Job: A Man’s Search for Meaning

November 8, 2020

Chapter 1-2:10 – “Declaration of War”

What Job is not:

  • Job is not a book that explains how to avoid suffering.
  • Job is not a book that tells you how to escape suffering.
  • Job is not a book that explains suffering.

Job is a book that shows man’s feeble attempt to answer the “why?” of suffering and God’s control in the midst of it.  

Job and his friends will find out, though it is natural to search for meaning in suffering, we can do it often to the distraction of life’s meaning. In search of a ‘why me?’ we can easily miss life’s greater purpose

Scene I: Job, a and Blessed Man

  1. Job was :
  1. Job is perfect (1:1) – complete, mature, having integrity, morally innocent, and blameless.
  2. Job was (1:1) – He did the right thing regardless of the consequences.
  3. Job feared God (1:1) – He revered the name of God as holy and lifted up. 
  4. Job Evil (1:1) – he was intentional in his avoidance of sin. 
  5. Job Interceded (1:5) – Job went to God on behalf of his children, continually.
  1. Job was blessed.
  1. Job had a great family (1:2)
  2. Job was materially (1:3)
  3. Job had (1:3)

“Physical suffering exposes the delusion of personal autonomy and self-sufficiency… independence is a delusion that is quickly exposed by suffering.” – Paul David Tripp, Suffering 

 

Scene II: Satan: Adversary and

  1. Satan roams (1:7)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8)

  1. To (1:9-11; 2:4-5)
  2. To attack
  1. The Lord rules
    1. All beings are subject to Him (1:6)
    2. All suffering is by Him (1:12; 2:6)

Job’s suffering had clear limits designated by God. This trial was custom fit to Job’s needs.

  • God’s sovereignty means there is a greater or meaning behind your suffering
    • “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Ephesians 1:11)
    • And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  • God’s sovereignty means He is
    • “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
  • God’s sovereignty means that He will be glorified
    • “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

The proper response to God’s sovereign control is trust. An acknowledgement of His control is a release of your control.

 

Scene III: The of Job

  1. Job’s suffering was personal (1:13-19)
  2. Job’s suffering was
  3. Job’s suffering was relentless
  4. Job’s suffering was painful (2:7-8)
  5. Job’s suffering was (2:3)
  6. Job’s suffering was (2:9)
  7. Job’s response was exposing

This suffering didn’t expose who Job was to God. The difficulty exposed Job to Job. And it exposed the faithfulness of Job to a heavenly audience.

  1. Job worshipped (1:20)
  2. Job (1:21)
  3. Job (1:22)

Foundational Building Blocks of Suffering:

  1. Suffering is the great equalizer.
  2. Suffering illuminates our dependence and God’s sovereignty.
  3. Suffering is custom fit by a loving God.
  4. Suffering is spiritual warfare.

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