Let us turn to our continued study of the book of Job. Since we have shared with you that this particular portion of God's Word is a poem, it is written in poetic form Unlike the kind of poetry that we're familiar with. Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow. Everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. We don't have in the Hebrew language, in the Old Testament poetry, rhyme. We have different forms of poetry. This particular This portion of God's Word is set forth in drama. It is a three-act drama. It is set forth in this drama prose and poetry. But the whole message of this particular portion of God's Word is a message set in dramatic form for us to know the very character of our God. It is true that it has for a theme suffering. No one in recorded history suffered like this man Joe. We know, of course, our Savior suffered in human form uniquely, burying in His own body our sins on the tree. Suffering the wrath of God, the judgment of God, not justly in the sense that He was deserving, but He did it to satisfy justice in order that God's holiness and righteousness would be satisfied. But in the experience of humanity, this man Job goes through experiences unparalleled in the human experience. And yet, he goes through these experiences for us to know the character of God. We have seen in the opening verses of this first chapter the piety of this man. He was, as declared three times in these opening two chapters, a man who was perfect and upright and one that feared God and shunned evil. He was a man then that walked in accordance with the revealed truth of God. He worshipped God not only in his heart, but by his hands. He did what was pleasing to God. He was a man that was prosperous. God blessed him and gave him much wealth in the sense of cattle and land and servants. He was a man that was blessed of God by a posterity, seven sons and three daughters. And we have in this opening first act and the first scene as the curtain rises, this man Job in his home, Uz, showing forth His perfectness in the sense of being upright before God, surrounded by the blessings of God, His family, and His possessions. As the curtain has come up and the lights have illuminated for us this scene, practically displayed the piety that was in his heart by his interaction with all that God had provided for him. We are told that as the sons gathered at least once a year in celebration of probably each one's birthday, Job would Go before the Lord and present sacrifices in behalf of His children. He did this because he believed that possibly within their hearts, somehow in this time of rejoicing in all that they had, they might sin against God. It's very easy to do that. Job was sensitive in knowing that the abundance of God's blessing can bring about a carelessness, a failure to really honor God the way He should be honored. And so he, in behalf of his children, brought from his possessions, God had provided the animals that he had, burnt offerings. practically demonstrating his piousness, his being a man with a heart for God, demonstrated by what he did. And so it is that at the end of verse 5, we saw the lights dim. And this morning, the lights now come up. And we find ourselves in a different scene. The same first act. But now, rather than the emphasis on Job, his piety, his posterity and his prosperity, we are introduced to Job's protagonist. Verse six. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, From where comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one who feareth God and shunneth evil? And Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth Job fear God for nothing? Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon him put not forth by hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. The lights come up on the second scene of this drama. And the cast of characters now change. No longer do we have Job and his family. No longer are we on the earth, but we have been transported. We are now in heaven. And the cast of characters are identified as the sons of God, Satan, and the Lord himself. It's interesting that as we read from the English Bible, It almost seems that this was like some incident that just perchance took place. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them. But I want you to understand how the Hebrew language gives us an altogether look at this scene. What has happened here is that the Lord has called forth what obviously was and is a regular occurrence. The command of the Lord is such that these beings come before Him, the angelic beings. Now these angelic beings are compelled then to be in the presence of the Lord. The sons of God are there because God has commanded that to be. Satan is there, not as a casual observer, but as one under the sovereign rule of God. He has not slipped in. He has responded to the command of the Lord. That's why he is there. That's why this host of angelic beings is there. God has called them forth. We have an expression that we find only one other place in the scriptures about these angelic beings that are there. The expression is the sons of God. Now, we've had on at least one other occasion here, and in our time of gathering socially, an acquaintance of ours. who is a man with quite a good mind. In fact, he's a member of MENSA. Some of you may know what that is all about. It's an organization that if Dallas UNI combined RIQ, one of us could get in. And I remember Frank and I talking one time and he asked a question about the Bible. And it's always interesting to me when people are willing to ask about the scriptures. It's usually a matter of defense, wanting to put you on the defensive. rather than really asking a question for enlightenment. I'm not questioning his heart in this, but it was quite interesting to me that of almost all of the Scriptures that one could ask a question about, this very bright man said, who were those sons of God mentioned in Genesis chapter 6? I want to say something to you. No more difficult passage description to explain than Genesis chapter six. It does not, with clarity, give to us a full grasp of these who are identified by this term, sons of God. And we're not going to take time going into all the suggestions, but Very simply, it could be that these were fallen angels that took to themselves wives and brought about a race of giants. Wicked men. It could be that the reference there is maybe just too evil against good. The line of Seth, the good line, being infiltrated by the line of Cain to destroy the possibility of Redeemer coming through the line of faith. Well, there are questions and suggestions made, but I always thought it was interesting that the one question that this man wanted answered was a question that is very difficult to answer, as there are many in the Scriptures apart from childlike faith. We want answers. We want to know why. That brings us right back, of course, to our drama here. There's going to be questions asked. There's going to be this incessant, natural instinct of man to want to know. See the tree in the midst of the garden? The tree of the knowledge of good and evil? If you partake of that tree, you'll know you'll be like God. And ever since the garden, that's the issue for these sons of God. The same phrase is used, but I think here we can simply, in its context, identify these sons of God as angelic beings. Whether they be angels that have lost their first estate, I would think not, because we know that those angels that have lost their first estate, who followed in rebellion with Lucifer, have been bound. They, in fact, are bound at this point in time to do anything apart from wait judgment. We do know that there are demons in this world. The Scriptures speak about demons. Jesus had much to say and to do about demons. They seem to be limited in their activity of evil and wickedness. They are obviously under the control of the evil one, the wicked one, Satan, as we're going to see in a moment. They would seem in their activity on the earth seem to need a body in which to perform. And so sometimes they possess humans and sometimes beasts. We have that recorded for us in the Gospels. There are demons, some of which active in evil on this earth, some of which who are bound awaiting judgment. It's not our time this morning to go into all of the details concerning demon activity. I will say this to you because I know the immediate question comes up, it would seem to me by way of the scripture that the demons can only possess and control those that are open to their evil, a heart that is unregenerate, the individual who is not possessed by God's own spirit. But here we have the calling forth of these sons of God. They are angelic beings. We know that the angels that God has made that did not follow Lucifer and rebellion are before the throne, worshipping Him. They also have been given responsibility, some of which have the responsibility of caring for you and for me. How they do that, I do not know. I know that some of them are observing what is going on. All of the angels are learning from us and from our experience. The Scriptures teach me that. They are powerful. Extremely powerful. More powerful than we mere humans. And yet, they are not God. They are not omnipresent everywhere. They are limited because they are created beings under and performing within the perfect, sovereign plan of God. And it's interesting to go through the Scriptures and see how they are being used by our God. On this occasion, the second scene of the drama of Job allows us of these angelic beings who have been called into the presence of their Creator. And there is one there who is singled out. He is identified by name Satan. Or over to Revelation for just a moment, chapter 12. I've shared with you that the book of Job may very well be the earliest of all scriptures that we have. Certainly it would be a drama that is one that was unfolding probably during the patriarchal time, sometime around Abraham's life, maybe before him, or possibly in the lifetime of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don't know. We've given you suggestions why we believe this. But in this earliest of scriptures, we have this man, this character, Satan, set forth. In the book of the Revelation, we have the Scriptures concerning his character and his ultimate demise. And so, from the Scriptures, we have the whole spectrum about this one Satan. This morning, let's just say a few things that will help us understand this protagonist, this accuser, this deceiver, this one, who under the sovereign hand of God is going to be used in this drama, in this real drama, to allow us to understand more of the character of our sovereign God. In chapter 12, the book of the Revelation, this chapter focusing on the last days and the ultimate climax of Christ's return and establishing His kingdom on earth and eventually His eternal kingdom, We have mention of warfare that is going on in chapter 12 and verse 7. And there was a war in heaven. This is at the end of time. We had a war going on, a rebellion that went on, recorded for us in Isaiah, the prophet, before heaven and earth were made. Or at the time when he was able to be cast down to this creation of the earth. But here we have at the end of God's plan, a war going on. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon fought, and his angels, his messengers, his servants, had prevailed not. Neither was there a place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now has come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His anointed Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore, rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them, you angelic beings, you who have been redeemed as well, woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." In the plan of Almighty God, Satan, who from the very beginning created being Lucifer, the highest of angelic beings, who led a personal rebellion that brought forth a following of many angelic beings, a rebellion that was none other than a desire, a willful act of desiring and determining to be God, like unto God. He was desirous of having His throne His person exalted to the place that belongs only to the great Creator, to Almighty God, the true and living God. And because of that rebellion cast down, because of that rebellion, those who followed with Him, those angelic beings, also cast down. What we see here in Revelation? A rebellion again, a warfare going on in the heavenlies. The last hurrah for Satan before the Lord returns. The amazing thing is that as he is cast down, there will be a great following. a great following, even of those who after having experienced the rule and reign of the true and the living God, will respond to Him. It goes beyond our comprehension. But He is identified. He is identified as the Dragon. He is identified as the Serpent. He is identified as the Accuser. He is identified as one who is accusing before the very throne of God the saints. Now, this isn't the last time. This is during the time of tribulation. This is during the time when He is desiring to have worship come to Him rather than the anointed of God. He has those who are his followers with him. The scriptures tell us that he is limited as to his being in one place or another. He is not omnipresent. He cannot be in heaven and on earth. When he is on earth, he is involved in controlling the evil that is being done while he was in heaven, accusing the saints. His work of evil and wickedness is still going on. There is a system in place because of his rebellion. We call it this world that appeals to the rebellion of man against God, feeds that rebellion. A world that basically provides all that man needs apart from God. A world that satisfies man apart from God. This world has a lot of attraction to it. It is the attraction that we naturally respond to. John tells us that the whole world, as he writes his epistle, 1 John, all of this world lies in the hand of the wicked one. Paul, in his writings under the direction of the Holy Spirit, says that this Satan, this evil one, has blinded the minds of those who have yet to believe that they might not respond to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul writes of this one who is the prince and power of the air, who is in fact the ruler of this world, under whom each one of us, before we believed unto salvation, were controlled to do his bidding, the bidding of rebellion against God. This one's Satan. This one's Satan, who the apostle Peter writes. Walketh about, roams about this earth, seeking whom he may devour. Peter knew first hand. Remember, Jesus said, Peter, I pray for you because Satan desires to sift you like wheat. You see, there is one making accusation, there is one active to bring about the destruction of all that Peter, in that last epistle, that first epistle, that last chapter, is writing from experience. He knew what it was to not only have God in flesh, Jesus prayed for him because of Satan's desire to assist him, but he knew what it was to go through the test and to fail and yet to have God, the Lord, restore him. And you say, well, you know, everybody else is going to fail you, but not me. And before the night's out, before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times. You'll deny you ever knew me. The natural man. In the new man Christ, we are subject to this world system We are subject to this evil one who has demonic activity going on. We though, I think, need to recognize that there's probably a lot bigger game in the sea. Because the evil one has already got something good working for him. It's our flesh. our natural tendency in Adam to rebel against God. And he's provided the mechanism under the sovereign plan of God. For all of this to be working out that he would trust would be for his glory, but it isn't. He cannot be all places at all times. But He does go after individuals at times. And here we have for us the drama of Satan, the protagonist. In the presence of the Lord, the Lord of glory, Yahweh, the true and the living God, He's challenging the very character of God by way of the reputation and the reason God is worshipped. The Lord said unto Satan, verse 7, back in Job, From where comest thou? He didn't ask the question because he didn't know. Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro in the earth and from walking about in it, seeking to devour. And the Lord said unto Satan, again in our English translation here, we lose something of the power of this statement. Our English translation seems again to suggest the casualness In the sense of, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man who feareth God and shunneth evil? By the way, in your going about, have you run across Job? No. No. Here's what the Lord said. Have you fixed your heart on him? Just like the Lord said, where did he come from? It wasn't for the purpose of learning where he had come from. He hears very clearly saying to Job, is your affection, have you fixed your heart on this one? Knowing that full right he had. Because the response is, yeah, but as much as I've tried, as much as he's been the object of my concern, you've protected him. Satan said to the Lord, does Job fear God for nothing? Hast thou not made a hedge about him? and about his prosperity, his posterity. Everything he is and has is because you've been good to him. The only reason he worships you is because he's benefited. Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But if you would just withhold that blessing, he'll curse you. He's only worshipping you for what he can get. That's infringing on the character of God. The only reason you're worth worshipping is because of what you give, because of what you do. Remember the temptation of Jesus? Satan. Bow down and worship me. I'll give you everything. I'll give you everything you seek. Bow down and worship me and I'll give you your heart's desire. that the world will know who you are. Worship me for what I can give you. That's the accusation here. The only reason he's worshiping is because of what he can get. This takes us back to antiquity, to the earliest days of man's involvement with his creator. But I share with you, it is the basic concern of what worship is all about. Why do we worship God? The confession of our heart has to so often be because of what we get. I couch it in the terms of thanking God for His grace. The core of the issue is going to be how much heart response do you have to God when His grace, His grace takes you through the trials and sufferings of life. We just came through the study of 2 Corinthians. The servant, the true servant's heart is one of submission through suffering. And so it is that Job is attacked. God is attacked. That the only reason you are receiving worship, you are being honored, is because You're giving. You're getting. Job's benefited. Take away all the benefits. Take away all the blessings. So, curse you. The Lord said unto Satan, All that he hath is in thy power. Only upon himself put not forth thy hand. And he went out licking his chops. This is going to work. This is going to work. First thing we need to remember is Satan was commanded to come into the presence of God. God's plan, the sovereign God is permitting this evil one to attack his servant. Nothing happens apart from the sovereign, perfect plan of God. Satan has no business of being apart from God permitting him to be. He created him! Why? Because I'm God. He is wicked! He desires to destroy. Why would you permit that? Because I am God. Light's dim. Scene 2 comes to a close. and the protagonist, the evil one, is about to perform what he believes will bring down the very character of God. Father, thank you again for these moments as we Continue our opening of your word. This drama, this real life drama that allows us to see into the very character of our God. To come away from the experiences that you have revealed through your servant Job. To come away from the experiences that you have revealed concerning Satan. To come away with a heart desires to respond to you in trust, in faith, not because we understand, but because as created beings Created beings redeemed by the blood of our God. Created beings indwelt by the very spirit of the true and the living God. We worship you. We bow down before you. We acknowledge not only with our heads and our hearts, but may it be, like Job, with our hands, an uprightness, a shunning of evil. Not for benefit, but because you are worthy. of our praise, for You are God. And we thank You, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.