20141011 Saturday, October 11 2014
Job 02: What Was In The Heart Of Job's Tabernacle?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) commanded Moses (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Moses) to construct a Tabernacle (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Tabernacle) - a framework covered with animal skins. In the "heart" of the Tabernacle was placed the Law of the LORD (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Law Of The LORD) - the basis of genuine righteousness from which true good and evil can be determined. When the construction of the Tabernacle was completed, the Holy Spirit came and dwelt within it.

"40:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 40:3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail." (Exodus 40:1-3 KJV)

40:33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." (Exodus 40:33-35 KJV)

The Christian significance of the Tabernacle was stated in both the Old and New Testaments (see Written In The Heart Of Our Tabernacles and What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul?).

"30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul." (Deuteronomy 30:10 KJV)

"5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." (2 Corinthians 5:1-4 KJV)

Satan's first attacks were upon Job's family and property. Those provocations failed (see How Did The Devil Challenge Job To Commit A Satan?),

"2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

2:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou?

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2:1-3 KJV)

Satan then sought, and was allowed by the LORD, to challenge Job's righteous "heart" with a direct attack upon Job's "tabernacle." The result was a disfigurement that caused Job's wife to tell him to "curse God, and die" (see Blaspheming The Name Of God). Job's wife did not have the strength of righteousness of her husband, to which Job replied "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?."

"2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

In all this did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 2:4-10 KJV)

As we will cover in subsequent studies, the arrival of Job's three friends added to the trial, rather than relieved him of it.

"2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." (Job 2:11=13 KJV)

Fact Finder: Where is your tabernacle?
See Where Is Your Tabernacle?