job and the spiritual warfare

8/3/2019 Job and the Spiritual Warfare

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Job and the Spiritual Warfare

Rev. Jacob Abraham

Associate Professor of EnglishSt. Cyrils College, Adoor

Mizpah, Canan Nagar, Manakala P.O, AdoorMizpah, Canan Nagar, Manakala P.O, AdoorMizpah, Canan Nagar, Manakala P.O, AdoorMizpah, Canan Nagar, Manakala P.O, Adoor ---- 691551.691551.691551.691551.PathanaPathanaPathanaPathanamthittamthittamthittamthitta District. Kerala. IndiaDistrict. Kerala. IndiaDistrict. Kerala. IndiaDistrict. Kerala. India

Phone: 9961330751. email:Phone: 9961330751. email:Phone: 9961330751. email:Phone: 9961330751. email:[email protected]@[email protected]@gmail.com....

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Job and the Spiritual Warfare

Introduction

The time in which Job lived is very uncertain

The date generally received is that Moses wrote the book while among the Midiani

Moses wrote it about one thousand five hundred and twenty years before the comm

the Christian era

But Adam Clarke argues in his Commentary that Job lived after giving of the Law.


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There are references in the book to:

1. The rites and ceremonies instituted by Moses.i. In Job 1:5, we are informed that he sanctified his children, and offered burnt-

daily to the morning for each of them.

ii.This was a general ordinance of the law, as we may see in:Leviticus 9:7 - "Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin-o

thy burnt-offering, and make an atonement for thyself and for the peopl

Leviticus 9:22 - "And Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people, and bles

and came down from offering the burnt-offering."

Exodus 29:42- "This shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your gen


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2. The worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as being the most prevalent and most sidolatry, was very expressly forbidden by the law.

Deuteronomy 4:19 - "Take heed, lest thou lift up thine eyes to heaven; and w

seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, sdriven to worship them, and serve them."

Job purges himself from this species of idolatry.

Job 31:26-28 - "If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in br

and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hwere an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied t

is above."


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3. He clears himself also from adultery in reference to the law enacted against that Job 31:9-12 - "If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have la

neighbour's door; then let my wife grind to another: for this is a heinou

it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges."

See the law against this sin:

Exodus 20:14,17 - "Thou shalt not commit adultery: thou shalt not covet thy

wife."

Leviticus 20:10 - "The man that committeth adultery with another man's wif

be put to death;"


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4. The following may be considered an evident allusion to the passage of the Red destruction of the proud Egyptian king:

Job 26:11,12 - "The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his repro

divideth the sea with his power; and by his understanding he smiteth thproud."

5. These, with several others that might be adduced, are presumptive proofs that ththis book lived after the giving and establishment of the law, if not much late.


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Book Job and the Spiritual War

1. Book of Job is a story that unveils the Spiritual Warfare

2. It says that it is true that there is a spiritual war between man and Satan

3. Spiritual War is not like the worldly war

i. The war takes place in a spiritual realm, while we fight from this worldii. Weapons are not worldly

iii. War tactics are not worldlyiv. Our enemy is not a man of flesh and bloodv. Everything is of the spiritual realm


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Ephesians 6:12- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against prin

against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wickedness in high places.

2Corinthians 10:3 - 6

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to

down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against

knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedieChrist; {imaginations: or, reasonings}

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedien

fulfilled.


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THE REAL WAR

The real war is between:

God and SatanNot between Man and Satan

If it was in between Man and Satan, Satan could have declared war against Jo Instead he goes to God and challenges Him

Job is a pawn in the war


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Job 1:6-12

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORDcame also among them.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD,

going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none l

earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about a

hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substa

increased in the land.11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy fac12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; o

himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of


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WHY MAN?

God fails if Man loses

God succeed if Man wins

Why it is like this?

Man is the creation of God

It is an enterprise of God without a partnerMan is Gods own property

But God was so gracious to give man free will to choose right or wrong

Unwittingly man fell a pray to Satan

Satan subdued Man as a part of the spiritual war

It was like subduing a portion of a country by the enemy

Naturally it is a declaration of war against the right owner


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Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and

pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she tookthereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he di

God understood the argument of Adam and Eve that they fell in the trap of Satan opthrough the serpent.

That is the reason why God did not totally destroy Man

Instead He let them live outside Eden promising food and offspring though not with


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Before Adam committed the sin:

Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing se

upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of

yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

After Adam committed the sin:

Genesis 3: 11 - 13

11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tr

I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gavetree, and I did eat.

13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done

woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.


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Genesis 3: 16 1916 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conc

sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husb

shall rule over thee. {to thy...: or, subject to thy husband}

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt no

cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the day

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the

field;19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the grou

of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

God did not forsake Man even after he committed sin

The punishment of sin was upon them, but God did not forsake Adam and Eve.


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Israelites and Sin

Gods attitude to Israelites were the same

God brought out Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptians.

Israelites were fed regularly with manna from heaven and water from rocks in the d

But they turned against Moses and God more than once

Still God did not forbid manna or water.

They were punished for their sin

But manna and water continued till they reached Canaan.


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Garden of Eden

In the Garden of Eden, though Adam and Eve committed sin, God did not forsake t

God opened a new way to re enter into the bliss of Eden through the shedding of bl

Symbolically, He killed an animal, shed its blood and covered the nakedness of Ad

with the blood stained skin of the animal

God is promising a way to the remission of sin

Genesis 3: 21 - Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make co

and clothed them.

God never forsake man for ever - He wants them to turn back to him

God instead of giving up Man to Satan, declares war in between Man and Satan

God wants Man to fight it out defeating Satan and regaining the lost throne

Genesis 3: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and betwe

and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.


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WAR DECLARED

God declared the war

War between God and SatanIt is fight for Man and his dwelling place the earth

God declared the enemy

Satan is the enemy

Man is on the other side

God + Man = War against Satan

Man + Satan = War against God


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God declare the place of war

Outside heaven

In the spiritual realm

Reflected on earth affects the lives of human being

God controls the war

God interferes whenever it is necessary

God checks Satan

God chooses and appoint His people for various positions in the WarfieldAll of them are empowered according to their responsibilities in the war


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God fixed the conditions of the war

i. Man has to fight it outii.God:

Chooses His warriors

Empowers His warriorsProtects His warriors

Sends aid His angels

iii.Be protected by the armors as said in EphesiansEphesians 6:10-1810 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his mig

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against th

the devil.


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12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, ag

powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spirituain high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able

withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quen

fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is t

God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch

thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;


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iv. Be separate from gentile practices

Exodus 23:23-25

23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites,

Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebuswill cut them off.

24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their

thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, andand I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.


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God declared the end of the enemy

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy sseed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Revelation 19:19-21

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathere

make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought mihim, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beas

that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire

brimstone.

21 And the remnants were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horsword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with thei


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SATAN ATTACKS

Satan attacks to destroy:

1. Material blessingsJob 1:13-1713 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and dr

in their eldest brother's house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowingasses feeding beside them:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have sla

servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell t16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire o

fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, andthem; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldout three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, y

the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to t


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2. ChildrenJob 1:18-1918 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons

daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote th

corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; am escaped alone to tell thee.

3. Physical bodyJob 2:7-87 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with s

from the sole of his foot unto his crown.8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down amashes.


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4. Darkens our knowledge about God

Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge

"Who is this who keeps darkening my counsel without knowing whatalking about? (International Slandered Version ISV)

Counsel advice / purpose

5. Takes away hopeJob 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?

and die.


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PROTECTED PEOPLE

Since then there are people specially protected by God

Cain, though was a sinner had a limited protection from God

Genesis 4: 13 - 15

13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven}

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and frshall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it s

pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengean

taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finshould kill him.


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JOB

Job was a different person who resisted Satan in his life

He remained faithful to God

He sacrificed for the remission of sins

He kept himself from the worship of idols, the sun, moon and stars

He lived a holy life

Job 1:1 - There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that m

perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 1:8 - And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant J

is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fear

escheweth evil?

So God gave him a special protection covering everything that belonged to him

Satan could do nothing to him


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Job 1: 9 & 109 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about

hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his subs

increased in the land. {substance: or, cattle}

It is Gods hedge around Job

The hedge of God around him is a mark that Job and everything belongs to him, be


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Boundary and Hedge

What we do as soon as we get a property of our own, or anything as our own?

If we can write our name on it, we write our name and address declaring to the who

it belong to us

We write our name on books, because it may be easily carried away by others

As soon as we buy a piece of land, we put the boundary line, compound wall and fiplate on the gate that declares that the property within this boundary belongs to us.

Whatever is there, whether it is useful or not, good or bad, rich or poor belongs to i

Only the owner has the authority to keep it or mend it or remove itAnd the owner has an authority to keep it or mend it or remove it.


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So a boundary declares ownership

Boundary is separatenessBoundary is protection

Boundary is special care

Isaiah 5: 1, 2

1 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vin

wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: {a very...: Heb. the horn

of oil}2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with t

vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein

looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. {

made a wall about} {made: Heb. hewed}


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The War begins

Satan goes to God and challenges Him on the faithfulness of Job

God takes up the challenge

The war begins

The real war takes place in the spiritual realm

What happen on earth are only the effects of it

Job was afflicted by SatanHe lost all his wealth, his sons and daughters

His physical body was afflicted

ChildrenWealth (Land)

Health


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Job did not understood what was going on in his life

He was trying to analyze and reason about the cause of his affliction

He could not understand the mystery of the spiritual war

Job 1: 20 & 21

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down

ground, and worshipped, {mantle: or, robe}

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I retuthe LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of


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Job 2:9 &10

9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse G10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaket

shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

not Job sin with his lips.

Man can never comprehend the mystery of the Spiritual Warfare

So we often ask the question:

WHY GOD? WHY ME?

Still he stood firm in his faith

Jobs friends also were trying in their ignorance to explain the mystery of the war.


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Do not try to explain the sufferings of others so easilyThere are many things that human wisdom does not understand

Jobs friends were reasoning with the help of theology available at the time

They thought that the theology they knew is the last wordThey used it as the canon to judge people

But they failed miserably

Job 38:1, 2

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

And God was angry towards them.


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Job 42: 7, 8

7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the Lto Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy

for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath

8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my

and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall prayhim will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not s

the thing which is right, like my servant Job.


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Satan lost the war & Job blessed

Satan lost the war

No more is said of the defeated enemy

Job came out victorious

The story goes on even after the declaration of the end of the war to tell us about th

personHe is more blessed


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Job 42:10-1710 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friend

LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all the

been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his housebemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had b

him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for h

fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yokea thousand she asses.

13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second

the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job

father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and hieven four generations.

17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

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job and the spiritual warfare

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