An Accusation of Sin—Part 1

“Let the day perish on which I was to be born,…” Job 3:3

Chapter 3 of Job ends the week of silence between Job and his friends as they sat together in deep sorrow. Job breaks the silence beginning with the words on Job 3:3. David Guzik gives us some good things to think about as he observes Job’s despair.

“This chapter begins the battle in Job’s mind and soul. He will not lose more or suffer more than he already has (though his physical pain will continue). Yet now we can say that the battle enters into an entirely other arena; the arena of Job’s mind and soul. How will he choose to think about his suffering? How will he choose to think about what others think about his suffering? How will he choose to think about God in all this? These are the questions that take up the remainder of the book, and soon come to any sufferer. The catastrophic loss itself is only an entry point into the agonizing battle in the mind and soul.”

Consider these thoughts in relation to times of suffering in your own life. Where do our minds and souls settle themselves when great difficulties come into our lives? This Thursday morning we plan to look at chapters 3-10 of Job and possibly get to the first two discussion questions. We will discuss a key verse in each chapter. Be sure to have chosen a memory verse or two that you would like to work on during the study of Job.

A big thank you to Naska who will be helping us out with the children.

The Dilemma--part 2

 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11

Read again this wonderful verse from James 5. Is our conclusion when difficult things come our way that the Lord is “compassionate and merciful?” Or do we consider ourselves unfairly treated? As you study through the first two chapters of Job this week, please consider how understanding what is being said in this portion of Job applies to your life. Everything may be going just fine in your life currently, but think about how you can prepare yourself now for the reality of suffering so that you will know how to respond when you experience it in the future? Be prepared to share how you are working through these thoughts as we gather this Thursday morning.

Anastasia will be blessing us with child care during our study time.

The Dilemma—part 1

Ladies, I hope the excitement to study Job builds with every day you are sinking into it. What an incredible book! What practical encouragement we see in Job for our daily lives. Consider Spurgeon’s well chosen words concerning Job.

As good as Job was at the beginning of the book, he will be a better man at the end of it. He was better in character, humbler, and more blessed than before. “Foolish devil! he is piling up a pedestal on which God will set his servant Job, that he may he looked upon with wonder by all ages. . . Oh! how many saints have been comforted in their distress by this history of patience! How many have been saved out of the jaw of the lion, and from the paw of the bear by the dark experiences of the patriarch of Uz. O arch fiend, how art thou taken in thine own net! Thou hast thrown a stone which has fallen on thine own head. Thou madest a pit for Job, and hast fallen into it thyself; thou art taken in thine own craftiness.” (Spurgeon) 

Let’s plan to look in depth at the first 2 chapters of Job this Thursday morning. The questions on page 6 of our study guides will be for summarizing what we discuss in class. Plan to dig into some good commentators on these two passages to challenge your thinking to deeper levels than you may have thought of before. I’m very excited to begin this amazing study on Thursday.