Job 7:1-7

5th Sunday after Epiphany

February 8, 2009

Job 7:1-7 (New International Version)

1 "Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? 2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, 3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me. 4 When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn. 5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering. 6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. 7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.

Experience can be one of the best teachers in life. If we want to learn something about a particular subject or event, one of the best things we can do is go to someone who has had a lot of experience. For example, if we have to have surgery, it’s nice to talk to someone who’s already gone through it because they can tell us what to expect. Or if we’re going to buy a new home or a new car for the first time, it’s nice to talk with someone who’s already done that because they can tell us what or what not to do. Yes, we can learn a lot from other people who have had a lot more experience than we have had.

One area of life in which we all have a lot to learn is how to handle suffering in a God-pleasing way. Perhaps the one person who had more experience with suffering than anybody else was the Old Testament believer Job. In one day he lost all of his children, many of his servants, and all his cattle. Not long after that he even lost his health. If anyone knew what suffering was, Job was it. As we look at how Job handled his suffering, we can learn a lot from him about how to handle our own. That’s the thought we want to consider today: What we want to learn from Job today are the “Do’s & Don’ts of Suffering! I. in the day of suffering, don’t despair of Gods forgiving love II. in the day of suffering, do depend on God’s promises.

How many times haven’t we said or heard someone say while going through a difficult time “If only I had the patience of Job!?” Job is often held out as an example of patience in suffering. As one studies the book of Job, however, one quickly learns that Job wasn’t such a shining example of faith or of patience. Do you recall how the book of Job goes? In the opening we read how God allowed Satan to strike Job with difficulties because God knew that Job’s suffering would ultimately bring glory to God and good to Job. And so, in one day, all of Job’s children died, all of his herds were stolen, and he was struck with a plague of boils that was so severe that he couldn’t even lie down at night to sleep. While Job was mourning his losses, some friends came to try and “comfort” him. One question with which they plied Job was “Job, God only punishes those who do some great evil, so Job what did you ever do that God is punishing you this way?” Our text is part of Job’s response: ”1 Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man?2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, 3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.4 When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.”

Does this sound like a man who had great patience and trust in God? In these words we hear a man who was becoming impatience with God and in the depths of despair. Job felt helpless and sounded hopeless.

As we look at Job we must admit that suffering can drive us to despair too, and sometimes, yes, maybe even many times we are quick to question like Job’s friends, “God, what have I ever done that you are treating me this way?” As a pastor I have often heard many-a-suffering Christian ask that very thing in my office, in the hospital room, on the deathbed. The guilt and burden of sin can weigh heavy on our hearts, but even more so when the hour of suffering comes.

And isn’t that exactly what the devil wants? He wants us to despair of God’s love and forgiveness. That’s what he wanted to accomplish in striking Job, and that’s exactly the temptation with which he attacks us. But dear friends, when suffering comes, don’t despair of God’s love and forgiveness, and don’t accuse God of dealing with you unfairly. How can we do that? By remembering what the cross of Calvary was about. When Jesus hung there on the cross God was punishing us and all of our sins once and for all. That’s what the Bible means when it says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.” That’s what the Scriptures mean when they invite us “Look, that Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That’s what the Bible means when it promises, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

When we stop and think of it, you and I deserve something far worse than any loss or suffering in this world, yes, even for the times when we have doubted God’s love or questioned his goodness when we have suffered loss. But look at what God has done for us. He made his Son suffer all that we deserved--hell itself.

So what is God trying to accomplish and how are we to handle the hour of suffering? God’s ways are far above our ways and we may never know all the reasons God would allow us such suffering. But what we can be sure of is this: he isn’t punishing us for sin, he has already done that in Christ. And what we can also be sure of is this, that as with Job, God will always use our suffering to his glory and for our good. That’s the first thing we learn about suffering from Job. II.

Another thing we learn from Job about handling suffering is that the only thing on which we can truly depend, the only thing that will ever sustain us in suffering are the promises of God’s Word.

As we said before, Job’s friends came to “comfort” him. They insisted that God was punishing Job for some great sin. So they encouraged Job to acknowledge his wrongdoing and God would then have mercy. But they were wrong. Job had been righteous and upright. But Job wasn’t completely innocent either. He began to complain bitterly against God as though he were being treated unfairly. He thought he deserved better and questioned, “Why do God’s people seem to have so much trouble in life while the unbelievers seem to have life so easy!” Sound familiar? Both Job’s friends and his own heart had failed.

And so how did Job survive? The promises of God sustained him. Why can we say that? We can say this because right at the very depths of his despair, Job made one the most beautiful confessions of faith. “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes--I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job didn’t know how long his suffering was going to last and he didn’t even know whether he was going to live or die. And yet, in spite of all this uncertainty, Job knew that he would live again and on the last day see the Savior with his own eyes, even after they had been closed in death. It was God’s sure promise of the resurrection and eternal life that sustained Job.

That’s the only thing that can sustain us in our suffering too. We need that reminder because there’s always going to be the temptation to rely on the wrong things. Our physical or emotional strength? That can go just like that? Our retirement fund or our job? Those things can go just like that! Our family, our friends, our fellow believers? Sometimes they can help. Sometimes, however, like in the case of Job, they can add insult to injury. Only God’s promises can sustain us in the hour of suffering. For example, when grief or pain come and our world seems to be falling apart God has promised, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” When we or a loved one is suffering some terrible illness in the hospital, nursing home, or under hospice care and it seems like God has forgotten us, it is his promises that will sustain us. “Can a mother forget her baby and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” When we or a loved one state at death’s portal, and like Job, it looks as though we may never see happiness in this life again, then it’s God promises of eternal life that will sustain us.

I don’t know what difficulties you are going through in your life or what losses you have suffered. Maybe one of you out there has suffered as much as Job did. I don’t know what dark valleys God will ask any of us to travel in the future. But I do know this, when the day of suffering comes, God’s promises will sustain us. Look how they sustained Job!

One tendency of human nature is to complain. Some of us are better at it than others. And one of the things we often complain about is how rough we have it in life, or how much we suffer from this or that. We’re all guilty of that. We’re really no different than Job in that way. But perhaps in closing, let us make this suggestion. When we visit with others, let us not dwell on what we suffer, rather let us dwell on what our Savior suffered for each of us. Only his suffering can assure us that one day in heaven we will never have to endure suffering or loss again. And you know what, that’s really the most important thing we can learn from Job about suffering!? Amen.