Job Job – Part 5: “Why Good People Suffer”

Job 32:1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Job’s Suffering Job's suffering seems to come out of nowhere and have no connection to his character. Satan believed selfishness prompted Job's obedience rather than love.

Job’s Suffering Cynicism is the essence of the satanic. Satan believes nothing to be genuinely good

Curse God His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"- Job 2:9

Curse God The Hebrew word translated “curse” is “beren” which can mean “to break or bend the knee in worship,” or “to break away from”.

Curse God He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" – Job 2:10

Job’s Suffering The irony of the speeches is that Job’s friends are wrong but they argue their case well.

Job’s Suffering Job, on the other hand, is right (he is not being punished) but he argues it poorly becoming indignant with everyone, including God.

Job’s Suffering Elihu suggests a category that no one has considered: the suffering of the righteous could have a good purpose.

Who is Elihu? But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.

Who is Elihu? He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

Who is Elihu? Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. - Job 32:2-5

Who is Elihu? He is younger than the other three men (32:6) He has waited all this time to speak (32:11)

Who is Elihu? He has some anger management issues. (32:2- 5) His anger was deep seated (v.5)

Who is Elihu? Sometimes the anger we have related to suffering is a response to our inability to resolve or control suffering.

Who is Elihu? He is arrogant. I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion. For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.

Who is Elihu? He is arrogant. Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer” - Job 32:17-20

Who is Elihu? After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. – Job 42:7

Elihu’s words are helpful for doing two things: 1. Pointing Job back to the “who?” question (ch ) All helpful counsel begins with God’s sovereignty – not our situation!

Elihu’s words are helpful for doing two things: 2. Introducing a different reason for suffering: God has things to teach people that they can only learn through pain.

Elihu’s words are helpful for doing two things: "Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding” - Job 36:5

Elihu’s words are helpful for doing two things: “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity” - Job 36:15

Elihu’s words are helpful for doing two things: ”Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?” “Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?” - Job 36:22-24

What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Job’s life "But you have said in my hearing—I heard the very words- 'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.

What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Job’s life Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.

What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Job’s life He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Job’s life "But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man.

What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Job’s life Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? - Job 33:8-13

What Does He Say? He helps us see that “righteous” doesn’t mean “sinless” “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” – Job 1:1

What Does He Say? He helps us see that “righteous” doesn’t mean “sinless” In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,

What Does He Say? He helps us see that “righteous” doesn’t mean “sinless” he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

What Does He Say? He helps us see that “righteous” doesn’t mean “sinless” to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword - Job 33:15-18

What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones,

What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline so that his very being finds food repulsive and his soul loathes the choicest meal.

What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his bones, once hidden, now stick out. - Job 33:19-21

What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline God does all these things to a man—twice, even three times- to turn back his soul from the pit,

What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline that the light of life may shine on him. - Job 33:29-30

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator "Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, to be gracious to him and say,

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator 'Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him'-

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator then his flesh is renewed like a child's; it is restored as in the days of his youth.

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy;

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator he is restored by God to his righteous state. Then he comes to men and says,

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.

What Does He Say? He links loving discipline to a gracious mediator He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.' – Job 33:23-28

Bottom Line: A Jesus-centered response to suffering recognizes there is often a divine purpose for suffering.