Job (Holman Old Testament Commentary | HOTC)

by Dr. Steven J. Lawson

Publisher:

B&H

, 2005

ISBN: 9781430071549

(15)

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Overview

Hungry for a commentary on the book of Job that's easy to digest—so that you can be better equipped to teach this unique book of the Bible to others?

The 20-volume Holman Old Testament Commentary, respected among scholars, does just that—and this volume on Job does not disappoint. Authored by Dr. Steven L. Lawson and edited by Max Anders, it’s a commentary for anyone desperate for quality resources for teaching the Bible—teachers, pastors, and laypeople alike.

Job’s format focuses on teaching the principles of Scripture alongside relevant and contemporary application. A summary chapter on key themes introduces this volume, followed by individual sections on each chapter of Job—the main idea, supporting ideas, concluding thoughts, life application, a prayer, a chapter outline, and issues for discussion—making it organized and easy for all readers to follow and understand, no matter their theological background.

Includes sections that provide “In a Nutshell” summaries of the passages under discussion
Modern illustrations are specific with applications that tie directly to modern life
“Deeper Discoveries” take the reader into greater depths of study of particular words, phrases, and themes

Top Highlights

“From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.’ This was the devil’s main activity, wreaking havoc on the earth as a ‘roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Pet. 5:8). Never idle, Satan is always on the prowl as ‘the prince of this world’ (John 12:31), blinding minds (2 Cor. 4:4), stealing God’s Word (Matt. 13:19), opposing God’s work (1 Thess. 2:18), sowing tares (Matt. 13:37–40), tempting God’s people (1 Cor. 7:5), attacking God’s Word (Gen. 3:1), spreading false doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3), persecuting God’s church (Rev. 2:10), and deceiving the nations (Rev. 16:14).” (Pages 15–16)

“Job would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children. He was deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of his children. So he offered burnt offerings to God, dedicating each child to God in recognition of God’s ownership of their lives. Rather than holding his family with a clenched fist, Job offered them to God with an open hand.” (Page 15)

“Satan had already been trying to attack Job, but he could not touch him. This inability was due to a protective hedge of divine care built around him that prevented Satan’s advances from harming him.” (Page 16)

“In reality she had become the mouthpiece of the devil, parroting the exact words of Satan’s challenge to God (Job 1:11).” (Page 26)

“Moses has been suggested by many as a possible author of this book. This position is taken by Jewish tradition” (Page 6)

With in-depth commentary that’s easy to digest, new and seasoned Bible teachers alike will quickly find the Holman Old Testament Commentary on Job an invaluable and trusted resources for their digital bookshelf.

Author Dr. Steven Lawson opens each chapter with a quote by a respected scholar—like J. C. Ryle and D. L. Moody—to stimulate thinking, followed by an illuminating illustration and discussion to draw readers into the Word of God.

He then summarizes the entire chapter in one simple sentence to help readers grasp the overall theme of the chapter—like this one for Job 1: “Tragedy unexpectedly strikes the life of Job, the strongest believer, not in the form of chastening discipline but as an opportunity to worship God for who he is.” Each section within the chapter leads with a supporting idea, making it easy for readers to follow along and understand the main point of each section in Job.

Every chapter in the Job volume also includes concluding thoughts and a section on life application, prayer, a chapter outline, and issues for discussion. Readers looking to go a bit deeper can explore a section called “Deeper Discoveries.” For example, here's the description for “Uz” in Job 1:

Uz is in the area of northern Arabia, southeast of the Dead Sea. The territory was adjacent to Midian, where Moses lived for forty years before returning to Egypt. In Lamentations 4:21, Uz is equated with the territory of Edom. It was here that the city in which Job lived was located. Later in Job 29:7–8, the author notes that this city had a wall and gates. Thus, it was a city of considerable size with an organized defense.

This section also provides the meaning of Hebrew words prominent in the chapter, like this commentary on the word “upright”:

The word “upright” (Heb. yashar) literally means “straight.” W. E. Vine, a great etymologist, said of this word, “The basic meaning is the root meaning to be straight in the sense of to be level. The Israelites designated an easy road for traveling as a level road. When yashar pertains to people, it is best translated ‘just’ or ‘upright.’”

The end of every Holman Old Testament volume, Job included, features a glossary and a bibliography with suggested commentaries, as well as Hebrew tools.

Before unpacking the text of Job 1, the author presents background information important to understanding the book. For example, readers will learn answers to questions like:

Whether Job was a real person
Where Job lived
Why scholars are unsure of who the author of Job is
When Job was written
The literary style of Job

This introductory section also teaches readers about key figures in the book and how the book is structured. The author then posits why Job is such a distinctive piece of inspired literature. Job, for example, contains the longest place (four chapters) in the Bible where God himself speaks (Job 38–41)—but it also contains the longest place in the Bible where Satan speaks (Job 1–2). Readers learn Job may have been the first inspired book of Scripture written—that is, if Job or a contemporary wrote the book (another question answered in this section).

But most importantly, readers will learn the main theme undergirding the book of Job—humanity’s wrestling over tough questions: If God is all-loving and merciful, why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in life’s trials? Readers will glean from Lawson’s head-on address of theodicy in Job—the vindication of the justice of God considering man’s suffering, especially the suffering of the righteous and weather they will stand firm to the end and praise God amid tragedy or adversity.

Title: Job
Author: Dr. Steven J. Lawson
Series: Holman Old Testament Commentary
Publisher: B&H
Print Publication Date: 2005
Logos Release Date: 2020
Era: era:contemporary
Language: English
Resources: 1
Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
Subject: Bible › Commentaries
ISBNs: 9781430071549, 9780805494709, 9780805494815, 0805494707, 0805494812, 1430071540
Resource ID: LLS:WS_9E4669ECC01E4A23A51EEAC670DDEB82
Resource Type: Bible Commentary
Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-09T17:49:20Z

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile Alabama, having served as a pastor in Arkansas and Alabama for the past twenty-five years. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University (B.B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and Reformed Theological Seminary (D.Min.). Dr. Lawson is the author of numerous books. He is the author of two other volumes in the Holman Old Testament Commentary Series, Psalms 1-75 and Psalms 76-150. His books have been translated into various languages, including Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and the Indonesian language. Steve and his wife Anne have three sons, Andrew, James, and John, and a daughter, Grace Anne.