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Job 32-37 Job Part 5: Why Good People Suffer Slide 2 Job 32:1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Slide 3 Jobs 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. Slide 4 Jobs Suffering Cynicism is the essence of the satanic. Satan believes nothing to be genuinely good Slide 5 Curse God His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"- Job 2:9 Slide 6 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. Slide 7 Curse God He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 Slide 8 Jobs Suffering The irony of the speeches is that Jobs friends are wrong but they argue their case well. Slide 9 Jobs Suffering Job, on the other hand, is right (he is not being punished) but he argues it poorly becoming indignant with everyone, including God. Slide 10 Jobs Suffering Elihu suggests a category that no one has considered: the suffering of the righteous could have a good purpose. Slide 11 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. Slide 12 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. Slide 13 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 Slide 14 Who is Elihu? He is younger than the other three men (32:6) He has waited all this time to speak (32:11) Slide 15 Who is Elihu? He has some anger management issues. (32:2- 5) His anger was deep seated (v.5) Slide 16 Who is Elihu? Sometimes the anger we have related to suffering is a response to our inability to resolve or control suffering. Slide 17 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. Slide 18 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 Slide 19 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 Slide 20 Elihus words are helpful for doing two things: 1. Pointing Job back to the who? question (ch 36- 37) All helpful counsel begins with Gods sovereignty not our situation! Slide 21 Elihus 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. Slide 22 Elihus 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 Slide 23 Elihus words are helpful for doing two things: He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity - Job 36:15 Slide 24 Elihus 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 Slide 25 What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Jobs life "But you have said in my hearingI heard the very words- 'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt. Slide 26 What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Jobs life Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. Slide 27 What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Jobs life He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.' Slide 28 What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Jobs life "But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man. Slide 29 What Does He Say? He sees underlying pride in Jobs life Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? - Job 33:8-13 Slide 30 What Does He Say? He helps us see that righteous doesnt mean sinless blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil Job 1:1 Slide 31 What Does He Say? He helps us see that righteous doesnt mean sinless In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, Slide 32 What Does He Say? He helps us see that righteous doesnt mean sinless he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, Slide 33 What Does He Say? He helps us see that righteous doesnt mean sinless to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword - Job 33:15-18 Slide 34 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, Slide 35 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. Slide 36 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 Slide 37 What Does He Say? He introduces us to loving but hard discipline God does all these things to a mantwice, even three times- to turn back his soul from the pit, Slide 38 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 Slide 39 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, Slide 40 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'- Slide 41 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. Slide 42 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; Slide 43 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, Slide 44 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. Slide 45 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 Slide 46 Bottom Line: A Jesus-centered response to suffering recognizes there is often a divine purpose for suffering. Slide 47