有一個人名叫約伯
約伯記一章1至5節
1烏斯地有一個人，名叫約伯。那人完全正直，敬畏神，遠離惡事。
2他生了七個兒子，三個女兒。
3他的家產有七千羊，三千駱駝，五百對牛，五百母驢，並有許多僕婢。這人在東方人中就為至大。
4他的兒子按著日子，各在自己家裡設擺筵宴，就打發人去請了他們的三個姐妹來，與他們一同吃喝。
5筵宴的日子過了，約伯打發人去叫他們自潔。他清早起來，按著他們眾人的數目獻燔祭；因為他說：“恐怕我兒子犯了罪，心中棄掉神。”約伯常常這樣行。
信息分享
約伯記曾經被譽為「超越古今的最偉大的詩篇」、「有書以來的最重要的著作之一」，以及「相比較聖經中更壯麗和莊嚴的書卷」。
我們對約伯記其實所知不多。烏斯地在哪兒？約伯究竟是哪個時代的人物？是在亞伯拉罕之前嗎？這卷書是誰寫的？何時成書？
約伯是一個歷史人物，這點已無容置疑。以西結（結十四14）和雅各（雅五11）都曾提到他。他顯然很富有，「在東方人中就為至大。」（伯一3）他擁有豐富的田產；而最重要的是，他敬畏神和愛護家人。經文稱他「完全正直」，換言之，他的生命「完全且平衡」；他更不斷遠離所有的惡事。
約伯很愛家人。他有七個兒子和三個女兒；一家人似乎經常一起歡宴，或許是輪流慶祝各人的生日。這是一幅多麼和諧快樂的家庭生活寫照。
約伯知道自己的兒女隨時可能會犯罪，於是，常常把他們帶到神面前，又為家人和自己獻上燔祭。
這樣一個真誠信靠神的人，也為神所知。故事便是由此開始。肉眼看不見的神秘面紗被揭起，我們聽見神在撒但面前稱讚約伯是個正直的人。結果，約伯經歷了一段漫長的試煉，最終卻懷著一種新的謙卑，降服在神的面前。這是一個發人深省和非常動人的故事。
我們將會在接下來的一兩周對本書作一概覽，但不會看到所有細節，期望我們能藉此一同得福。
‘A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS JOB’
Job 1: 1-5
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Message
This book has been variously described as “The greatest poem of ancient or modern times” (Lord Tennyson). “One of the greatest things ever written” (Carlyle). “It is more magnificent and sublime than any other book of Scripture” (Martin Luther).
There is much we don’t know. Where was the land of Uz? When exactly did Job live? Before Abraham? Who wrote this book? When?
Without a doubt, Job was an historical figure. He is referred to by Ezekiel (14:14) and by James (5:11). He was obviously enormously wealthy. “He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.” He had a huge mixed farm. Most of all he had a good relationship with God and with his family. The word “blameless” could be paraphrased as a “complete, well balanced man”. He turned away consistently from all that was wrong.
Job was a good family man. He had seven sons and three daughters. It seems the whole family had feasts together, probably on the birthday of each of the seven sons. What a wonderful picture of family life.
Job realised the possibility of sin in the lives of his children and would regularly bring them before God again and again. His burnt offerings were an expression of dedication on behalf of his family and himself.
What a wonderful, sincere man of God! God Himself recognised this and that is where the rest of the story begins. The veil of the unseen world is lifted and we hear God pointing out Job to Satan as a righteous person. The result is a prolonged testing time which finally ends in Job humbling himself in a new way before God. It is a remarkable, involved story.
We will take an overall look at the book but not at all the details over the next week or two. May it be a blessing to each of us as we do so!