My Servant Job – Gospel in Life
Sermon

My Servant Job

Tim Keller |  February 10, 2008

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Topics:
  • Suffering
Duration:
37:19
Scripture:
Job 38:1-3; 40:8-12; 42:1-10
SKU:
RS 200-6

Overview

Job is a man who is plunged into agony, and for chapter after chapter, we’ve been seeing Job confused and angry, crying out to God in prayer. Two things keep coming up through all that. Job says, “I don’t want to suffer without explanation, and I don’t want to suffer without vindication.” He keeps saying, “I want to appear before God. I want to talk to God. I want to meet God face to face.” Therefore, if you’re reading through the book of Job, you know the only way this story can end is for God to actually show up and respond to Job.

And God does. This is the climax of the whole book. There are three things we’re going to learn about this final climactic appearance of God before Job. Let’s look at the argument of God, the silences of God, and God’s wonderful, terrible storm.

Job’s Story

The story of Job is a deep dive into the often puzzling issue of suffering. It’s about Job, a good and respected man, who suddenly loses everything he holds dear. He’s left questioning why he’s in pain and whether he’s done anything to deserve it. The story end with God answering Job in unexpected ways, through powerful speeches, quiet moments, and a mighty storm, revealing His reasons, His unspoken thoughts, and the awe-inspiring nature of His presence.

1. God’s Point of View

The story tackles the question of how suffering and evil can exist if God is powerful and good. God’s response points to the awe-inspiring natural world as proof of His power and wisdom. The story uses the example of a 7-year-old questioning a physicist to show that God’s plans and knowledge are far beyond human understanding. Even if we don’t understand why God allows suffering, it doesn’t mean there aren’t good reasons. The story includes Elisabeth Elliot’s struggles as a dedicated Christian, the importance of understanding God’s principles before facing suffering, the tendency of people to treat God like a helper rather than a mighty being, and how recognizing God’s greatness can bring peace and satisfaction.

2. God’s Silence

God’s conversations with Job don’t explain the real reasons for his suffering, which were to disprove Satan’s claims and not to put down Job. Job’s story of bravery and patience has inspired many people. This story is compared with Salieri’s in “Amadeus,” illustrating the importance of loving God for who He is and not for what He can give, and trusting in His grace during tough times.

3. The Storm from God

Job longed for answers and justice for his suffering, but found comfort in God’s presence, represented as a storm, and His personal name, Yahweh. The conversation between God and Job shows a tough love approach, highlighting Job’s limited understanding and challenging his questioning of God. This leads to Job’s change of heart and understanding of God’s love and grace. The story ends with Job forgiving his friends, realizing that blessings aren’t guaranteed until one can serve God without expecting something in return, and a prayer for a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and the ability to reflect God in our own sufferings.

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