil. What a danger there is, when think according to the flesh, of becoming a tool of the devil! And this is most of all the case with those to whom we are closest. God gives man a wife to be his helper for worship and obedience; let her not influence him otherwise. For Job’s part, since he knows that God is good, he is willing to accept whatever He sends, whether pleasant or painful (Job 2:10). Dear Christian reader, whether in pleasantness or pain, trust the goodness of your God!
What hardship in your life do you need to be reminded is under God’s almighty and good providence?
Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You for Your almighty, sovereign, wise, good providence. Truly, You accomplish all Your holy will, and all the malice of men or demons cannot hinder that. So receive our worship, and help us in it. Grant that, by Your Spirit, You would be everything unto us, in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH231 “Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right”
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