Job: The Wisdom of the Cross

Life can be hard, and sometimes it seems like God doesn’t even care. When faced with difficult trials, many people have resonated with the book of Job—the story of a man who lost nearly everything, seemingly abandoned by God.

In this thorough and accessible commentary, Christopher Ash helps us glean encouragement from God’s Word by directing our attention to the final explanation and ultimate resolution of Job’s story: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Intended to equip pastors to preach Job’s important message, this commentary highlights God’s grace and wisdom in the midst of redemptive suffering.

Taking a staggeringly honest look at our broken world and the trials that we often face, Ash helps us see God’s sovereign purposes for adversity and the wonderful hope that Christians have in Christ.

Part of the Preaching the Word series.

“Christopher Ash writes beautifully—this book is a delight to read! But that isn’t its greatest strength. Nor is the fact that these pages are filled with nuanced and fresh exegetical insights. Christopher has succeeded in producing the richest, most moving, most deeply cross-centered and God-glorifying treatment of Job I have ever read. This book marries brilliant explanation with powerful gospel-driven application. It is simply a ‘must-have’ resource for anyone intending to preach through Job.”
J. Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College; author, Now Choose Life

“This is one of the finest Biblical commentaries I have had the privilege to read, and certainly the best I know on the wonderful but perplexing book of Job. Christopher Ash takes us into the depths of this book, taking no shortcuts. He guides us through the details, helping us to see the brilliance of the poetry and the profundity of the questions raised. More than this he helps us to see how the sufferings of Jesus shed brilliant light into the darkest corners of Job’s experience. In turn the book of Job deepens our understanding of Jesus’ blameless suffering, and the suffering and darkness experienced by those who share in the sufferings of Christ. This is a powerfully edifying exposition.”
John Woodhouse, Former Principal, Moore Theological College

“If like me, you have shied away from the book of Job, daunted by its structure and length, do not despair, help has arrived! Christopher Ash has performed a noble service by ‘bashing his head’ against the text and providing us with such a lucid, wonderfully helpful commentary. It is both mind-stretching and heart-warming as it reminds us that like the rest of the Bible, Job is ultimately a book about Jesus.”
Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Part 1: Job and What Happened to Him (1—3)

1. Welcome to a Well-Run World (1:1–5)
2. The Testing of Your Faith (1:6—2:10)
3. The Loneliness of Job (2:11–13)
4. Weep with Those Who Weep (3)

Part 2: Job and His Friends (4—31)

5. Introducing Job’s Comforters: What Not to Say to the Suffering Believer
6. Eliphaz’s First Speech: A Useless Sermon from a Kind Friend (4, 5)
7. Job’s First Reply to Eliphaz: The God-Forsaken Living Death (6, 7)
8. Bildad’s First Speech: The System at Its Simplest (8)
9. Job’s First Reply to Bildad: The Trouble-Maker Maker (9, 10)
10. Zophar’s First Speech: The Cruelty of the System (11)
11. Job’s First Reply to Zophar: A Longing for Resurrection (12—14)
12. Eliphaz’s Second Speech: On the Scandal of Redemptive Suffering (15)
13. Job’s Second Reply to Eliphaz: Drinking the Cup of God’s Wrath (16, 17)
14. Bildad’s Second Speech: The Road to Hell (18)
15. Job’s Second Reply to Bildad: Is God for Me or against Me? (19)
16. Zophar’s Second Speech: Another Portrait of Hell (20)
17. Job’s Second Reply to Zophar: The Good Life (21)
18. Eliphaz’s Third Speech: Repent and Prosper (22)
19. Job’s Third Reply to Eliphaz: Your Kingdom Come (23, 24)
20. Bildad’s Third Speech: A Mortal Cannot Hope to Be Right with God (25)
21. Job’s Third Reply to Bildad: The Difference between Religion and Wisdom (26)
22. Job Begins to Sum Up: The Danger of Opposing the Gospel (27)
23. Why God Won’t Answer My Question (28)
24. The Longing: A Nostalgia for Paradise (29)
25. The Lament: The Stripping of Dignity (30)
26. Job’s Last Word (31)

Part 3: The Answers to Job (32:1—42:6)

27. Elihu and the Justice of God (32:1–5)
28. Elihu’s First Speech: The God Who Speaks (32:6—33:33)
29. Elihu’s Second Speech: Is God Fair? (34)
30. Elihu’s Third Speech: What’s the Point of Being Good? (35)
31. 31 Elihu’s Fourth Speech: Cosmic Grandeur and Cosmic Justice (36, 37)
32. 32 The Lord’s First Speech, Part 1: What Wonderful Knowledge (38:1–38)
33. 33 The Lord’s First Speech, Part 2: Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw? (38:39—40:5)
34. 34 The Lord’s Second Speech: Terrifying Evil (40:6—42:6)

Epilogue: The End Comes at the End (42:7–17)
Conclusion: So What Is the Book of Job All About?