Job's Suffering: The Need for Compassion and Mediation

Summary

### Summary

In Job chapter 9, we delve into the profound struggles of Job, a man who has lost his health, wealth, children, and is enduring immense physical and emotional pain. Job's suffering is compounded by his inability to understand why these calamities have befallen him despite his righteous living. He feels as though he is being unfairly punished and expresses a deep desire for a mediator who could bridge the gap between him and God. Job's lament is not just about his suffering but also about the seeming injustice of his situation, where he sees wicked people prosper while he, a righteous man, suffers.

Job's friends, particularly Bildad, respond to his suffering with theological arguments about God's justice, failing to offer the compassion and empathy Job needs. Bildad's response is a reminder of how we, as Christians, often misrepresent God by responding to others' pain with sermons rather than compassion. Jesus' example in the New Testament, where He shows love and grace to the woman caught in adultery, contrasts sharply with Bildad's approach. Jesus demonstrates that God's justice is intertwined with His love, mercy, and grace.

Job's desire for a mediator is a poignant foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, who would become the ultimate mediator between God and humanity. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection provide the bridge that Job longed for, offering us a way to approach God without fear. This mediator not only understands our suffering but also provides the grace and strength we need to endure and overcome it.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Depth of Job's Suffering: Job's suffering was not just physical but deeply emotional and spiritual. He lost everything he held dear and was left in a state of confusion and despair, questioning why such calamities had befallen him despite his righteousness. This teaches us that suffering can be multifaceted and deeply personal, often leaving us with more questions than answers. [04:03]

2. The Need for Compassion in Ministry: Bildad's response to Job's suffering was a theological argument rather than an empathetic response. This highlights the importance of compassion in ministry. As Christians, we must remember to respond to others' pain with empathy and love, following Jesus' example of ministering to the needs of the hurting rather than merely preaching at them. [12:09]

3. The Role of a Mediator: Job's longing for a mediator who could bridge the gap between him and God is a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as our mediator, understands our suffering and provides a way for us to approach God with confidence. This mediator role is crucial for our spiritual journey, offering us grace and strength in our times of need. [36:45]

4. God's Justice and Grace: While Bildad focused solely on God's justice, Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery shows that God's justice is always accompanied by His love, mercy, and grace. This balance is essential for understanding God's character and how He interacts with humanity. God's grace empowers us to live righteously, not as a license to sin but as a transformative force in our lives. [21:07]

5. Learning from the Past: Bildad's advice to learn from the wisdom of the ancestors is a reminder of the value of tradition and historical wisdom. However, we must distinguish between tradition, which is the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism, which is the dead faith of the living. Tradition should guide us and help us grow, while traditionalism can hold us back. [29:55]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:22] - Introduction to Job's Suffering
[04:03] - The Depth of Job's Pain
[05:36] - Job's Time Anxiety
[07:03] - The Concept of Time Anxiety
[08:26] - Job's Fear of Wasted Time
[10:16] - Job's Appeal for Forgiveness
[12:09] - Bildad's Theological Response
[14:04] - Misrepresenting God in Ministry
[15:10] - Bildad's Accusation of Blasphemy
[17:03] - Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
[18:37] - The Balance of Justice and Grace
[21:07] - Jesus' Defense of the Woman
[22:56] - The Transformative Power of Grace
[24:01] - Learning from Ancestral Wisdom
[25:09] - The Value of Tradition
[26:23] - The Importance of Asking
[27:57] - Cultivating Knowledge
[29:55] - Tradition vs. Traditionalism
[31:28] - God Doing a New Thing
[33:06] - Bildad's Final Argument
[34:59] - Job's Response to Bildad
[36:45] - The Need for a Mediator
[39:47] - Jesus as Our Mediator

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
- Job 9:32-35 (NIV): "He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot."

### Observation Questions
1. What specific losses and sufferings did Job endure according to the sermon? [02:22]
2. How did Job's friends, particularly Bildad, respond to his suffering? [12:09]
3. What was Job's desire for a mediator, and how does this foreshadow Jesus Christ? [36:45]
4. How does the sermon describe the balance between God's justice and grace, using the example of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery? [21:07]

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Job longed for a mediator between him and God? How does this reflect our need for Jesus? [36:45]
2. How does Bildad's response to Job's suffering illustrate a common mistake Christians make when ministering to others? [12:09]
3. In what ways does Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery demonstrate the balance of justice and grace? [21:07]
4. How can the wisdom of the past, as mentioned by Bildad, be both beneficial and potentially limiting in our spiritual journey? [29:55]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like Job, suffering without understanding why. How did you cope with that situation, and what would you do differently now? [04:03]
2. Have you ever responded to someone's pain with a theological argument rather than compassion? How can you change your approach to be more empathetic and Christ-like? [12:09]
3. Job desired a mediator to bridge the gap between him and God. How does knowing Jesus as your mediator impact your relationship with God and your approach to prayer? [36:45]
4. Jesus showed grace to the woman caught in adultery while still upholding justice. How can you apply this balance of grace and justice in your interactions with others? [21:07]
5. Bildad emphasized learning from the wisdom of the ancestors. How can you distinguish between valuable tradition and traditionalism that may hold you back? [29:55]
6. Job experienced "time anxiety" and felt his life was running out. Do you struggle with similar feelings? What steps can you take to trust God's timing and plan for your life? [08:26]
7. Reflect on the transformative power of God's grace in your life. How can you extend that same grace to others, especially those who may not deserve it? [22:56]

Devotional

Day 1: The Multifaceted Nature of Suffering
Description: Job's suffering was not just physical but deeply emotional and spiritual. He lost everything he held dear and was left in a state of confusion and despair, questioning why such calamities had befallen him despite his righteousness. This teaches us that suffering can be multifaceted and deeply personal, often leaving us with more questions than answers. Job's experience reminds us that in our own lives, suffering can come in many forms and can challenge our faith and understanding of God's justice. [04:03]

Job 9:16-18 (ESV): "If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness."

Reflection: Think of a time when you faced multifaceted suffering. How did it affect your faith and understanding of God's justice? Can you bring these feelings to God in prayer today, asking for His comfort and understanding?

Day 2: Compassion Over Theological Arguments
Description: Bildad's response to Job's suffering was a theological argument rather than an empathetic response. This highlights the importance of compassion in ministry. As Christians, we must remember to respond to others' pain with empathy and love, following Jesus' example of ministering to the needs of the hurting rather than merely preaching at them. Bildad's approach serves as a cautionary tale for us to prioritize compassion over rigid theological correctness. [12:09]

Romans 12:15 (ESV): "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is currently suffering. How can you show them compassion and empathy today, rather than offering solutions or theological explanations?

Day 3: The Mediator We Long For
Description: Job's longing for a mediator who could bridge the gap between him and God is a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as our mediator, understands our suffering and provides a way for us to approach God with confidence. This mediator role is crucial for our spiritual journey, offering us grace and strength in our times of need. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection provide the bridge that Job longed for, offering us a way to approach God without fear. [36:45]

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV): "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does knowing that Jesus is your mediator change your perspective? How can you approach God with confidence today, knowing that Jesus bridges the gap?

Day 4: Balancing Justice and Grace
Description: While Bildad focused solely on God's justice, Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery shows that God's justice is always accompanied by His love, mercy, and grace. This balance is essential for understanding God's character and how He interacts with humanity. God's grace empowers us to live righteously, not as a license to sin but as a transformative force in our lives. Understanding this balance helps us to better reflect God's character in our own lives. [21:07]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to balance justice and grace? How can you better reflect God's character by incorporating both justice and grace in your interactions with others today?

Day 5: Tradition vs. Traditionalism
Description: Bildad's advice to learn from the wisdom of the ancestors is a reminder of the value of tradition and historical wisdom. However, we must distinguish between tradition, which is the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism, which is the dead faith of the living. Tradition should guide us and help us grow, while traditionalism can hold us back. Embracing the wisdom of the past while remaining open to God's new work is crucial for spiritual growth. [29:55]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: Reflect on a tradition in your life or church. Is it guiding you and helping you grow, or is it holding you back? How can you remain open to the new things God wants to do in your life today?

Quotes

1. "It's one thing to be going through. It's another thing not to even understand why you're going through what you're going through. How is it that I was doing everything right and ended up worse off than others who knowingly commit wickedness? How is it? I didn't cheat. I didn't lie. I didn't steal, but I still didn't get the job. Well, I see other people do all that, and they become president of the United States. Why are bad things happening to me when I'm living righteously?" [04:03] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Job was focusing on the brevity of life and saying to God, I feel like I'm running out of time. Job closed his appeal in chapter seven by asking for forgiveness for anything that he has done that he's not aware of that would cause his current circumstance and predicament. That begs us to question that if today was your last day, would you be satisfied with the life you've lived? Would you be content with the service you've given, the relationships you've built, the spiritual walk that you have exhibited?" [10:16] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Stop trying to preach to me when you haven't walked with me when you can't relate or at least have compassion for my struggle you can't speak to my pain if I'm hungry give me a piece of chicken if if I'm naked give me a hoodie to put on if I'm sick come bring me some me just a little while remember that I exist we misrepresent our Lord because we want to always preach a sermon and force people to where we are when we forget to preach a sermon." [14:04] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus stood up for her when others were trying to condemn her Jesus stooped down and stood up just to make sure that she was protected now understand what this means back to the attributes of God you've got to see it they all depart and jesus says to her where are your accusers didn't even one of them condemn you she says no lord she see that's love jesus steps in and fights your battles shows up to defend you even sometimes when you were wrong it's not that she was right it's just that god still loved her." [21:07] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God's grace is not a license to live and do however we feel in each moment. No, his grace meets us where we are to transform us into all God has purposed us to be. Grace without justice is a license to live unjustly and justice without grace is, has no restorative component to it. It is simply just judgment. Bildad does not understand God's grace." [22:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Knowledge is a garden if it isn't cultivated you can't harvest it can we can we hear the wisdom of the ancestors for a moment knowledge we agree is power right just like a garden what you know and learn must be cultivated in the most beautiful of gardens weeds still grow up don't they pests still invade deer still show up to feast with the rabbits and the other animals and the garden's productivity is tied not just to the nutrients in the soil or the rain but to how the cultivation of the plants is going one must be able to grow in order to receive a harvest." [27:57] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The past must be a rudder to guide us and not an anchor to hold us back. Many are stuck in the past instead of being informed by the past. Let me break it down the way the late historian Yaroslav Pelikan put it. The way he put it was is he said there's a difference between tradition and traditionalism. He states, I quote, tradition is the living faith of the dead, but traditionalism is the dead faith of the living." [29:55] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "If I hold God to how he moved yesterday, I'll miss how he's moving today. If I hold God to doing exactly what he did before, then I'll miss how he's gonna do it today. I don't know how he's gonna heal me this time. Last time he healed me just with a prayer, but this time he may heal me by the doctors. I don't care how he does it. What I know is at the end of the day, the tradition is I'm healed. tradition is I've been set free. The tradition is Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life." [31:28] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Job says, well, I wish I could have a legal trial then. Job says, I wish I could take God to court and be given an opportunity to prove my integrity and innocence. And Job goes on, but he states, how could a mere mortal bring such a case against God? He says, what chance would I have? He says, God's wisdom is so deep. God's power is so immense. Who could take him on and come out in one piece?" [34:59] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Job said there is no mediator who could come between him and God and lay hand on them both. You are missing this moment, Job. Job is letting us know that we are not grateful enough. Because while he was lost trying to figure it out, in the beginning of the love of God, God won't let him go. He said, he'll leave you all this please, oh, please, don't pass me by." [39:47] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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