Disfellowship Of Job

Dear Bro. Hemingray,

An article last month in The Tidings (May 2014: article #5 on Spiritual Discipline: p 184) troubled me somewhat, for it suggested that Job was “disfellowshipped”. It was said in the brother’s argument about “withdrawal from those whose walk has compromised the truth” without repentance.

The written record of Job, (probably written down by Moses when he fled Egypt to Midian), does not tell us that Job was disfellowshipped. In fact God praises Job for his integrity, and God challenges the “adversary”, a man, maybe Amalek, who obviously had not attended the ecclesia for some time and who just visited the ecclesia — for he was asked why HE, the adversary, was there!

We must not attribute to the “declared righteous” Job, (by God) who we know was not “sinless” — which amounts to is slandering his name — or we become just like Job’s friends to whom God said in Ch. 42 had not spoken RIGHT. The friends were the ones that needed to repent (also the adversary) they must go to Job and have him pray for THEM. The “Satan”, was probably an envious relative — that may have only attended to stir up trouble — or to cause Job to stumble. God al­lowed the trial to make a point, to not only prove that Job was righteous, but to vindicate God Almighty’s name as well. The adversary was challenging God — as if God didn’t know Job’s heart? We think this adversary very well could have been uncle Amalek, half-brother to Teman, Eliphaz’s father. We believe Amalek didn’t change, but perhaps the friends did. Job was restored.
Anonymous

Comment from Bro. David Jennings

Thank you for your comments about the fifth article on Scriptural Discipline. I believe that you may have misunderstood my reference to Job and the activities of the “Satan” in Job. It was never intended to imply that Job was disfellowshipped. In fact, it is quite clear that Job was an upright man. The intent of the reference was to demonstrate the way that God works with men and women in some cir­cumstances to bring them to a change of heart, or a better spiritual mind. In Job’s case, the adversity he faced was not brought upon him because of sin, but was nevertheless it was ultimately helpful to bring Job to a closer understanding of the Almighty and his position before Him.

When we read references about being delivered “unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh” in Corinthians, what is clear to us is that the LORD and his angels will work in the life of those who have had fellowship removed to bring them to a sound mind, a renewed commitment to their life in the Truth. The point made was that our LORD may indeed employ similar methods to bring about the conversion of one who is lost. Consider the prodigal son example for a moment. He too saw the loss of his wealth (and at the most inopportune time) and intense danger and dejection before he came to himself. What we do when we deliver one to Satan is to acknowledge that we put them in the care of the Lord. He will employ whatever is needed to crush pride and bring one to a sound mind.

I hope this explanation is helpful. God bless.