A Theology of Suffering

Job 1:13-22

2 Corinthians 12:6-10

Suffering

• Pat Robertson and Haiti (2010)• Pretty Unbelievable• Not loving• Untrue?

• Psalm 1• “Righteous prosper, the Wicked suffer”• Is the reverse true?

• “The one who prospers is righteous; the one who suffers is wicked”

Suffering of Job

• Story of Job has an answer

• Job’s Story• Satan before God• God boasts about Job• Satan challenges• Satan attacks• Job persists• Satan before God again• Satan Attacks again

Suffering of Job

• So we’ve covered 3 of 42 chapters

• Before we see the rest of Job’s story• There is a place for Lament/Sadness/Being Upset• Job tears his robe and shaves his head (1:20)• Yet it says that Job did not sin (first hint at our answer)

Suffering of Job

• Most Job deals with his “Consoling” friends• Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar with an appearance from

Elihu• They start out well, sitting with him 7 days (2:13)

• Giving him space, just being there

• Job does finally open up, and Laments his birth• The flood gates open and the “advice” flows• They go back and forth for 28 chapters• Then Elihu criticizes everyone for a few more

Suffering of Job

• A few chapter headers to highlight• Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse (11)• Eliphaz Speaks: Job’s Wickedness is Great (22)

• The kind of friends we all hope for right?

• So the crux of their argument is that Job sinned

• Since he sinned, he is now being punished

Suffering of Job

• It was commonly believed that • Suffering meant Punishment for sin• Blessing meant God is happy with you• So since Job suffered he needs to confess

• Imagine hearing that when you’re suffering• Not mention Job hadn’t done anything wrong

• Does this bring any group to mind?• Prosperity Gospel?

God Makes Himself Known

• God eventually shows up to answer Job• God rebukes Job• He asks a series of questions (Where you there when?)

• Leviathan and Behemoth

• He tells the friends He’s mad they misrepresented Him

• I’ve always been a little confused, is God mad and Job for questioning and if so why does Job get everything back?

God Makes Himself Known

• God not upset at being questioned

• Job in self pity claims God unjust

• So God answering reveals that He ultimately can not be understood

• Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”

God Makes Himself Known

• God is mad at Job’s friends though• “My anger burns against you…for you have not spoken

of me what is right…” (42:7)

• Putting to bed the idea of suffering = Punishment

• God does want to bless the righteous• Suffering can play a different role altogether• Sometimes that role is revealed to us

Paul and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:6-106 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be

speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul and His Thorn

• Let’s have a look at Paul’s example

• What was the thorn?

• First things, notice Paul prayed 3 times• Again it’s ok to be troubled an seek relief• No need to be defeatist• We all know of miracle healings

• So what role does suffering play here?

Paul and His Thorn

• We are blessed to be used by God• Trouble is people sometimes take credit • Paul might have “boasted” in his success (did before)• So the thorn was a reminder for him, probably others• Paul’s acceptance and struggle spoke to others

1 Corinthians 10:13

• Meant as an encouragement • Believers struggling with idol worship

• My own interaction with passage

• New outlook, Do you see the difficult aspect of the passage?

• “beyond your ability”• “beyond what you can bear” (NIV)

Our Suffering

• Ask yourself • How much can I bear?• What am I being asked to handle?

• Two other examples• Foxe’s Book of Martyrs• Grandpa Seabrook

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

• God loves all of us, most righteous to biggest sinner

• He has a plan

• You may never know it, but your suffering is speaking to someone

• We get to pray for comfort, remember that a no doesn’t mean punishment or lack of love