Job is feeling…  Read Job 3:11-26 with a partner  What is he saying?  Why is he saying it?  Job Journal #2  Can you think back on a situation in which you or someone else you know might have been tempted to feel the way Job did?  What are some words that might describe how you felt?  What other words might have described how Job was feeling?

One WORD…

To WHOM does HOPE point? Isaiah 53 The Suffering Servant.

Jesus Suffering=Hope!  Isaiah 53: 4-7  Matthew 27:33-54  Luke 24:26,  Acts 2:23-24,  Philippians 2:5-11  Hebrews 2:9-11 & Hebrews 4:15

 Read “Where is My Hope” on p. 49 of textbook

Look up the Lyrics to Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, by Matt Redman. Review each line of lyrics and the chorus. 1) Is this praise song theologically accurate according to the whole counsel of scripture? 2) How can this song help believers? 3) How can a praise song be written from such a difficult narrative? 4) Let’s listen!

1.Read the story of a suffering Christian. (newspaper, online, magazine, etc.) 1.Write a short summary of h/h story 2.What is the biblical approach to helping this brother/sister in need? 3.How will you respond differently than Job’s friends? 4.Organize a prayer time in class for this persecuted Christian Homework due Monday…:

Suffering… (5 min.)  In “Team Talk” groups of 3-4, please share with each other about the suffering story that you researched over the weekend.  What is a biblical response to this person?  Please pray for those suffering or persecuted Christians, but also THANK GOD for his presence and for giving us HOPE.

Unit 3: Job and Ecclesiastes Lesson 3: Advice from Three Friends

Job’s friends 3 days to ponder…

Job’s friends spoke out strongly to a suffering friend.

Job’s friends: ① Came to offer advice, but added to Job’s suffering through their stinging words. ② Held fast to their belief in God’s justice. ③ Convinced that Job needed to “put away his sin” (11:13-14). ④ Too narrow and too absolute a view of God; believed good works bring blessings and evil deeds result in suffering.

Remember…ORTHODOXY of the day ① These men adhered to the “orthodoxy” of the day: good deeds=prosperity & sinning/disobedience=calamity/punishment ② Death: these ancient people had little, if any, concept of an afterlife; if justice was to be served, had to be done now. ③ Restoration: when a person turned back to God, He would restore them. ④ Job’s friends came to comfort him… REALLY!

The three friends…  Eliphaz  Bildad  Zophar

Now, do some research: ① Research the advice given to Job by his friends. ② Remember the friends did state some truths about God; they do make valid points about God. ③ Job’s friends missed the mark when they charged Job with sin. ④ Read the passages. ⑤ Write down the main points of that person’s argument. ⑥ When finished with each round, we will switch the groups around.

Now do some research…  P in your workbook, Section “A”  Divide class into three groups: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar  Read over the advice given by your character to Job  Record the main points of your character’s advice  Work with the members of your group; each person in the group should have the same information on their worksheets  When finished, one member from each group will form a new group of 3 and students will take turns “teaching” each other about the information gathered in their first group.  Make sense????

Section “A” p  When finished, one member from each group will form a new group of 3 and students will take turns “teaching” each other about the information gathered in their first group.

 The Theology of the “Friends” of Job :  In 4:7,8, Eliphaz expresses the true idea that those who plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, will reap the same (Cf. Gal. 6:7). The problem here is not in the principle expressed by Eliphaz, but in his application. He assumes that Job has wilfully done some awful, wicked thing, and that is what has brought him his trouble. He also assumes that God expresses his anger NOW.

 The Theology of the “Friends” of Job :  In 8:2-7, Bildad  If bad things happen to you, then you must have sinned.  Bildad assumes that all bad things are the result of sin, so Job’s trouble is the result of sin.

 The Theology of the “Friends” of Job :  In 11:13,14, Zophar  If evil is in your hand, put it far away.  He is correct about the need for repentance. His mistake is in making application to Job, because he denies that Job is clean, innocent, and pure.

 In 16:1-4, Job indicates that anybody can talk, anyone can attack. However, many need to learn the lesson, that talking, attacking does not mean that what is being said is true.  In 22:6-9, Job is falsely accused by Eliphaz by saying that Job has refused financial aid to those in need. He has not helped the hungry and needy, and he has abused widows and orphans. What a falsehood!

 The Theology of the “Friends” of Job :  In 19:23-29, we find one of the greatest affirmations of faith in the Bible. Job says, "I know that my redeemer lives...."

Closing…  Proverbs 17:17-”A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  Homework: Finish activity sheet Section “A” for your assigned friend (p )