Responding to Suffering

Lessons in Job: Responding to Suffering Job 32:1-37:24 | March 10, 2024 Often, I look back at my life and try to find those times where God spared me from something, or God allowed to happen in my life that eventually led to something good. However, I don't do that as much when it comes to those darker periods of my life. And even now, when I look back, I question what good did that actually do for me. I'm probably not alone in this. I pray that our time together this morning reminds us all that God is always present, always working, and always good, even in those difficult times. This morning, we continue in our sermon series in the book of Job. In our section today, chapters 32-37, we're introduced to a new "character," Elihu. This section is very unique, as it is completely one-sided. If you're joining us for the first time in this series, we opened in chapters 1-2 with dialogue between the God and Satan. It was then where we learned why Job would suffer many losses, both physically and personally. Last week, we covered chapters 3-31. Yes, you heard that correctly. There, we see Job's three friends try to diagnose Job, effectively accusing him and his family of sin, resulting in God's judgement over them. They "urge" (I use that term loosely) him to repent, and everything he lost would be restored. The obvious folly in this stance from Job's three friends brings us back to chapters 1-2, where we learn that God allowed Satan to persecute Job as a test of his faith. That large section contained each of the three friends speaking, and Job responding, closing with a "closing argument" in chapter 31, in which Job defends his character and righteousness. Now we enter chapters 32-37, where we meet Elihu. Here is how the narrator opens up this section in chapter 32:1-5: 1 SO THESE THREE MEN CEASED TO ANSWER JOB, BECAUSE HE WAS RIGHTEOUS IN HIS OWN EYES. 2 THEN ELIHU THE SON OF BARACHEL THE BUZITE, OF THE FAMILY OF RAM, BURNED WITH ANGER. HE BURNED WITH ANGER AT JOB BECAUSE HE JUSTIFIED HIMSELF RATHER THAN GOD. 3 HE BURNED WITH ANGER ALSO AT JOB'S THREE FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY HAD FOUND NO ANSWER, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD DECLARED JOB TO BE IN THE WRONG. 4 NOW ELIHU HAD WAITED TO SPEAK TO JOB BECAUSE THEY WERE OLDER THAN HE. 5 AND WHEN ELIHU SAW THAT THERE WAS NO ANSWER IN THE MOUTH OF THESE THREE MEN, HE BURNED WITH ANGER. From here, the narrator records a series of four speeches that Elihu brings forth. It may be worth noting that there is a lot of disagreement on how to handle Elihu. Some experts argue that he's no better than the three friends, at times seemingly repeating them, and at other times being somewhat harsh towards Job. Others go as far to say that if you took these 6 chapters out of the book of Job, it would not make a difference. Others, like well-known teacher John Piper, defend Elihu and his contribution to the book as a whole. He gives five reasons why we should accept his council. The most convincing - to me - is twofold. One, God allowed 6 chapters in His inspired Word without a response or argument, and related, in chapter 42, when God rebukes Job's friends, Elihu is not mentioned. Author Layton Talbert wrote a book called "Beyond Suffering." In that book, he points out the thematic similarities of Elihu's speech and God's responses in chapters 38-40. Here are two of the examples he provided: 1. Elihu in 32:12-14; 33:8-13; 34:5-9,31-37; and 35:1-4,13-16, emphasizes Job's postsuffering words (response to suffering), not Job's presuffering actions (cause of suffering). God says the same in chapter 38:2-5,18; and 40:2, 7-8. 2. Then, Elihu in chapters 33:8-13; 34:5-12, 17-19, 31-37; and 35:2-7, rebukes Job's defense of his own righteousness at the expense of God's righteousness. God, again, says the same in chapter 40:2,8. These are just a couple of examples of the similarities of Elihu's speeches and God's response. So, what does this tell us? If nothing else, Elihu's speeches are at least worth looking at and exploring further. Here's a suggested way to do that, structurally: In Elihu's first speech, chapters 32-24, he emphasizes that God is the Sovereign. In his second speech, in chapter 34, Elihu argues that God is always good. In the third speech, recorded in chapter 35, Elihu argues that God is transcendently and infinitely righteous. Finally, the fourth speech in chapters 36-37, Elihu reminds us that God is great and God is good. In the first three speeches, it follows a pattern: an allegation, a rebuttal, and a diagnosis or appeal. The fourth speech differs because Elihu shifts his entire attention to God - which leads us to our main idea: In times of trouble, I must turn my attention to God because He is still at work. As previously noted, Elihu's speech begins in chapter 32, but we must fast forward to chapter 33 to see how his responses play out. That's really where I want to spend our time this morning. Because I want to answer the question: HOW TO RESPOND IN TIMES OF SUFFERING To answer that, we're going to look at both the negative response to suffering and the positive response to suffering. The way we're going to do this is by looking at each of the speeches. I may have mentioned this already, but the way Elihu addresses Job is by citing what he stated and answering that statement. Effectively, Elihu accuses Job of making four complaints. So, here's what we're going to do. We'll first look at Job's complaint. Then, we'll look at Elihu's citation of that complaint from his speeches, then we'll look at his response ... or what our response should be in times of suffering. And we'll repeat that for each of Job's four responses. Let's begin. Job's first complaint: I do not deserve this. Here's what Job says in chapter 23:3-12: 3 OH, THAT I KNEW WHERE I MIGHT FIND HIM, THAT I MIGHT COME EVEN TO HIS SEAT! 4 I WOULD LAY MY CASE BEFORE HIM AND FILL MY MOUTH WITH ARGUMENTS. 5 I WOULD KNOW WHAT HE WOULD ANSWER ME AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO ME. 6 WOULD HE CONTEND WITH ME IN THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER? NO; HE WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO ME. 7 THERE AN UPRIGHT MAN COULD ARGUE WITH HIM, AND I WOULD BE ACQUITTED FOREVER BY MY JUDGE. 8 "BEHOLD, I GO FORWARD, BUT HE IS NOT THERE, AND BACKWARD, BUT I DO NOT PERCEIVE HIM; 9 ON THE LEFT HAND WHEN HE IS WORKING, I DO NOT BEHOLD HIM; HE TURNS TO THE RIGHT HAND, BUT I DO NOT SEE HIM. 10 BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE; WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME OUT AS GOLD. 11 MY FOOT HAS HELD FAST TO HIS STEPS; I HAVE KEPT HIS WAY AND HAVE NOT TURNED ASIDE. 12 I HAVE NOT DEPARTED FROM THE COMMANDMENT OF HIS LIPS; I HAVE TREASURED THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH MORE THAN MY PORTION OF FOOD. Elihu cites this in chapter 33:8-11: 8 "SURELY YOU HAVE SPOKEN IN MY EARS, AND I HAVE HEARD THE SOUND OF YOUR WORDS. 9 YOU SAY, 'I AM PURE, WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION; I AM CLEAN, AND THERE IS NO INIQUITY IN ME. 10 BEHOLD, HE FINDS OCCASIONS AGAINST ME, HE COUNTS ME AS HIS ENEMY, 11 HE PUTS MY FEET IN THE STOCKS AND WATCHES ALL MY PATHS.' Elihu answers this in verses 12-13: 12 "BEHOLD, IN THIS YOU ARE NOT RIGHT. I WILL ANSWER YOU, FOR GOD IS GREATER THAN MAN. 13 WHY DO YOU CONTEND AGAINST HIM, SAYING, 'HE WILL ANSWER NONE OF MAN'S WORDS'? What is he saying here? What's the first proper response? * God is the Sovereign. o This is huge. o God will do what He decides to do. Period. o It's hard for us to accept this. Particularly when we suffer. When things seem to go wrong. It's hard for us to accept that God allowed it to happen. o But the biggest mistake we can make is believing that God is not involved in the affairs of man - good or bad. o That's exactly what Job said to his wife back in chapter 2. o We accept the good as God's work, but we fail to recognize His work during the difficult times, so Elihu reminds us that God is Sovereign over all things. o I read a quote this week from Author Jerry Bridges on the Sovereignty of God. He says: "If there is a single event in all the universe that can occur outside of God's sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him." o Do you trust God enough to know that He is still in control, even when things are falling apart around you? Job's second complaint: God is treating me unjustly. Job says in chapter 27:2: 2 "AS GOD LIVES, WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY MY RIGHT, AND THE ALMIGHTY, WHO HAS MADE MY SOUL BITTER, Elihu cites this complaint from Job in chapter 34:5-9: 5 FOR JOB HAS SAID, 'I AM IN THE RIGHT, AND GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY MY RIGHT; 6 IN SPITE OF MY RIGHT I AM COUNTED A LIAR; MY WOUND IS INCURABLE, THOUGH I AM WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION.' 7 WHAT MAN IS LIKE JOB, WHO DRINKS UP SCOFFING LIKE WATER, 8 WHO TRAVELS IN COMPANY WITH EVILDOERS AND WALKS WITH WICKED MEN? 9 FOR HE HAS SAID, 'IT PROFITS A MAN NOTHING THAT HE SHOULD TAKE DELIGHT IN GOD.' Elihu answers in verses 10-12: 10 "THEREFORE, HEAR ME, YOU MEN OF UNDERSTANDING: FAR BE IT FROM GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO WICKEDNESS, AND FROM THE ALMIGHTY THAT HE SHOULD DO WRONG. 11 FOR ACCORDING TO THE WORK OF A MAN HE WILL REPAY HIM, AND ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS HE WILL MAKE IT BEFALL HIM. 12 OF A TRUTH, GOD WILL NOT DO WICKEDLY, AND THE ALMIGHTY WILL NOT PERVERT JUSTICE. What is he saying here? What's the second proper response? * Impossible. [recall the complaint from Job: God is treating me unjustly, so Elihu is effectively saying, that's impossible,] God is always just. o Now, on one hand, Elihu's theology isn't exactly perfect, as it lends to "you get what you deserve" type of response, but Elihu is trying to remind Job that God is the One who decides what happens to whom. o Later, he calls Job to repent from this mindset. The mindset that I'm being treated unfairly. o We have tendency to believe that we know what's best for ourselves, and even others. So, when things don't the way we believe it should, it becomes "unfair." That's Job's issue. He can't see beyond his own perception of himself. Rather, he looked at his own understanding of righteousness, instead of God's definition of righteousness. That is why part of the whole Gospel message is that we are all sinners, separated from God, and deservedly so, until we are reconciled to God by grace, through faith in Jesus, His Son. o This leads us to ... Job's third complaint: I know that I am righteous. We see this really in all of chapter 31. But let's instead look at chapter 27:3-6 where Job says: 3 AS LONG AS MY BREATH IS IN ME, AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN MY NOSTRILS, 4 MY LIPS WILL NOT SPEAK FALSEHOOD, AND MY TONGUE WILL NOT UTTER DECEIT. 5 FAR BE IT FROM ME TO SAY THAT YOU ARE RIGHT; TILL I DIE I WILL NOT PUT AWAY MY INTEGRITY FROM ME. 6 I HOLD FAST MY RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WILL NOT LET IT GO; MY HEART DOES NOT REPROACH ME FOR ANY OF MY DAYS. Elihu cites this complaint from Job in chapter 35:2-3: 2 "DO YOU THINK THIS TO BE JUST? DO YOU SAY, 'IT IS MY RIGHT BEFORE GOD,' 3 THAT YOU ASK, 'WHAT ADVANTAGE HAVE I? HOW AM I BETTER OFF THAN IF I HAD SINNED?' Elihu answers in verses 4-8: 4 I WILL ANSWER YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS WITH YOU. 5 LOOK AT THE HEAVENS, AND SEE; AND BEHOLD THE CLOUDS, WHICH ARE HIGHER THAN YOU. 6 IF YOU HAVE SINNED, WHAT DO YOU ACCOMPLISH AGAINST HIM? AND IF YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS ARE MULTIPLIED, WHAT DO YOU DO TO HIM? 7 IF YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS, WHAT DO YOU GIVE TO HIM? OR WHAT DOES HE RECEIVE FROM YOUR HAND? 8 YOUR WICKEDNESS CONCERNS A MAN LIKE YOURSELF, AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS A SON OF MAN. What is he saying here? What's the third proper response? * God is the righteous one. o Job is asserting his own righteousness, and effectively saying, "what good is it to be righteous, if I still suffer?" o I'm certain that many of you have had that very thought. * Being a good citizen, and the politicians still put themselves before you. * Being a good student, and still getting a lower grade on a test or assignment. * Being a good employee and getting passed up for a promotion. * Being a good spouse and still struggling in your marriage. * Being obedient to God and still getting sick or losing a loved one. o This is where faith comes in. o Faith in knowing that God has best interest in mind, even during those difficult times. o Faith in knowing that God has something better in store for you when you're united with Him for eternity. o God knows what's best for us. o God is the only true righteous One. And it's only by His grace that we can be declared righteous. Only through the blood of Jesus is that possible. o So, when we think that we're underserving, we must return to God. Understanding that when things are good, it's God. When things are bad, it's still God. He is still working. He is still active in your life. He is still calling you to draw closer to Him. Finally, Job's fourth complaint: God has become inexplicably cruel to me. Let's take a look at chapter 30:20-23 20 I CRY TO YOU FOR HELP AND YOU DO NOT ANSWER ME; I STAND, AND YOU ONLY LOOK AT ME. 21 YOU HAVE TURNED CRUEL TO ME; WITH THE MIGHT OF YOUR HAND YOU PERSECUTE ME. 22 YOU LIFT ME UP ON THE WIND; YOU MAKE ME RIDE ON IT, AND YOU TOSS ME ABOUT IN THE ROAR OF THE STORM. 23 FOR I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BRING ME TO DEATH AND TO THE HOUSE APPOINTED FOR ALL LIVING. Elihu cites this complaint from Job in chapter 33:8-11: 8 "SURELY YOU HAVE SPOKEN IN MY EARS, AND I HAVE HEARD THE SOUND OF YOUR WORDS. 9 YOU SAY, 'I AM PURE, WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION; I AM CLEAN, AND THERE IS NO INIQUITY IN ME. 10 BEHOLD, HE FINDS OCCASIONS AGAINST ME, HE COUNTS ME AS HIS ENEMY, 11 HE PUTS MY FEET IN THE STOCKS AND WATCHES ALL MY PATHS.' Elihu answers in chapter 36:5-12 5 "BEHOLD, GOD IS MIGHTY, AND DOES NOT DESPISE ANY; HE IS MIGHTY IN STRENGTH OF UNDERSTANDING. 6 HE DOES NOT KEEP THE WICKED ALIVE, BUT GIVES THE AFFLICTED THEIR RIGHT. 7 HE DOES NOT WITHDRAW HIS EYES FROM THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT WITH KINGS ON THE THRONE HE SETS THEM FOREVER, AND THEY ARE EXALTED. 8 AND IF THEY ARE BOUND IN CHAINS AND CAUGHT IN THE CORDS OF AFFLICTION, 9 THEN HE DECLARES TO THEM THEIR WORK AND THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS, THAT THEY ARE BEHAVING ARROGANTLY. 10 HE OPENS THEIR EARS TO INSTRUCTION AND COMMANDS THAT THEY RETURN FROM INIQUITY. 11 IF THEY LISTEN AND SERVE HIM, THEY COMPLETE THEIR DAYS IN PROSPERITY, AND THEIR YEARS IN PLEASANTNESS. 12 BUT IF THEY DO NOT LISTEN, THEY PERISH BY THE SWORD AND DIE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. What is he saying here? What's the fourth proper response? * God is great and always good. o One of the most instructive verses in this entire section of Scripture occurs in verse 15: HE DELIVERS THE AFFLICTED BY THEIR AFFLICTION OPENS THEIR EAR BY ADVERSITY. o What does this mean? "God's dealings with us, though painful, says Elihu, are for healing." o This idea is confirmed in Romans 8:28: AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. o Jesus Himself had to suffer. He suffered a gruesome death, so that you and I can be delivered. Sometimes you and I need to suffer in order to be delivered. o So, we have to recognize that God is at work in our lives in these times of struggle and suffering. o This is why I said earlier: In times of trouble, I must turn my attention to God because He is still at work. So, when we're going through something, let's return to what we learned from Elihu, because Elihu helps us to remember that God is sovereign over all things. There is nothing that happens without the Lord's knowledge, which means He has not left you. Remember, God is always just. There's a reason and a lesson for us to learn. Even when we do "everything right," we were humbly reminded that God is the righteous One, not us. Then finally, God is great and always good. The right response to suffering? Turn to God. He is in control. He is still at work. Let's pray. 2