Reasons for Righteous Suffering - Job 33
Job • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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This Friday, I went to work at my day job. I went into a lumberyard that I’ve been to thousands of times over the last 10 years.
The man at the counter who runs the store is very familiar, to the point where interactions don’t begin with “Hi, how are you doing?” They just pick up where they left off the day before.
The last couple times I’ve interacted with this gentlemen, the conversation has turned quite spiritual.
You see, he is very agnostic, and very frustrated. We’ve talked about the major religions, the spread of Christianity, the bad examples of false Christianity or evils that have borrowed the Christian name.
We’ve talked about life, existence, origins, and the value of finding answers for those things. But his eyes continually glaze over when conversations turn to meaning.
Quite plainly, in his own words, there is no meaning to all this. And while he sees the value in finding meaning in a creator who created with purpose and continues that purpose, he’s not convinced of it yet. Pray for him.
And that’s where Elihu is also chipping away in his monologue to Job and his friends. The idea of meaning.
Job and his friends aren’t agnostic, they fully believe in God. But they do share something with my friend from the lumber yard, the recent events of Job’s life seem meaningless.
Summary:
Job’s friends; you must be suffering for evil.
Job; I’ve done nothing wrong, this is all arbitrary.
If you’re a logical or thoughtful person, there is nothing more frustrating than arbitrariness.
But with God, is there really any arbitrariness? Is there anything that is just shooting from the hip?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Looking for God’s intention and meaning in the suffering of the righteous is a worthy endeavor. We may not come away with perfect understanding, but may we not remain hopeless.
Looking for God’s intention and meaning in the suffering of the righteous is a worthy endeavor. We may not come away with perfect understanding, but may we not remain hopeless.
1. Misunderstanding God’s Intention - vs. 8-18
1. Misunderstanding God’s Intention - vs. 8-18
a. To gain a listening ear
a. To gain a listening ear
b. To remove traces of pride
b. To remove traces of pride
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
c. To preserve life by learning
c. To preserve life by learning
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
2. Misunderstanding God’s Mercy - 19-33
2. Misunderstanding God’s Mercy - 19-33
a. Which restores joy
a. Which restores joy
having gained a listening ear...
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
b. Which restores righteousness
b. Which restores righteousness
Ps. 51
c. Which shines light
c. Which shines light
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Darkness of suffering cannot overcome the light of God’s mercy within it.