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(Note: Unless otherwise noted, all references to the Testament of Job are from Pauly Hart and M.R. James, Testament Of Job In Modern English And Original Translation (Kindle Edition): Savannah, GA: University Press)
It is written:
Joshua 10:13-So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
Throughout the Bible, there are many uninspired books which are referenced to encourage the reader to study to better understand what is in the Bible. One obvious example of this is how Joshua makes reference to the book of Jasher. Indeed, there are many other examples which could be cited (e.g., First Enoch, Jubilees, the Assumption Of Moses, the Life of Adam and Eve, Second Maccabees, etc.).
One such book that appears to have been referenced by both Jesus and Paul is a book known as the Testament Of Job.
Luke 16:22-So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Testament Of Job 5:10-I saw with my own eyes my dead children were carried by angels to the heavens.
The Apostle Paul references this book in 1 Corinthians 13 when he speaks of the “tongues of angels” which is found in the Testament Of Job (Testament Of Job 11).
Let’s notice a couple of important lessons from this book.
The Children Of Job
I believe that one of the things which encouraged Job with all the trials that he endured was the knowledge that he would be with his sons and daughters again in Sheol.
Job 30:23-For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.
Notice how this is variously translated:
Job 30:23 (GW)-I know you will lead me to death, to the dwelling place appointed for all living beings.
Job 30:23 (BBE)-For I am certain that you will send me back to death, and to the meeting-place ordered for all living.
The word translated “house” (NKJV), “dwelling place” (GW), and “meeting-place” (BBE) is a reference to where family meet and fellowship together. This is Job’s declaration that he is going to be with his children again one day, just like David later considered and found comfort in (2 Samuel 12:23).
The Testament of Job tells the story of his suffering, being shared with the children he fathered after his tragedies in the Book of Job. In two passages, we are told:
Testament Of Job 5:1-10-“1 Satan saw that he could not put me to shame. So he went and asked Yahuah permission to inflict plague on my body, for the Evil one could not bear my patience. 2 Then Yahuah delivered me into his hands to use my body as he wanted, but he gave him no power over my soul. 3 And he came to me as I was sitting on my throne still mourning over my children. 4 And he resembled a great hurricane and turned over my throne and threw me on the ground. 5 I continued lying on the floor for three hours. Then he smote me with a hard plague from the top of my head to the toes of my feet. 6 And I left the city in great distress and sadness came and sat down upon a dunghill. My body was being eaten by maggots. 7 And I wet the earth with the water from my sore body, for my flesh flowed off my body, and many worms covered it. 8 When a single worm crept off my body, I put it back. “Remain on the spot where you have been placed until He who hath sent you will order you to go somewhere else.” 9 In this way, I survived for seven years, sitting on a dung-hill outside of the city while being covered with a plague. 10 I saw with my own eyes my dead children were carried by angels to the heavens.”
Again:
Testament Of Job 9:4-15-4 She said to Eliphaz: “I ask as favor of you, my lords, tell your soldiers to dig in the ruins of our house. There they will find my children. Get them so that we can bury them. 5 Because right now, because we are so abused, we have no energy to do it. The least you could do is help me see their bones. 6 I feel like a wild beast! Like the mother of a wild beasts. And that my ten children died and I couldn’t even give them a decent burial.” 7 Then the kings gave order that the ruins of my house should be dug up. But I stopped them and said: 8 ‘‘Don’t go through the trouble! My children will not be found. They are in the presence of their Maker and Ruler.” 9 But then the kings answered themselves: “Now who will deny that he is out of his mind and is babbling? 10 We want to bring the bones of his children back, but he stops us! He says: ‘They have been taken and placed the keeping of their Maker.’ Prove it!” 11 So I said: “Help me up so I can stand!” And they lifted me, holding up my arms from both sides. 12 And I stood up and before doing anything, I praised Elohim. After the prayer I said to them: ‘‘Look with your eyes to the East!” 13 And they looked and saw my children with crowns near the glory of the King, the Ruler of heaven. 14 When my wife Sitis saw it, she fell to the ground and bowed before Elohim, saying: ‘‘Now I know that Yahuah remembers me.” 15 After she spoke, it was evening, she left us and went to the city, back to the master who she served as slave. She lay herself down in front of the cow manger and died of exhaustion.”
God comforted Job and his first wife (Sitis) with the knowledge that their children were being cared for and protected by Him.
I love that Sitis says, “Now I know that Yahuah remembers me.”
Very often, I have heard people “look down” on Job’s wife because she told him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). But as misguided as that statement of hers was, we must remember that she had also lost everything. All of her children had died, she had lost all of her livelihood, and on top of that she was seeing her husband in horrible agony day after day. What’s more, she likely had also believed that God was responsible for their suffering.
We must remember to be kind toward those who are suffering.
Job said:
Job 6:14-To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
With that in mind, could it be here at this point that her faith in the Lord and His goodness has been restored?
I don’t know what it is like to lose children to death, since I don’t have children. However, I do know the pain of losing loved ones. What a comfort to know that those who die in the Lord are with Him, and that we will be reunited one Day!
2 Corinthians 5:6-8-So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Tricks Of Satan
Throughout the Testament of Job, we see many examples of how Satan works in the world.
Satan:
Works Through Idolatry And False Religion (Testament Of Job 1:11-12);
Wages War (Testament Of Job 1:19);
Takes Away People’s Possessions (Testament Of Job 1:20);
Kills People’s Family (Testament Of Job 1:21);
Inflicts Pain And Sickness (Testament Of Job 1:21-22);
Shapeshifts Into Human Form (Testament Of Job 2:4-15; 5:14-18);
Inflicts False Guilt (Testament Of Job 5:19);
Does What He Can To Humiliate, Degrad, And Mutilate People (Testament Of Job 5:20-23);
Arouse Feelings Of Anxiety (Testament Of Job 5:24);
Speak And Work Through Sincere But Misguided People (Testament Of Job 10:7);
What powerful commentary this provides us about the work of Satan in the world of man! The spiritual war that the Bible speaks of and warns us about still rages on, and we need to make sure that we are aware of Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 11).
We Win
Of course, one of the most valuable lessons we learn from the Testament Of Job is that in the end, God and His people are triumphant!
Testament Of Job 12:5-10-“5 But after three days Job saw the holy angels come for his soul, and instantly he rose and took the cithara and gave it to his daughter Day (Yemima). 6 And to Kassia he gave a censer (with perfume = Kassia, and to Amalthea’s horn (= music) he gave a timbrel in order that they might bless the holy angels who came for his soul. 7 And they took these, and sang, and played on the psaltery and praised and glorified Elohim in the holy dialect. 8 And after this he came He who sitteth upon the great chariot and kissed Job, while his three daughters looked on, but the others saw it not. 9 And He took the soul of Job and He soared upward, taking her (the soul) by the arm and carrying her upon the chariot, and He went towards the East. 10 His body, however, was brought to the grave while the three daughters marched ahead, having put on their girdles and singing hymns in praise of Elohim.”
If we will persevere like Job did, we will win the victory also!
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.