Materials
The
Mystery of Suffering
Job 1 - 42
Ronald
Tyler, PhD, Religion, Pepperdine Univ.
Prayer
When we speak of suffering we are on common ground for we have
all suffered. It comes in different ways: bereavement, physical pain,
extended illness, disappointed love, financial struggle, educational
failure, sorrow over loved ones, troubles from others, waiting for
a chance and it never comes, the future, and all those inner yearnings
often known only to you.
Now think about all the common “answers” that come
your way and look at them beside real life. How do they look? Not
so good. The book of Job exists to expose those traditional “answers”
and show them for what they really are. This is one of those places
where the study of a book in terms of what it meant in its day turns
out to be the same message in our day.
Job 1 shows him as a fine and godly man in all ways. Then Job is struck
down with many diseases and he cannot die. He cries out why.
Look at his Suffering. The author has set up the most terrible
situation. One so tragic that “answers” are seen for what
they are. Job 3:11 — “Why did I not die at birth, come
forth from the womb and expire.” He wants to die and cannot
and even if he could, it would not solve his questionings. Job 3:20
--- “Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to
the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not… Job
3:26 --- “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest,
but trouble comes.”
Then his three friends come to visit and seek to answer his question.
They gave Job their answers and Job did not accept any of them. Let
us look at them.
1. This is God’s will. Job wants to know why God’s
will for me…why not for you three? We really don’t know
the truth or falsehood in this. Some truth here since God is always
working His will.
2. This is God punishing you for sin. Job wants to know how
you know this. Life doesn’t seem to work this way. Sometimes
the most evil person around never even has a cold! It may be true
at times but is not an “answer” to innocent suffering.
3. This is God developing your character. Again, how do we
know? Many people’s character is not improved by suffering but
makes them more bitter against life and God. Job is concerned
that his family, wife, children are all killed to improve his character!!
4. This is God teaching you to help others. Some truth in this:
“All my sympathies are echoes. I feel for another only
that which I have first felt myself.” (George Matheson).
But…we have all seen people come through suffering and it did
not help them with others.
Enough of this—there is some truth in these but they are not
“answers.” They fail to ultimately help for two reasons:
(1) they are rationally inadequate as half-answers and raise more
problems than they answer, and (2) they are too objective coming from
outside the actual experience. Job said to them, “I also
could speak as you do, if you were in my place.”
Job reflects on his life and if his friends are right that God is
behind his sufferings; certain problems arise:
1. It is an unmatched contest!
2. God seems indifferent to suffering.
3. God even seems to favor the wicked. “The tents of
robbers are at peace, while I who am righteous am in tragedy.
4. The sheer irrationality of his plight. “Let me know
why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to despise the
work of your own hands, O God? Your hands fashioned and made me and
now you turn about and destroy me” (Job 10:8).
It all seems so pointless to Job. “Worthless physicians are
you all. Oh that you would keep silent and that silence would be your
wisdom. Your maxims are maxims of ashes and defenses are defenses
of clay.” (Job 13:12).
5. He knew the suffering of unanswered prayers. “I cry
and you do not answer me. I stand but you do not heed me.” (Job
30:20).
It is striking when God answers from a whirlwind. (Job 38:1 - 42:6).
He does not raise one of the questions they have been debating!!
God simply asks them a series of questions they cannot answer.
Job was wrong for wanting an answer. The friends were wrong for thinking
they had the answers. And all through the story (wisdom’s masterpiece),
we are giving our responses as well!!
At the end of the book, Job has more children, land, wealth, etc.
but that is no answer. (Job 42). You don’t replace children
and wives like that!
Is that where the book leaves us? NO. It goes to it's length
to shatter all our answers and pious attempts at answers. And Why?
To raise us to a higher level from which to view life - which is see
the real problem. Near the end of Job, God speaks and He never addresses
any of the things said in the long discussions!! Once Job sees his
life in light of the mystery of God Himself, Job discovers that he
no longer needs an “answer.” “I have heard
of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see thee; therefore,
I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5,6).
A minister told a woman that when she died and was on the other side
that God would explain it all to her. Her reply, after years of suffering,
was “He won’t need to.” She had reached the point
when “answers” were irrelevant. She believed in God and
that was better than any answer.
What do we take into our lives from this book?
1. We tell the truth.
2. We never give “answers.”
3. When we find ourselves caught up in innocent suffering, remember
these six words from Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“He spared not His own Son.” (Romans 8:32)
Prayer
February 12, 2006
» Back to
top |
Bulletin
Class Materials
Resources
Sermons
Spiritual Life
 |
