Series: Epic Journey: The Bible in 99 Days

Message Outline

The Mystery of Suffering
Text:  Job

Introduction

This week, we wrapped up the history section of the Old Testament with the Jewish return from exile. We see Jewish life under the rule of the Persian Empire, as told through the eyes of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. We also began to explore the Wisdom books via the very challenging story of Job. In the wisdom books, we will explore God's detailed instructions for effective living, looking at many aspects of the human condition. We will focus on Job (suffering), Psalms (worship) and Song of Songs (love).

Cliff Notes for this week's readings

Ezra - Nehemiah - Esther:

Just like the three-step exile (605, 597, and 586 BC) the return from exile takes place in three stages, over a time period of about 100 years. In the first wave, Zerubbabel leads the restoration of the Temple from 538 - 515 BC, aided by the priests and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Then, Ezra restores the people and the community by teaching them the Law between 458 - 456 BC and again during the time of Nehemiah. Following the decree of Artaxerxes in 445 BC, Nehemiah rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem and repopulates the city between 444 - 432 BC. Nehemiah makes a second trip to Jerusalem a few years later, and after the prophecy of Malachi, there is silence from God for 400 years until John the Baptist announces Jesus. This is known as the inter-testamental period.

It is interesting to note that even when the people rediscover the Law and the requirements of God, and claim unswerving loyalty to God, they still fall away! It is yet another reminder of the everlasting faithfulness of God and the constant failure of man to hold up the covenant he has sworn to. The history books end with the fabulous story of Queen Esther. Here we see God rescue the Jewish people from a Persian holocaust, even though they did not obey God’s call to return to Jerusalem!

This is the only book of the Bible that does not have the word God, even though His "fingerprints" are all over it! Esther models the trusting obedience that God desires, even in the face of risks, and Mordecai models a type of Christ figure leading her as he passionately cares for his people. This story is immortalized in the Feast of Purim, still celebrated today by Jews worldwide (Purim in 2006 was on March 14.)

Key Passages: 
Ezra 3:1: When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:10: For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Nehemiah 1:4: When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 8:8: They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
Nehemiah 13:31: Remember me with favor, O my God.
Esther 4:14:  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 9:28: And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews....NIV

Application questions:
1. The return from exile was a moment of restoration of His people by a gracious God - when have you been restored by God?
2. Once restored, how have you given thanks to God? Think of some ways you could be more grateful, or ways you could celebrate God's goodness for the benefit of others.
3. Ezra was a man dedicated to studying and obeying God's Word. Have you made these things a priority in your life? How might you take the next step of growth in this area?
4. Nehemiah was both a person of action and of prayer - can you see how you might better integrate prayer and action in your life with God?
5. Esther had to take a major risk to stand up for her faith and her people. How have you responded in similar situations? Ask God to give you the power to respond to the example of these three Bible heroes - in gratitude, in the Word, in prayer and in trusting action!

Job:

This book has both confounded readers and kept them spellbound. Alfred Tennyson called it "the greatest poem of ancient or modern times". It is a literary masterpiece: a combination of lawsuit, wisdom disputation, and lament. It has a unique vocabulary, and it is loaded with metaphors and similes. It makes a major contribution to theology, especially the nature of God, Satan, and creation (see 38:6). Job covers an amazing variety of subject matter: astronomy, geography, hunting, mining, travel, weather, zoology, and courts of law. Job is a godly man with a personal worship life that draws praise from God—oh that we would draw the same kind of praise from our Lord! Satan is a real person, a powerful angelic being, the enemy of God and men, who is nevertheless always under the control of God.

Stunningly, God agrees to Satan's proposal and allows Job to be tested by the loss of his family and property. Then, God allows Satan to rob Job of his personal health! Despite his wife’s urging, Job does not sin by blaming God for his misfortune. Job’s friends come, sit quietly for a week, then share “speeches” to explain Job’s suffering. The three friends give various ways to say it was God's discipline for sin. Job says it is for his destruction. The fourth friend, Elihu says it was to direct him to prevent death. God gives the right answers in two “speeches”—one is to demonstrate that Satan's accusations were wrong, and the second is to develop Job's spiritual understanding. God judges Job’s friends and vindicates Job, who then amazingly prays for them! Then God restores Job’s family and property, and his health, allowing him another 140 years of life. Jewish tradition is that Job was 70 when the calamity struck, so that the length of his life was also twice what he had before!

Key Passages:
1:8: Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
1:20-21: At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.
19:26-27: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes.
31:1: "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
31:35: I sign now my defense — let the Almighty answer me
38:1-3: Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
42:5-6: My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." NIV

Application questions:
1. Have you experienced suffering that was unexplainable? How did you handle it?
2. Have you ever been a "friend of Job" and tried to explain the suffering of another? What has Job taught you to do next time you might be consoling a friend?
3. Why would a good and powerful God allow suffering?
4. What might God be trying to demonstrate or teach us through suffering?
5. Is there another explanation of human suffering that strikes you as superior to the Bible's? Why?

Personal Applications for this week: (your notes)