“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent” (Prov. 17:28, RSV). Whatever one wants to say about the man Job, one can’t say that he was going to sit there amid his sorrow and quietly listen to what his friends were throwing at him. On … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Prov. 17:28, Job 13:1–15, James 2:20–22, 1 Cor. 15:11–20, 1 Pet. 1:18–20, Gen. 22:8. Memory Text: “ ‘He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him’ ” (Job 13:16, NKJV). Man is the only animal,” wrote British essayist William Hazlitt, “that laughs and weeps; for … Continue reading –>
Last Sabbath’s introduction began with Albert Camus, who wrote a lot about his struggle for answers, not just to the question of suffering but to the question of life’s meaning in general, which suffering made only more problematic. As with most atheists, he didn’t make much headway. His most famous quote shows how little: “There … Continue reading –>
After Job heard enough criticism from his “friends,” my heart breaks for him, as I read his words, “I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Innocent Blood” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School Site. … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 3:5. Though it is such a common text, what crucial message does it have for us, especially in the context of what we have been studying? Though the case of Job is extreme, it does reflect the sad reality of human suffering in our fallen world. We don’t need the story of Job … Continue reading –>
Pat Answers. As a Sabbath School teacher, were you ever put off–although of course nobody noticed–by pat answers? You might have begun a discussion on the essence of sin, for example, by asking the question, “What is sin?” and almost like a record player, someone would speak up, “Sin is transgression of the law.” Silence fell. … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Innocent suffering is never innocent. It is a part of a sin-filled world. However, faith helps us look beyond the suffering toward Divine restoration. Sabbath School Lesson 8 for November 19, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Job 10:15-20. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point … Continue reading –>
Read the following verses and think about the immediate fate of those depicted in the texts. Then ask yourself the question: How fair was life treating them? Job 1:18–20 “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a … Continue reading –>
Read Job 15:14–16. What truth is Eliphaz presenting to Job? Again, Eliphaz was speaking truth (as did the others), this time in regard to the sinfulness of all humanity. Sin is a universal fact of life on earth; so is suffering. And as we also know, all human suffering ultimately results from sin. And there’s … Continue reading –>
We often hear the question of “innocent” suffering. The Bible even uses the phrase “innocent blood” (Isa. 59:7, Jer. 22:17, Joel 3:19), usually in the context of assault, or even murder, of people who didn’t deserve what happened to them. If we use this understanding of “innocent blood,” then, as we all know, our world … Continue reading –>
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had a point: God does punish evil. Unfortunately, that point didn’t apply in Job’s situation. Job’s suffering was not a case of retributive punishment. God was not punishing him for his sins, as He would do with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Nor was Job reaping what he had sown, as can … Continue reading –>
