Making Sense out of Suffering

During the time of Martin Luther, people were caught in a situation where two entities were claiming to the the true church - the Roman Catholic church and the local churches we might call Protestant churches today

Luther noted 7 qualities that would differentiate the true church from counterfeit ones. These include:

The word

baptism

the lords supper

Discipline

biblical offices

worship

all of these seem to make sense.

then Luther included final quality that seems out of place - suffering.

Robert Godfrey comments on this seventh attribute this way regarding Luther’s view of suffering and the church.

“Seventh, the holy Christian people are externally recognized by the possession of the sacred cross. They must endure every misfortune and persecution, all kinds of trials and evil from the devil, the world, and the flesh.” Since the servant was not greater than the master, as Jesus had taught, the church would suffer in this world as it served Christ faithfully.”

(The Legacy of Luther)

It seems counterintuitive that suffering would mark the people of God. There are some people who come to faith assuming that life would get easy, that suffering would be a thing of the past. For the people of the OT and the early church, suffering was a part of their lives. They came by it honestly.

Review of Micah

confronting sin and injustice

promising exile

providing hope

While there is still a lot that the Israelites would go through, there is hope, but that hope would come through suffering. Micah provides some helpful truths about suffering. In some ways he’s helping us make sense of suffering.

He begins with…

The presence of our suffering (6-7)

Micah 4:6–7 ESV

In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.

It seems like there are three different categories of sufferers -

the lame,

the driven away (cast off),

the afflicted.

It’s difficult to discern whether these are three different categories of sufferers or three different views/perspectives of the same suffering. In either case, there are several different implications result from this kind of suffering.

The Lame

The lame seems to refer to some physical ailment or disability. Several commentators suggest that this may be a nod to Jacob’s night of wrestling with God in Genesis 32:22-32. Jacob challenged God or an angel of God and in the morning was injured in his hip and walked with a limp the rest of his life.

So, anticipating the future discipline that the people of Judah would receive, Micah addresses those who will be lame and likely addresses the nation as a whole - indicating that just as Jacob walked with a limp, so to the nation has it’s own limp, it’s own ailment, it’s own disability.

We, individually, may come by our physical ailments differently. Some are born with them. Some develop them through aging. Some acquire ailments through an accident - like a sports injury, car accident, or even a physical assault.

Corporately or collectively, we may have our own disabilities. Maybe it’s prejudices, maybe they are blindspots in ministry, maybe it’s the same stubbornness and idolatry that plagued Judah.

Micah seems to acknowledge the condition of the lame, disabled, injured. Additionally, Micah addresses...

The Driven Away (Cast off)

As we’ve discussed over the last few weeks, part of Micah’s purpose is to communicate regarding the coming judgment - which will take the form of being sent of into exile. They were physically driven away from the place that God had set aside for them. They were driven away from their homes. Some were even exiled from their families. This was an intentional act of God as he worked through the resources of a foreign nation in order to bring about the necessary change in the nation.

I do wonder, however, how often we might feel like we’ve been cast off or driven away.

For some, there is the real possibility that coming to faith in Christ results in exile from family. This may be a bit less of a concern here in America, but it’s certainly a possibility.

But there are other ways that we can be exiled - perceived exclusion from groups or individuals, feeling isolated because of different values or decisions that have been made, set apart - maybe even because of our infirmities, faith, political view points, interests and more. There are any number of reasons and situations where the realities of being cast off/driven away might touch us emotionally.

But finally, this list of sufferings includes...

The Afflicted

I think it’s important to notice Who is doing the affliction. In verse 6, God says that He is doing the affliction. He is the one who is behind it. As painful as it may be to consider, this points to God’s sovereignty - His reign over all things in the world. It communicates volumes about God’s relationship to our suffering:

He is aware - He knows what’s happening to us. He is aware of the a pain (emotional, physical, relational, etc.) that we’re facing. He knows!

He allows it - God is not some indifferent bystander. The things that happen in our lives, God allows for a reason. We see this clearly in the book of Job, where God allowed Job to encounter some extremely difficult circumstances. These circumstances forced Job to pursue God in a profound way. While we may not like what we’re facing, we can certainly rest in the confidence of knowing that God has allowed it for a reason. Granted, we may not ever learn the exact reason for that suffering this side of eternity - but we know the one who knows, and can press into Him.

Finally, as I said,

He afflicts (“whom I have afflicted”) - in the case of Judah - their suffering was ordained by God, not just allowed by his permission, but ordained by his volition. God is not a tortuous God. In thinking about God’s role in our suffering, some people have stated that God is an abusive being. But that’s not the case. You see, there is something about pain and suffering that we need. It wakes us up and forces us to pay attention. C.S. Lewis famously commented on pain: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

So Micah began this section acknowledging the presence of the pain and suffering that the people of Judah would experience.

With Micah addressing each of these, the lame, exiled, and afflicted - I do think it’s important to recognize that God knows your situation. He understands your condition. You are not alone or forgotten even in the midst of your suffering.

Next, Micah acknowledges that suffering hurts. He recognizes...

The pain of our suffering (9-10a)

In the next section, Micah calls out to the people

Micah 4:9–10 (ESV)

Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished,

that pain seized you like a woman in labor?

Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you shall go out from the city

and dwell in the open country;

you shall go to Babylon.

It seems like their pain, at least initially, was the result of the lack of a king - or at least lack of a godly king. God asks a rhetorical question. Like a woman in the midst of the pain of labor, Judah is called to cry out. The suffering and discipline they will face is very real pain.

Implied here is the joy that will come when childbirth is complete at the baby arrives. The pain is real, but it’s not wasted.

Even though suffering is often emotionally, physically and spiritually painful, Micah reminds the people of Judah and us of...

The promise through our suffering (7b, 10b)

After discussing how God will assemble the lame and exiled, God promises...

Micah 4:7 (ESV)

and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion

from this time forth and forevermore.

And then as if in the midst of the pain of childbirth, Micah states:

Micah 4:10 (ESV)

There you shall be rescued;

there the Lord will redeem you

from the hand of your enemies.

In these two brief portions of verses, Micah notes three things about God. First of all:

Reign

God will reign over them. He will be their God, they will be His people. As a theocracy, God had established the nation to be a nation that would follow his rules and his laws. When human kings were put in place, they too were supposed to govern guided by God’s ultimate reign in the nation. Unfortunately, the nation found themselves in the face of discipline because of their rebellion and the rebellion of their rulers. God’s promise through their suffering is that He would reign again - in a new way.

Jeremiah 31:33 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

When God wakes us up in the midst of our pain, we need to come back to the promise of His reign.

What does it look like for us to submit again to God’s rule in our lives?

Where do we need to repent and return?

Where to we need to come into alignment under him?

Secondly, God promises

Rescue

God promised to rescue the people of Judah from the midst of their exile - from the midst of their pain and suffering. As we see through the biblical/historical record, He did that, just as he promised. (see Ezra, Nehemiah).

I believe there is an ultimate rescue that we will experience when Jesus returns to reign. When the glimpse of all nations coming before Him that we looked at last week will be reality. But a distant and future rescue is not very comforting in the midst of the pain. For the people who died in exile, the future rescue was of little importance.

How do we live in that? How do we navigate suffering with a distant rescue? How do we walk in the presence of suffering knowing that our rescue may not happen the way that we hope for?

We have to recognize that rescue might not be relief from suffering, but strength to endure through suffering.

Ajith Fernando, a worker with Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka has had several opportunities to work with new believers in the face of very real and painful suffering - largely because of their faith in Christ, notes several outcomes… (p. 97ff)

Fellowship of Suffering with Jesus (Philippians 3:10 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”) - Fernando says “One of the most beautiful consequences of suffering is that it brings us closer to Christ.” Our Savior suffered so that we might be free from the eternal consequences and power of sin. In fact, of the 28 times that the NT calls us to imitate or follow Jesus’ example, 18 of them relate to following Him through suffering. (Fernando, p. 96). Secondly, he notes that suffering brings...

Fellowship with believers - (Acts 4:23 “When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.”) - The phrase “Misery loves company” seems to be fitting here. But this is not a company of a pity party - This is a company of spiritual support and encouragement. this is a company of mutual building up one another. The apostle Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Fernando notes that in our fellowship with other believers we can help to stem the tide of bitterness that can set in. If you’re suffering, reach out to a brother or sister in Christ. If you see someone suffering, reach out to them as well. Spend time. Bear his or her burdens and pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Thirdly Fernando notes an outcome of...

God’s Sovereignty (Acts 4:24-28) - When Peter and the other disciples returned to their brothers and sisters in Christ after being persecuted, they prayed to the “Sovereign Lord.” They acknowledge, just as Micah preached to the people of Judah, that God is sovereign over the suffering. Fernando notes that “This vision of sovereignty enables the Christian to have peace during the storm and respond to the crisis without breaking Christian principles.” Fourthly, Fernando acknowledge...

God’s Commission (Acts 4:29-30 “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”” ) - Not only does God reign over suffering and persecution, but he often has a mission for us, he commissions us through it. Finally, he notes...

God’s Intervention (Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” ) - There in the early church, God intervened and provided a tangible experience of His presence. A dear friend of mine is facing a challenging custody battle for his children. He shared how in reading Psalm 35 as he prepared to testify in court, God provided a tangible sense of peace. God can intervene to remove the suffering. God can intervene to strengthen us through it.

So as it pertains to God’s promise in our suffering, in addition to promising to reign and rescue his people, God finally promises...

Redemption -

Micah said “The Lord will redeem you from hand of your enemies.” Judah was eventually freed from their exile and imprisonment. Through Jesus Christ, God has redeemed us from our sin.

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

God has redeemed us from the prince of the power of the air.

So, in this chapter, we’ve seen the presence or the reality of our suffering, the pain of suffering, some of the promises of God in the midst of our suffering, finally Micah reveals...

The Providence of our suffering - (8, 11-13)

Micah 4:8 ESV

And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

Micah 4:11–13 ESV

Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

As we have already seen, God does not allow our suffering to happen needlessly. He has a purpose for it.

The exile that would happen to Judah would happen according to...

God’s plan -

I love how Micah says “they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, they do not understand His plan...” Those who are afflicting God’s people falsely assume that they are working to crush God’s people. Instead, God uses their actions against them.

In the exile and a result of the suffering, God’s people experience...

God’s provision of strength

God provides strength and even victory for His people. “I will make your horn iron, and i will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples...” -

The trials that we encounter produce strength in us. God does not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13). That increased strength allows us to be more able to endure more in the future, but it also is of greater value.

1 Peter 1:7 “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Finally, the suffering that Judah encountered and the suffering that we will encounter is ultimately for...

God’s Glory

Eventually Judah would be freed and would even gain victory over their adversaries. What ever gain they would receive in the face of their persecution and in their victory would be devoted to the Lord (Micah 4:13). God is glorified as He strengthens us to persevere. God is glorified as He produces in us a refined faith. God is glorified as we grow in how we trust him.

Closing thoughts

Today is Palm Sunday. We often look at today as being a day of victory, a day of triumph, a day to celebrate - and well we should. Jesus entered into Jerusalem with a throng of people calling out, “blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” They thought they were escorting their next political King. Many thought this was a coronation. The celebration of Sunday resulted in the horrific suffering and persecution of Friday - where Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified. Ultimately, God’s glory was displayed most beautifully on Easter sunday morning as the weight and punishment of all of our sin was redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Jesus provided an example for us in the face of suffering. But more than that, he provided our means of redemption. He provided our rescue. He provided our hope.

Beloved, when you face trials and suffering, know that your Savior suffered for you. Learn from Him. Trust Him. Lean on Him and His people.

Friend, if you’re not yet a follower of Christ, how do you justify suffering? Do you have a means of understanding it? Does suffering have any rationale? I hope you see that suffering, while it’s painful, it part of God’s plan to perfect His people. Suffering is the means by which he secured your way of having a relationship with Him. Trust in Him. Believe.

let’s pray

benediction

Philippians 1:2 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

reflection: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you trust Him in the face of suffering. Who is The Holy Spirit encouraging you to reach out to in the face of your suffering?

Sources

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Dever, Mark, The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made, (Crossway, Wheaton, 2006)

Fernando, Ajith. Discipling in a Multicultural World, (Crossway, Wheaton, 2019).

Martin, John A. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Prior, David. The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1998.

Sproul, RC and Stephen J. Nichol, editors, The Legacy of Luther. Reformation Trust Publishing, Sanford, FL. 2016.

Um, Stephen. Micah for You. The Good Book Company, 2018.

Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 822–833. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/micah/

https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-poetry/

ESV Study Bible