Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 2: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 2: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 3: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 2: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 3: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job Elihu

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 2: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 3: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job Elihu God

Outline of Job 1-2 God and Satan; Job loses all 3 Job complains 4-14 Round 1: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 2: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job/Zophar/Job Round 3: Eliphaz/Job/Bildad/Job Elihu God 42 Job’s repentance and restoration

The Loneliness of Suffering

Are we victims of God? The Loneliness of Suffering

16 “If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice – 17 he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason. 18 He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness. 19 If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’ Job 9:16-24; 10:1-7 (NET Bible)

20 Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse. 21 I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life. 22 It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’ 23 If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent. 24 If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it? Job 9:16-24; 10:1-7 (NET Bible)

1 I am weary of my life; I will complain without restraint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.’ 3 Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked? 4 Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as a human being sees? 5 Are your days like the days of a mortal, or your years like the years of a mortal, 6 that you must search out my iniquity, and inquire about my sin, 7 although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?” Job 9:16-24; 10:1-7 (NET Bible)

24 “If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?” Job 9:24 (NET Bible)

“At v. 24 in particular he came closer than anywhere else to charging God with injustice….By this question Job virtually charged God with wrongdoing, but still it is a question and not a declarative sentence. Job almost cursed God, but not quite.” –Robert Alden “At v. 24 in particular he came closer than anywhere else to charging God with injustice….By this question Job virtually charged God with wrongdoing, but still it is a question and not a declarative sentence. Job almost cursed God, but not quite.” –Robert Alden The Loneliness of Suffering

“People who face deep trials often say irresponsible things in their struggle to understand their suffering in light of God’s compassion.” –Frank E. Gaebelein “People who face deep trials often say irresponsible things in their struggle to understand their suffering in light of God’s compassion.” –Frank E. Gaebelein The Loneliness of Suffering

Are we victims of God? The Loneliness of Suffering

Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? The Loneliness of Suffering

1 Then Job answered: 2 “How long will you torment me and crush me with your words? 3 These ten times you have been reproaching me; you are not ashamed to attack me! 4 But even if it were true that I have erred, my error remains solely my concern! 5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and plead my disgrace against me, 6 know then that God has wronged me and encircled me with his net. Job 19:1-6, (NET Bible)

13 He has put my relatives far from me; my acquaintances only turn away from me. 14 My kinsmen have failed me; my friends have forgotten me. 15 My guests and my servant girls consider me a stranger; I am a foreigner in their eyes. 16 I summon my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore him with my own mouth. 17 My breath is repulsive to my wife; I am loathsome to my brothers. 18 Even youngsters have scorned me; when I get up, they scoff at me. 19 All my closest friends detest me; and those whom I love have turned against me. 20 My bones stick to my skin and my flesh; I have escaped alive with only the skin of my teeth.” Job 19:1-6, (NET Bible)

During suffering, we can be surrounded by people and still feel entirely alone. The Loneliness of Suffering

Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? The Loneliness of Suffering

Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? Can we push through the haze of suffering and affirm God’s goodness by faith? Are we victims of God? Are we victims of our friends? Can we push through the haze of suffering and affirm God’s goodness by faith? The Loneliness of Suffering

25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God, 27 whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another. My heart grows faint within me.” Job 19:25-27 (NET Bible)

“The passage falls short of a full statement of faith in a personal bodily resurrection, [but we] find in it the hope of a favourable meeting with God after death as a genuine human being.” –Francis Anderson “The passage falls short of a full statement of faith in a personal bodily resurrection, [but we] find in it the hope of a favourable meeting with God after death as a genuine human being.” –Francis Anderson The Loneliness of Suffering

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose …. If God is for us, who can be against us? …. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39 (NET Bible)