Why? Discussion Guide - Week 2

Welcome
Last week we began our study of Job with an overview of his story. Job was a very successful man – loved and respected by his family, well thought of in his community and among his employees and servants, and a man of great material means.  When suddenly, for no apparent reason, he lost everything, including his health. After what may have been years of suffering and loss, all was restored. So what was the purpose of all that? This week we begin to look at the specifics in the middle as we try to discern the reason(s) for suffering.


Opening Prayer
Thank you, God, that you are the one who sees us – that even now you are the one who sits among us as we try to understand the hard things in our lives.  Let us be mindful of one another as we talk today. Amen.


Ice Breaker
During this sermon series we are encouraged to read through the Book of Job together using the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). Did you use any SOAP this week? Please share your thoughts on this strategy for reading through the Book of Job… Or, alternatively, share an interesting fact about your favorite cleaning products and practices.


The Head
A large part of the Book of Job consists of a series of conversations between Job and three friends who come to comfort him when they hear of the disasters of his life. The first of the friends to speak is Eliphaz the Temanite. Eliphaz tries to explain suffering through several theories - correction, mystery, punishment, warning.  

Think! What innocent person has ever perished? When have those who do the right thing been destroyed? As I’ve observed, those who plow sin and sow trouble will harvest it.  (Job 4.7-8)

I’ve seen the foolish take root and promptly curse their house. Their children are far from safety, crushed in the gate without a deliverer. (Job 5.3-4)

Surely trouble doesn’t come from dust, nor does distress sprout from the ground. Surely humans are born to distress, just as sparks rise up. (Job 5:6-7)

But I would seek God, put my case to God, who does great things beyond comprehension, wonderful things without number. (Job.5.8-9)

Look, happy is the person whom God corrects, so don’t reject the Almighty’s instruction. He injures, but he binds up, he strikes, but his hands heal. (Job 5.17-18)

• Match the scriptures above to the Eliphaz’s theories for suffering.
• In a few words, explain what each of these theories might look like.
• What other theories would you propose for why suffering happens?

Some New Testament scriptures also speak of possible reasons for suffering. Consider these:

We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. (Romans 5:3)

After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work, so that you may be fully mature, complete and lacking in nothing. (James 1.3-4)

• According to these passages, what is the purpose of problems/testing?
• How would you compare these passages to Eliphaz’s reasoning for suffering?

Job’s response to Eliphaz was probably not unexpected. He defends his anger toward God and toward his friends for suggesting that his loss was likely caused by something of his own doing. Job dares them to get specific instead of calling out platitudes disguised as comfort.

If I sinned, what did I do to you, guardian of people? Why have you made me your target so that I’m a burden to myself? (Job 7.20)

• To whom is Job speaking and what is he asking/demanding?    
• How do you think Job’s friends see him as he makes this demand?

The Heart
Job’s suffering was real.  When his friends first arrived to comfort him, they did not even recognize him. We are told that they were so overwhelmed by his grief that they had no words to offer for his pain. They just sat down. There are times in our own lives that we witness the suffering of others even as there are seasons of our own sufferings. It seems to be our inclination as comforters that we also want to fix and give advice. Perhaps this study can also provide us with some guidance for handling such times.  

• Of the four theories discussed, explain which one seems most plausible to you personally.
• Think of a time when you have given comfort to a friend or family member. What did you do? Do you think it was well received? Is there something you wish you had done instead or in addition to what you did?
• Why is giving comfort sometimes hard?
• Have you ever felt like Job, that his friends were missing the point, when you have been in pain? Share something about that if you’d like.  

The Hands
Continue your meditations on motives for loving God. Include in your thoughts this week the ways in which you seek to comfort people. Also spend some time thinking of how you would wish to be comforted in a time of suffering.
 

Closing Prayer
It has been good to be in this place today. Thank you, God, for each person in this group. Thanks for the things that we shared. Give us understanding of suffering, so that we may be genuine in our comfort for others. Give us hope for the days ahead and keep us in your peace. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.  


Additional Resources
Julian of Norwich was an early church mystic who fervently sought to understand the suffering of Jesus. She would have likely been among the women at the cross who comforted him. The novel I Julian… by Claire Gilbert is a good introduction to the life of Julian of Norwich and what she learned of suffering.


Going Deeper
Join us as we read through the whole Book of Job! This reading plan is designed to guide you through the entire Book of Job, one chapter at a time. By taking it chapter by chapter, you’ll have the opportunity to fully engage with the text and reflect on its themes and lessons. More information can be found by clicking on the top link on The Gathering’s app.

 
From Pastor Charity
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