The Book of Job

The Question of the Ages—Why?

The Test of Integrity

Job 2:1-6 (NIV) – [1] On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. [2] And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” [3] Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” [4] “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. [5] But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” [6] The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

1. For integrity to be proven it must be tested.

2. The true test of integrity is not when it benefits you to have it, but when it costs you to keep it.

a. The fact that Job had not lost his integrity though he had lost everything else is the evidence of true integrity.

b. Incite (cuwth) means to entice, to mislead, to alure, to instigate.

1 Samuel 26:17-19 (NIV) – [17] Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” [18] And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? [19] Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has INCITED you against me, then may he accept an offering…”

1 Chronicles 21:1-2 (NIV) – [21] Satan rose up against Israel and INCITED David to take a census of Israel.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

3. One purpose of suffering is to learn patient endurance.

Revelation 14:9-12 (NIV) – [9] A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, [10] he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” [12] This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

4. Satan is out to prove that our integrity is based solely upon the good things God does for us.

5. The tests of life are evidence of God’s confidence in us to pass them.