Outline of Job

• Narrative Frame (1-2)

• First Discussion Cycle (3-14)

• Second Discussion Cycle (15-21)

• Third Discussion Cycle (22-27)

• Poetic Musing on Human Inaccessibility of Wisdom (28)

• Job’s Final Protest (29-31)

• Elihu Attempts to Correct Job and his Friends (32-37)

• God Speaks (38-41)

• Job’s response and Restoration (42)

The Lord Speaks (38-41)

• The Lord questions Job’s understanding of creation and how it functions

• 39 focuses on the wisdom of God’s design of each animal (39:13-30)

• The Lord addresses Job and incites his challenge (40:1-2)

• Job recognizes his folly in contending with God (40:3-5)

• The purpose of the glory of God is to humble the proud

  • If Job can do that, he can save himself

• God has made many creatures like behemoth and leviathan. While they are too powerful for man, God can approach behemoth.

Epilogue (42:7-16)

• God rebukes Eliphaz and the other two friends

  • They have spoken wrongly about God

  • They are all guilty of rigid and simplistic spirituality

  • This means that they should go to Job as their priest and intercessor

• God prospers Job again

• Suffering is not always the result of sin

• The righteous do not always prosper

• The wicked are not always swiftly punished