2nd October 2025

2nd October 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 1v13-2v8)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Satan's attack on Job was swift and brutal. A messenger brought news to Job that people by the name of the "Sabeans" killed Job's servants and stole his oxen and donkeys (Job 1v14-15). This awful news was followed by another messenger describing how lightning had destroyed Job's sheep and other servants (Job 1v16) and if this weren't enough a third messenger told how a great wind had blown down the house of Job's son killing all of his ten children (Job 1v18-19).


After another heavenly interaction (Job 2v1-6), the Lord gave Satan permission to direct his attack on Job physically whilst sparing his life (Job 2v6). This time the Devil caused rotten sores to break out all over Job's body resulting in Job scraping himself with broken pottery in order to get some relief (Job 2v8).


Job had lost everything at the hand of Satan and if we could see him sitting in the ashes he would no doubt strike us as a pitiful figure, bloody and broken as a result of the roaring lion's (1 Peter 5v8) attack. The temptation here is to read Job's story at a great distance and overlook the suffering that he was having to endure. As I have studied Job I have done my best to put myself in his place. Imagine the loss of everything we hold dear and for reasons that we cannot possibly understand - how would any of us cope under the weight of such a blow?


Job's response was utterly remarkable. We are told twice that he did not sin (Job 1v22 & 2v10), he did not suggest that God had done anything wrong and he fell on the ground worshipping God with the cry “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1v21). I have lost count of how many times I have heard this verse quoted at funerals. It is entirely appropriate for a funeral, it is absolutely true and yet sometimes in the deep waters of sorrow these words don't come easily.


I'm not going to pretend for a second that my faith is as strong as that of Job but I pray that the Lord would strengthen me for the day of trial. Satan was convinced that Job would crumble under his attack and curse God. Instead Job fell face down and gave praise to his Saviour. I can't help think too of Joseph who told his fearful brothers “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50v19-20).


I struggle to understand the heavenly interactions between God and Satan and I fail to trust God's providence on a regular basis. But I know He is good, I know He is for me and I know that no evil or storm can pluck me from His hand. Even so, I am often like the father who cried to Jesus “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9v24). Thanks be to God for a gracious Gospel which is for weak kneed sinners like me. “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q89 How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.
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