Studies In Job

Many believe that the book of Job addresses the question “Why do the righteous suffer?” I do not agree. Dr. John Walton says, “The book is more about what constitutes righteousness than about why we suffer.” Tim Mackie with the Bible Project says that, “…we assume that…[Job] is going to answer that question… But as you read on, the book doesn’t answer that question. Nothing in the book ever answers that question.” Even, Dr. Thomas Constable, who holds the view that Job is about answering this questions says, “We are never really given a direct answer to this perplexing question other then – God is sovereign.” In his book, Authentic Faith, Randy Alcorn rightly says that, “suffering is inevitable in this world. The question is not whether we’ll suffer, but…how we’ll respond to suffering. “ We really do not need the answer to this question anyway. The most satisfying answer for the faithful heart. God knows all, sees all, controls all.  And since we know that He works, “all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28), we can be sure that He has our best interest at heart no matter the circumstances. In the end of the book, God reminds Job of His power and knowledge when He asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:4). John tells us that, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). But God did not simply start the ball rolling and walk away. The Spirit, speaking through Paul says that, “by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Col 1:16-17). God, in Christ, is the sustainer of creation. He preserves and maintains the existence of what He has created.1The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable. Colossians 1:17 “A God who is before all things, beyond all things, creates all things, upholds all things, knows all things, and can do all things is also in control of all things. This complete control of all things is called the sovereignty of God. As the westminster Confession of Faith puts it, ‘God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will freely, and unchangeably ordain whatever comes to pass.’ Nothing catches God by surprise. All things come to pass as He ordained them from all eternity.”2Norman Geisler. Chosen But Free. ISBN 0-7642-2521-9. pgs. 14-15 “That which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.” 3Jerry Bridges, Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts This is the lesson and conclusion of book of Job. It a lesson that can truly only be learned by experience. Only by experience can we know if what we understand with our minds has embedded itself into our hearts so that we can reckon, with Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

Commentator, Dr. Thomas Constable, quotes Greg W. Parsons to provide this list of practical lessons from the Book of Job:

  1. God is in control even when He appears not to be.
  2. The good will of God includes suffering.
  3. Bad things happen to good people sometimes because God allows Satan to test them so they will grow, not because God seduces them to do evil (cf. Jam_1:13).
  4. God is just in spite of appearances.
  5. Whatever God does is right because He does it.
  6. We can and should worship God even when we are suffering.
  7. We can trust God even when we have no explanation for what is happening to us.
  8. It is futile and foolish to criticize God or to challenge Him.
  9. We create problems for ourselves when we put God in a box.
  10. When we feel anxious, we should seek to get to know God better by consulting His special revelation, the Bible.4Note: Greg W. Parsons, “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Job,” Bibliotheca Sacra 151:604 (October-December 1994):393-413, suggested four hermeneutical and four homiletical guidelines to encourage the teaching and preaching of Job. quoted by The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable, Introduction to the book of Job

The Life Application Study Bible (LASB) provides this high level outline:

    1. JOB IS TESTED (1:1—2:13)
    2. THREE FRIENDS ANSWER JOB (3:1—31:40)
      1. The first cycle of speeches between Job and his three friends chs. 4-14
      2. The second cycle of speeches between Job and his three friends chs. 15-21
      3. The third cycle of speeches between Job and his three friends chs. 22-27
    3. A YOUNG MAN ANSWERS JOB (32:1—37:24)
    4. GOD ANSWERS JOB (38:1—41:34)
    5. JOB IS RESTORED (42:1-17)

“In conclusion, the book of Job teaches that a person may serve God faithfully, whether his circumstances are bleak or filled with promise, for he has the assurance that God is for him, seeking his ultimate good. A person can triumph over suffering through faith in God.” 5 The Book of Job, John E. Hartley. pg. 50. ISBN-10: 0802825281

 

“If you believe that God overrules all things for good, and only permits apparently evil happenings for good and the achievement of great ends unbeknown to you, then all is well. All is well because you believe in the sovereignty of God.” ~ Henry Thomas Hamblin

References[+]

This website uses the awesome plugin.