Location of our Great Assurance
Hidden Theology
(Job’s Integrity: the drama and the incident; Hidden Theology)
Satan knows our weaknesses, and he knows
that we make wrong choices when left to ourselves, and he comes to the court
with an overwhelming body of evidence.
Act 1, Scene 2 (Job 1:6-12)
God is omniscient, so Satan is not going to change God’s position regarding any situation in the universe and the people He has created.
The stage in
heaven
a. The first
benefit of the narrative is for the body of believers, His children who will
begin to understand and apply the things God has for them.
b. The second
benefit is for the whole heavenly host, who are not in need of redemption, but
will witness God’s character, and those yet to be born, who will together
glorify God.
The fact
that Satan… came among them shows that Satan is himself
an angelic being, and in no way equal to God. The accusation against
Job was also an accusation against God, for it implied that God had bribed Job
into obedience.[1]
We know (and God knew) that Job was not sinlessly perfect; yet God called him blameless. “It means that no matter how horrible his offenses may have been, all the charges against him have been dropped. Absolutely no blame attaches to him, because the very one he offended has exonerated him.” (Mason)
God made us and everything else for His glory.
Thou art
worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created
all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created;
Rev. 4:11.
God begins His encounter with Satan face-to-face
“Where have you come from?”
(Ref. Job. 1:7-8.)
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence
comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and
fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast
thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a
perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job
1:7-8.
What is remarkable about Job is that he was blameless and upright, and God had chosen him, because there was none upright like him.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant
Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man,
one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:8.
So, it was with Jesus: blameless, lamb without a blemish, and God gave His testimony about His Son (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 3:17). Satan jumps at the bait, and his accusation is more about God than Job.
But put forth thine hand now, and
touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face;
Job:1:11.
He was saying that no one will love God more than they love themselves, and they want to get something out of Him, accusing God of lying.
Central issue is Job’s is integrity of saving faith
The gospel takes root, and believers respond in times of suffering and tribulation. We must remember that God alone is on the throne, and Satan acts only with God’s permission and according to God’s purposes only.
The charge against Job fails, and now Satan is in trouble. So, he brings everything else to break Job, to the point of exasperation, and Satan is quick to be about his business. Satan exists from God’s court. He is not returning to God’s court because he made a fool of himself.
Where
is our defense attorney?
My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
1 Jn .2:1.
Satan’s case is not defeated until Jesus
has answered him in person and in action, and He has done it through the cross.
Him, being delivered by the
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain;
Acts. 2:23.
Now
our Advocate need not argue, and the case is settled
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up
steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the
right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God;
Acts.
7:55-56.
And
now all of heaven knows that God will not deny anyone who comes to Him!
All that the Father giveth me shall
come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out ;
Jn
6:37.
The judgment and justice are done! The
matter is settled at the throne room of God, and that is the location of our
great assurance.
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