Wrestling with God’s Justice and Human Suffering

The Book Of Job  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  44:38
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Wrestling with God’s Justice and Human Suffering

Session 8: Highlights from Job 8–10 – Wrestling with God’s Justice and Human Suffering
Date: Wednesday Night, December 4, 2024
Introduction to the Session 8:
In this session, we will focus on highlights from Job 8, Job 9, and Job 10, examining key themes from each chapter. Bildad’s speech in chapter 8 continues the misguided counsel of Job’s friends, emphasizing a rigid view of justice. Job’s responses in chapters 9 and 10 explore his frustration with God’s justice and his longing for understanding and relief.
Chapter 8 Highlight: Bildad’s Simplistic View of Justice
Read: Job 8:3–6
Job 8:3–6 KJV 1900
3 Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If thy children have sinned against him, And he have cast them away for their transgression; 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, And make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou wert pure and upright; Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
Verse 3 (KJV): “Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?”
Discussion:
Bildad’s Assertion of God’s Justice (Verses 3-4):
Bildad begins with a strong defense of God’s justice, asserting that God does not pervert judgment. However, he implies that Job’s children must have sinned and deserved their punishment—a harsh and incorrect assumption.
Verse 4 (KJV): “If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression.”
The Conditional Promise (Verses 5-6):
Bildad offers Job hope, suggesting that if he repents, God will restore him. His advice, though well-meaning, is based on a flawed understanding of Job’s suffering.
Verse 6 (KJV): “If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.”
Reflection:
Bildad’s counsel reflects the dangers of oversimplified theology. While it is true that God is just, Bildad fails to see that Job’s suffering is not a result of sin but a divine test.
Chapter 9 Highlight: Job’s Struggle with God’s Justice
Read: Job 9:2–12
Job 9:2–12 KJV 1900
2 I know it is so of a truth: But how should man be just with God? 3 If he will contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? 5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: Which overturneth them in his anger. 6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble. 7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; And sealeth up the stars. 8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, And Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 10 Which doeth great things past finding out; Yea, and wonders without number. 11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Verse 2 (KJV): “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?”
Discussion:
Acknowledging God’s Justice (Verses 2-3):
Job agrees that God is just but wrestles with the impossibility of standing blameless before Him. He recognizes God’s greatness and human limitations in comprehending His ways.
Key Verse: “If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.” (Job 9:3)
The Sovereignty of God (Verses 4-12):
Job describes God’s unmatched power over creation, emphasizing His control over the natural world and human affairs.
Verse 10 (KJV): “Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”
The Challenge of Suffering:
Job feels unable to plead his case before such a powerful God, highlighting the tension between God’s justice and Job’s suffering.
Reflection:
Job’s words remind us of the mystery of God’s ways. Even when we don’t understand His plans, we can trust in His sovereignty and wisdom.
Chapter 10 Highlight: Job’s Plea for Understanding
Read: Job 10:8–12
Job 10:8–12 KJV 1900
8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again? 10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese? 11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And hast fenced me with bones and sinews. 12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Verse 8 (KJV): “Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.”
Discussion:
The Creator’s Care (Verses 8-9):
Job acknowledges God as his Creator, marveling at the care God took in forming him. Yet, he struggles to reconcile this with his current suffering.
Key Verse: “Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?” (Job 10:9)
The Gift of Life (Verses 10-12):
Job reflects on the life and favor God has shown him in the past, contrasting it with his present anguish.
Verse 12 (KJV): “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.”
Job’s Cry for Clarity (Verses 13-18):
Job pleads with God to reveal why he is suffering. His raw honesty reflects the human desire for answers in times of pain.
Reflection:
Job’s plea highlights the importance of being honest with God in prayer. Even in his confusion, Job demonstrates faith by directing his questions to God rather than turning away from Him.
Application:
1. The Danger of Simplistic Explanations:
Bildad’s rigid view of justice reminds us to approach others’ suffering with humility and compassion, recognizing that we don’t always know God’s purposes.
2. Trusting God’s Sovereignty:
Job’s reflections on God’s power and justice challenge us to trust Him, even when His ways are beyond our understanding.
3. The Value of Honest Prayer:
Job’s raw and unfiltered dialogue with God shows us that we can bring our deepest questions and emotions to Him.
Discussion Questions:
1. How does Bildad’s view of God’s justice reflect a common misunderstanding about suffering?
2. What can we learn from Job’s struggle to reconcile God’s justice with his own suffering?
3. How does Job’s plea in chapter 10 encourage us to be honest with God in our prayers?
Conclusion:
In these chapters, we see the complexity of Job’s struggle with suffering, God’s justice, and the counsel of his friends. Job’s honest reflections challenge us to trust in God’s sovereignty while being open about our struggles and questions.
Preview of Next Session: Highlights from Job 11–14
Next week, we will continue our journey through the highlights of Job, focusing on Job 11–14. We will examine Zophar’s speech in chapter 11, where he delivers the harshest rebuke yet, accusing Job of arrogance and calling for repentance. In chapters 12–14, we will see Job’s response, as he reflects on God’s wisdom, the fleeting nature of life, and the hope of redemption. These chapters delve deeper into the tension between human understanding and divine sovereignty, offering profound insights into the mystery of suffering and the endurance of faith.
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