Suffering and Sovereignty: Studies in Job

Introduction

God’s hand routinely causes suffering throughout the OT (Lev. 26:16; Jer. 19:9; Lam. 4:10; Rev. 6:16-17). We have no problem this.

The book of Job shows us God causing the suffering of the righteous man (Job 1:21; Job 2:3; 2:10 Job 42:11)

A major theme that runs throughout the Hebrew Bible is the right of God to accomplish his good pleasure with/through/despite the choices of men (Exodus 5; Jud. 14-16; Gen. 12).

The OT positively rejoices in the obliteration of man in comparison with the divine purpose. The message is not ambiguous, God has the sovereign right to do as he pleases (Ps. 115:3). He is allowed to pay no attention to man’s purposes. The book of Job stands alone as it is the only book that says, “OK, yes. But what is the purpose of God? Is the God who uses us like a tool (like a man might use an axe or a hammer) truly accomplishing a good end?” The question of the book of JOb stands alone for its question is not whether God uses men as tools, but why he has the right. This is a question that in some ways is unmanageable. We are not capable of using our reasoning powers to defeat the reasoning one who made them. The book of Job does not set out to answer every question, but it does help.

If God gives us an unmanageable book, the worst thing we can do is try and manage it.

In Job, the author rips off the scab and lets the implications ooze. God’s sovereignty is on display for us as we look on in horror: It frustrates our notions of divine justice, scandalizes our sanguine pictures of the way Yahweh works and shatters any imaginations we may have of serving a tame God. It is understandable for us, that God could work in and with the righteous choices of good men. It is understandable for us that God could even work despite and against the wicked choices of evil men. The book of Job, however, presents us with an opposite reality. It shows us God working against and despite the good choices of a righteous man. A man who goes through a season of divine cursing for no other evident reason other than his righteousness.

The question Job asks is, do we serve a good God?

And what are the answers God presents to all of our

Section 1: vv. 1-5 | A Biography of Job

His Geography (Lam. 4:21)

His character

Blameless

When I read commentators talk about this point they make sure and emphasize that it doesn’t mean sinlessness they say it means blameless in the sight of the people. “Sinless is vertical, blamless is horizontal”

We do this in order to make the characters more relateable perhaps, but lets not miss the point our text is making. Job is blameless. The same hebrew word as complete. James tells us to perservere through trials so that we may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. Here Job sits blameless and upright before his trials. Aren’t we impressed with this character.

Upright

To be straight/smooth.

Sometimes translated plataeu or plain. The idea is straight

Fearing God

Reverential awe of God

Turning Away From Evil

His situation

Perfect number of sons

Perfect number of Daughters

Dwelling together with Joy

Section 2: vv. 6-12 | A Divine Counsel Meeting

The sons of God meeting is a theme that scripture discusses (Psalm 82; 1 Kgs. 22; Isa 6:8)

This is a counsel that the triune God is sovereign over (Isa. 46:9-10; Rev. 4:10-11) Here the sons of God (his vassals) are coming to give an account of their dealings, some vassals are adversarial (Ezekiel 28:13-17; Isa 14:12-19), but they are vassals in subjection nonetheless (Eph. 2:2;Mt. 25:24-30 ). We read of such a one here.

God is the executor of his sovereign plan. The adversarial vassal comes to him with a proposition.

What is the proposition?

Section 3: vv. 13-22 |

The phrase, while this one was still speaking is repeated thrice.

They get wore and worse.

How does Job respond?

Job 1:21 LSB

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.”

Not by cursing Yahweh, but by blessing him

Section 4: Job 2:1-10 | Satan Tries Again

vs. 10

Sometimes the things that God leaves in our hands test us

Job 6:8-9