Job—The Man with a Godly Character

Job Chapter 1

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18

INTRODUCTION: The basic facts about Job’s remarkable life are given first. We immediately learn of his homeland, his character, his family, his wealth, and the spiritual leadership he gave to his family (Eze. 14:14; Js. 5:11).

A PERFECT HEART “that man was perfect and upright.”
Perfection here relative; none absolutely perfect but Christ.
Job was perfect in heart as David was. (See 1 Kings 11:4).
A heart fixed on the will of God. (Psalm 57:7)

A PERSONAL HONOR “there is none like him in the earth.”
God Himself commended him. He honors those that honor Him. (1 Sam. 2:3)
A PRACTICAL HOLINESS “a man… that shunned evil”
Job is called an “upright man” by the Lord
We are to follow after… holiness. (Heb. 12:14).

A PRAYERFUL HUMILITY
Note his humble submission to the will of God. (Job 1:20-22)
Humility the mark of greatness. (John 12:14)

A PERSEVERING HABIT “thus did Job continually.”
Job was not a fair weather Christian.
A man’s habits of life come from his heart. (Proverbs 23:7)

A PIOUS HOME LIFE
Job evidently had a family worship for his home. (Job 1:5)
A PATIENT HOPE “ye have heard of the patience of Job.” (James 5:11)
“Though He slay me yet will I trust Him” was Job’s attitude under intense trial.
We are to live looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)
Hope sustains. Hope is the anchor of the soul, stedfast and sure.

CONCLUSION:
Job’s character is far more important than where he lived. Thus, immediately after identifying the man from Uz as Job, the writer lists two vital facts about his character:

First, Job was blameless or perfect and upright (v. 1b). It is essential to understand how these two words are used here. The word blameless (perfect) does not mean sinless. Job was human; therefore, he could not have been sinless. Nor was he perfect in the sense the word is used today. The Hebrew word blameless (tām) refers to being blameless of outward or willful sin, not to sinless perfection. It suggests that Job was innocent of deliberate and conscious sin, that he was a man of integrity who walked closely with the LORD.

Second, Job feared God and shunned (eschewed) evil (v. 1c). Scripture declares that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10; Pr. 9:10). The phrase “fear of the LORD” means much more than mere fright or the feeling of fear. It includes reverence and awe. An appropriate fear of the LORD leads to a godly lifestyle and righteous behavior. Job shunned evil because he feared and revered the LORD. And because he feared and revered the LORD, he sought to live a blameless and upright life.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).

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