1. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:1-17

2. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
1. Lament as an Act of Faith

3. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:1-7 Then Job answered and said: “Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

4. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:1-7 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

5. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
1. Lament as an Act of Faith 2. Pursuing the Elusive God

6. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:8-9 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; 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.

7. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
1. Lament as an Act of Faith 2. Pursuing the Elusive God 3. Hope in the Justice of God

8. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:10-12 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

9. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:10-12 I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

10. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
1. Lament as an Act of Faith 2. Pursuing the Elusive God 3. Hope in the Justice of God 4. Fear of the Immutability of God

11. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:13-17 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.

12. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Job 23:13-17 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.

13. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
1. Lament as an Act of Faith 2. Pursuing the Elusive God 3. Hope in the Justice of God 4. Fear of the Immutability of God 5. Experiencing God’s Presence in Suffering

14. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Matthew 27:45-46 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,a lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

15. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?

16. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Romans 8:31-39 Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

17. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Romans 8:31-39 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

18. Pain, Anger, and the Absence of God
Romans 8:31-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.