有一个人名叫约伯
约伯记一章1至5节
1乌斯地有一个人，名叫约伯。那人完全正直，敬畏神，远离恶事。
2他生了七个儿子，三个女儿。
3他的家产有七千羊，三千骆驼，五百对牛，五百母驴，并有许多仆婢。这人在东方人中就为至大。
4他的儿子按着日子，各在自己家里设摆筵宴，就打发人去请了他们的三个姐妹来，与他们一同吃喝。
5筵宴的日子过了，约伯打发人去叫他们自洁。他清早起来，按着他们众人的数目献燔祭；因为他说：“恐怕我儿子犯了罪，心中弃掉神。”约伯常常这样行。
信息分享
约伯记曾经被誉为「超越古今的最伟大的诗篇」、「有书以来的最重要的著作之一」，以及「相比较圣经中更壮丽和庄严的书卷」。
我们对约伯记其实所知不多。乌斯地在哪儿？约伯究竟是哪个时代的人物？是在亚伯拉罕之前吗？这卷书是谁写的？何时成书？
约伯是一个历史人物，这点已无容置疑。以西结（结十四14）和雅各（雅五11）都曾提到他。他显然很富有，「在东方人中就为至大。」（伯一3）他拥有丰富的田产；而最重要的是，他敬畏神和爱护家人。经文称他「完全正直」，换言之，他的生命「完全且平衡」；他更不断远离所有的恶事。
约伯很爱家人。他有七个儿子和三个女儿；一家人似乎经常一起欢宴，或许是轮流庆祝各人的生日。这是一幅多么和谐快乐的家庭生活写照。
约伯知道自己的儿女随时可能会犯罪，于是，常常把他们带到神面前，又为家人和自己献上燔祭。
这样一个真诚信靠神的人，也为神所知。故事便是由此开始。肉眼看不见的神秘面纱被揭起，我们听见神在撒但面前称赞约伯是个正直的人。结果，约伯经历了一段漫长的试炼，最终却怀着一种新的谦卑，降服在神的面前。这是一个发人深省和非常动人的故事。
我们将会在接下来的一两周对本书作一概览，但不会看到所有细节，期望我们能借此一同得福。
‘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!