Reverence in the Darkness: Job’s Response to God in Suffering

What does it look like to turn to God in the midst of suffering? How do we recognize the reality of suffering, understand the nature of suffering, evaluate the cause of suffering, and grow through suffering?

(Job 1:1-2:13)

Sermon Outline

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21)

Setting the Stage for Job

• Overview of the Book of Job
• Prelude (Job 1:1-5)
• Acts 1 (Job 1:6-22)
  • Cosmic face-off, part 1 (1:6-12)
  • Job’s suffering, part 1 (1:13-19)
  • Job’s response, part 1 (1:20-22)
• Act 2 (Job 2:1-10)
  • Cosmic face-off, part 2 (2:1-6)
  • Job’s suffering, part 2 (2:7-8)
  • Jobs’ response, part 2 (2:9-10)
• Afterward (Job 2:11-13)

Learning Reverence in the Darkness

• Learning __________________________: Unseen Realities and Suffering
• Learning __________________________: The Reality of Suffering
• Learning __________________________: Holding onto God in Suffering
• Learning __________________________: Meeting God in Suffering

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever walked through times of confusion or darkness in your faith? What happened? How did you deal with it?
2. We begin a new series this weekend entitled “Finding God in the Darkness,” which draws from the book of Job and is part of a church-wide journey toward Easter (find out more online: eastbrook.org/findinggodinthedarkness). As we start this journey, we will look at Job, chapters 1 and 2. Whether you are on your own or with a small group, begin your study in prayer, and then read those two chapters.
3. Within the first five verses of Job we get a summary of Job’s character and the blessed state of his life. The words used to describe him in the first verse are ‘blameless’, ‘upright’, and ‘feared God’. Take a moment to look up a few verses related to these words, then discuss what these words tell us about Job:
   1. ‘blameless’: Proverbs 11:3, 20; 13:6; 20:7; 28:10
   2. ‘upright’: Proverbs 2:7, 21; 11:6; 12:6; 14:1
   3. ‘fear of the Lord’: Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
4. The first two chapters of Job help us to see something that the characters of the book do not understand: they are part of a cosmic drama playing out in the heavenly places. How would you summarize the challenge or bargain that God makes with Satan, or the accuser, in Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-6?
5. Summarize the suffering that happens to Job according to 1:13-19 and 2:7-8.
6. If this happened to you, how do you think you would respond? Have you ever had a time of intense suffering like this?
7. Read Job 1:20-22 and 2:9-10 again. Read Job’s response in the midst of these challenging circumstances?
8. Matt and Beth Redman wrote the famous worship song, “Blessed by Your Name,” from this portion of the book of Job as they reflected on the suffering in the world. Take a moment to listen to this song again and let it be your response of worship to God from this passage.
9. What is one specific thing that God is speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then take extended time to pray about what you share. If you are studying on your own, write it down, pray about it, and share this with someone during the next few days.