CHAPTER 1 - FEAR
As we have heard by some that “Fear” is number one reason Job suffered such tragedy quoting 1 John 4:18, Proverbs 29:25, Proverbs 10:24 and Job 3:25,26 as foundational scriptures. This opinion is shared by many creditable bible teachers and students of God’s Word.
Proverbs 10:24
The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. KJV
And
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. KJV
And
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. KJV
And
Job 3:25-26
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. KJV
This reasoning is what I referred to earlier as a truth certainly the Holy Bible can not be successfully contradicted. Fear causes problems and as it is clearly stated in 1 John 4:18 that fear has torment or we could say mental anguish. Some have stated that the fear of Job is what pulled down the hedge of protection surrounding Job mentioned in Job 1:8-10
8 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?
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 all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. KJV
However two other principles make that doctrine (as the central theme of Job) problematic. First, if that were the case the Lord would not of referred to Job as being a perfect man and upright in Chapter 1:1 nor would the word of stated that Job sinned not with his mouth in Chapter 2:10. The bible clearly states that the fearful will have their place in the lake of fire in Revelation 21:7-8
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. KJV
This passage shows us that fearfulness is a sin, those that are full of fear are in sin, whether they know it or not. If Job was full of fear he would not be a man who feared the Lord and was upright. No one can be divided between trusting God and trusting in the power of the devil, fearful. If a person is not fully persuaded in God’s reality but equally speaking faith and fear they are not and never will be pleasing to God. Remember the example of the Lord’s disciples in Matthew 8:25-26
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them,Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. KJV
According to Job 1:8 the Lord was very pleased with Job’s heart.
Job 1:8
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? KJV
The Lord was implying that Job was special and certainly Job stood in a class by himself. The hedge was established by a person fearing (reverencing, respecting) the Lord as spoken in verse 9.
Job 1:9
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? KJV
Satan clearly states here that fearing God is the reason for the hedge. We know also according to
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. KJV
And
Proverbs 9:10-11
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. KJV
The fear of the Lord (trust, reverence, faith in God) is our foundation which all other truths and principles become established. As believers in Christ Jesus we have a lot of severe differences with Satan but no Christian should be so brash to think that Satan is totally ignorant about the ways of God, nor is Satan incorrect with his assessment of the hedge. Since he is the one who mentioned it, I think that we can give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he meant. I personally like to think that as long as I fear God the hedge is established, knowing since I didn’t personally make the hedge the Lord did, therefore the Lord is also the continuous custodian to keep the hedge in place. I made the decision to trust in God, because of that decision the Lord establishes the hedge this is in-line with Psalm 121:2-8
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. KJV
and
Colossians 3:1-4
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. KJV
and
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. KJV
These verses speak of God’s working on our behalf, His benefits as a result of our decision not our works. Yes, I do understand that good works bring honor to our testimony about Christ as our Lord, but friend don’t be deceived like some that think because I do good works I justify my blessedness in Christ. This is the prevailing thought of those who believe that Job was responsible for his calamity. Another, problem I have with this approach is that the Lord never re-establishes this fact as the certain truth. What I mean is that in the mouth of two or three witness every truth must be established according to 2 Corinthians 13:1. If that was a major problem I would feel a lot better about accepting that as “thee truth” if the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, pointed that issue out as being a major problem but He doesn’t. Yes, Job made that statement and I believe it is truly stated but there is no confirmation from the Holy One that it is the central truth of the book. We know that Job made many statements some of his statements were truth, and some were not. For example Job stated the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away (Job 1:21) that is not truth according to John 10:10 and Proverbs 10:22. Both of those verses magnify the pure goodness of God as the ultimate giver, not the one who takes away. However Job also stated that his Redeemer liveth (Job 19:25) and other scriptures validate that truth according to Psalm 19:14 and Isaiah 54:5. Job was obviously overwhelmed by the tragic events in his life at that particular time. We can be certain that Job was speaking from anguish of heart, if he was speaking from his prior circumstances (before the attack of Satan) he would not of said “is come upon me” he would of stated is come again upon me. Look at the context of what Job said in those series of verses, the majority of his statements are false. In context Job was simply complaining from bitterness of soul. Job was mentally exhausted to say that fear was Job lifestyle because he sanctified his children by praying for them continuously is making the bible fit your doctrine. Is it right to pray for your children? Why certainly, yes! It is obvious that Job didn’t know about faith and Job had some uncertainties but to imply that this caused Job to lose his children could be better understood if that were all he lost. However Job lost much more than just his children he lost his confidence in God. If this was Job’s dilemma some other verses particularly from the Lord or Elihu would have pointed out Job’s mistake, neither of them did. For these two reasons, the first being the only way to pull down the hedge around us and our family is to not fear the Lord. Job was fearing the Lord at the time of his attack, thus rendering that conclusion obscure. Secondly if fear caused Job his problems the Lord should have mentioned that to Job, I can not accept this position as the central theme of Job. There is truth in fear being a problem for the believers of God and I do support the validity of fear being around and maybe inside of Job, however this alone was not Job’s major sin.