Job’s longing for a Mediator and confident hope in a Redeemer point us surely to the coming Christ.
Before beginning such an arduous journey up towering peaks and into forbiddingly deep valleys, it would be helpful to have a look at the roadmap of the book of Job. There are three main parts: the Prologue (chs 1–2) explains Job’s disasters; the Dialogue (chs 3–41) records Job’s discussions; and the Epilogue (ch 42) describes Job’s deliverance. In Part I, we’re introduced to Job with a sketch of his outstanding character, family, possessions, lifestyle, and vigorous faith in the Lord (1:1-5). The scene then shifts to heaven and a debate between God and the devil (1:6-12), where God presents Job as His true servant, and Satan seeks permission to strip him of all that might be the cause of his loyalty to God (1:13– 2:10). We are then introduced to Job’s friends (2:11-13), and, after seven days of silence, the debates begin. These continue from chapter 3 to 42:6. The first round begins with Job’s lament (ch 3), and his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar speaking, followed in each case by Job’s responses (chs 4–14). The second round follows the same pattern (chs 15–21), as does the third round, except Zophar is now silent (chs 22–31). Then a fourth and younger friend, Elihu, takes the floor with four monologues: 1. in chapters 32 and 33; 2. in chapter 34; 3. in chapter 35; and 4. in chapters 36 and 37. Job gives no reply, but then God steps in. His speeches cover chapters 38 through 41. Job is silent in God’s presence throughout, except for 40:3-5, but expresses his repentant heart in conclusion (42:1-6). We then reach the Epilogue, with the recovery of Job’s friends (vv 7-9), his wealth, and his family (vv 10-16). “So Job died, old and full of days” (v 17). Now it’s time to explore this amazing saga step-by-step.