FHBC Sermon Notes

Job 1:1-2:10 - Two truths from Job on suffering.

This week the Harpers are out sick and the Lehman's with the loss of a grandmother.

1) Job did not deserve his suffering.

He was blameless and upright. The term for blameless is used for Noah and Abraham as well as the sacrifices given. He turned away from evil.

In 1:8 God affirms this himself, and in 2:3 reaffirms this even aftere the disaster.

Satan's reasoning is an attack against God himself. He is essentially claiming that God is only loved because he bribes his servants.

Job clearly believes he is also blameless. This is the meat of book as his friends accuse him of sinning. I.e. Job 9:17, 10:5-7. In the end God vindicates Job on this account. Chapter 40:8

So what is the point here? We often say that all have sinned, so therefore deserve judgement. However, if we apply this to Job here, then we are essentially making the argument is friends did.

So why did Job suffer if it wasn't judgement?

There are other reasons. In a sense this is a warning that we need not claim the reason when we have no idea why.

2) God is ultimately responsible for Job's suffering.

Job attributes his suffering to God. Job 1:20-21 He attributes it not to the raiders, or Satan, or the weather. All is the hand of God. Satan is so irrelevant to the matter, than after chapter his is not mentioned again. Job turned from evil, yet attributes the evil brought upon him from God.

Satan cannot do anything with God. Ch 42:11 Chapter 2:3 Here God takes responsibility for the suffering. Job is brought to Satan (the roaring lion, ready to devour) attention by God himself.

We try and get God off the hook for being responsible for suffering. Yet, God does not do move away from this. See Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:37-38, Amos 3:6.

Others are also responsible. Satan also is responsible. More than one can be responsible.

Consider Isaiah 65, the suffering servant. Acts 4:23-29 The most evil of acts was the crucifixion of Jesus, God's son. This was not God allowing this to happen, it was God's will from the beginning that this would take place.

So how is God not sinning in allowing it to happen. Perhaps because only he can make a way for redemption. He is responsible for our suffering, but he redeems us and works it all for our good.

So how do we help our friends who suffer greatly.

• We sit, wait, and be there. when we re asked.
• We proclaim that God is sovereign.
• We can show that God is
• We can show that God is good.
• We show that we must continue to do good. James 5:11 Genesis
• We must say, that we do not have all the answers.
• Ultimatley, point them to the suffering servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, our savior and redemption.