What I’ve learned preaching through the Book of Job

Job has been a wonderful book to preach through, both for myself, and the congregation I’m part of. I’ve held off attempting to preach it for years, as there are so many ‘issues’ to deal with. I’m really glad I have done it now. Here are two things I’ve learnt, been reminded of (as a preacher), preaching through the book of Job:

1. I’ve been forced to deal with many different interpretations and dilemmas

Its been good for my preaching to do this—to wrestle with the text and the dilemmas that are presented to us. For example, what are we to make of the author of Job presenting the LORD and Satan having a chat? And not once, but twice. (1:7, 2:2)

2. Preaching through Job has been good for my theology

When we think we have God all sorted out, I reckon that’s a good time to preach through Job. In Job, God refuses to fit into our nice neat boxes. This is of course, the issue with the 3 friends, who do exactly that—they have ‘God in a box,’ and are rebuked for their ‘wrong theology’ if you like (42:7). As preachers, we may perhaps have our rigid watertight theological systems (as do the 3 friends) and leave no room for mystery, or for God to surprise us. Isaiah 55 has been key, in this regard, when God says:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

It’s good for us to have this sown in to our theological system.

Here’s how I preached through Job:

1. Overview of Job
2. Chapter 1 
3. Chapter 2
4. Chapter 3 
5. Chapter 4-14
6. Chapter 15-21
7. Chapter 22-27
8. Chapter 28-31
9. Chapter 32-37
10. Chapter 38-40:5
11. Chapter 40:6-41
12. Chapter 42

Two helpful resources I used in this series were the commentary Job: The wisdom of the Cross, by Christopher Ash, and a bible study outline that gave helpful insights, and divisions, called Knowing the Bible: Job, a 12 week study, by Crossway.

Why not give Job a guernsey in an upcoming series? It will challenge and stretch you as a preacher.

Jim Mobbs