Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
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Why does God allow the righteous to suffer? By examining the account of Job and wondering about the death of James, we find that although we may not know why we suffer, it is important for us to learn through it. We are reminded that suffering provides us an opportunity for our faith to grow, that we will all die, and we are encouraged to continue in prayer. (Parts of this lesson were borrowed from Darrel Yontz.)
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Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
- 1. Why Do the Righteous Suffer? James 1.2-8
- 2. Why do some suffer?
- 3. Why do some suffer? Wicked?
- 4. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices?
- 5. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices? Innocent?
- 6. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices? Innocent? Righteous?
- 7. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices? Innocent? David Righteous?
- 8. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices? Innocent? David Righteous?
- 9. Why do some suffer? Wicked? Personal choices? Innocent? David Righteous? Jesus
- 10. Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
- 11. The Steadfastness of Job
- 12. The Steadfastness of Job “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5.11
- 13. The Steadfastness of Job “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1.1
- 14. The Steadfastness of Job “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Job 1.8
- 15. The Steadfastness of Job “Does Job fear God for no reason?” Job 1.9
- 16. The Steadfastness of Job “Have you put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” Job 1.10
- 17. The Steadfastness of Job “But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” Job 1.11
- 18. The Steadfastness of Job “He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job 2.3
- 19. The Steadfastness of Job “He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job 2.3
- 20. The Steadfastness of Job “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bond and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” Job 2.4-5
- 21. The Steadfastness of Job “His suffering was very great.” Job 2.13
- 22. The Steadfastness of Job “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him.” Job 13.15-16
- 23. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job
- 24. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Foundation of the Earth
- 25. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Foundation of the Earth “On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone.” Job 38.6
- 26. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Foundation of the Earth “Or who shut in the sea with doors ... and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors.” Job 38.8, 10
- 27. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Sustaining the Earth “Have you commanded the morning?” Job 38.12
- 28. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Caring for His Creatures “Can you hunt the prey for the lion or satisfy the appetite of the young lions?” Job 38.39
- 29. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job The Largest of All His Creations “No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before Me?” Job 41.10
- 30. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Job’s response... “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42.2
- 31. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s ‘Conversation’ with Job Job’s response... “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Job 42.5
- 32. The Steadfastness of Job Jehovah’s Reward “And Jehovah restored the fortunes of Job” Job 42.10
- 33. The Steadfastness of Job “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5.11
- 34. The Steadfastness of Job ose? pu rp v ea rof the “You have ing se heard uf fer of Job, and you have steadfastness ’s s ob the purpose of the Lord, D i d Jseen how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5.11
- 35. Why did God let James die?
- 36. Why did God let James die? “He killed James the brother of John with the sword.” Acts 12.2
- 37. Why did God let James die? “he proceeded to arrest Peter also.” Acts 12.3
- 38. Why did God let James die? “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” Acts 12.5
- 39. Why did God let James die? When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod” Acts 12.11
- 40. What can we learn from suffering?
- 41. An opportunity for my faith to grow.
- 42. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.” Hebrews 5.8
- 43. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God” 1 Peter 3.18
- 44. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12.2
- 45. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1.2
- 46. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1.3-4
- 47. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God promised to those who love Him.” James 1.12
- 48. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,” 1 Peter 1.6
- 49. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes thought it is tested by fire—” 1 Peter 1.7
- 50. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1.7
- 51. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” 1 Peter 1.13
- 52. An opportunity for my faith to grow. “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4.19
- 53. A reminder that we all die.
- 54. A reminder that we all die. “A time to be born, and a time to die” Ecclesiastes 3.2
- 55. A reminder that we all die. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4.14
- 56. A reminder that we all die. “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them” Ecclesiastes 12.1
- 57. A reminder that we all die. “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12.7
- 58. A reminder that we all die. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4.16
- 59. An encouragement to continue in prayer.
- 60. An encouragement to continue in prayer. “The prayer of a righteous man has great power as it is working.” James 5.16
- 61. An encouragement to continue in prayer. “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18.1
- 62. Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
- 63. Will today be the day you decide to go to heaven?
- 64. Lesson slideshows (with notes) and audio can be found at: www.churchofchristmiranda.com
- 65. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.) Sad Girl: http://www.crestock.com/image/176017-child-10.aspx
- 66. Miscellaneous 2012 Compiled and Presented by: Dave Stewart 5 February, 2012 #03 Las Cruces, NM www.churchofchristmiranda.com Why Do the Righteous Suffer? James 1.2-8 Synopsis: Why does God allow the righteous to suffer? By examining the account of Job and wondering about the death of James, we find that although we may not know why we suffer, it is important for us to learn through it. We are reminded that suffering provides us an opportunity for our faith to grow, that we will all die, and we are encouraged to continue in prayer. (Parts of this lesson were borrowed from Darrel Yontz.) "Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” “Let all that you do be done with love.”
Notas do Editor
- Let all that you do be done with love.\n
- Why do the righteous suffer?\n
- A.Some suffering is easy for us to understand...\n\n1.When a guilty criminal is punished for his crimes we know he is suffering because of his own choices and actions.\n\na.Although, ancillary to this lesson, do we not sometimes wonder why the wicked are not punished? Why do they prosper and why doesn’t God deal with them? (Psalm 73)\n
- b. Also, we remember that our God punishes us, disciplines us, so that we will do what is right. (Hebrews 12.5-11)\n
- 2.Each of us may suffer similarly for choices that we make (not necessarily criminal) such as overeating.\n
- B.Some suffering is more difficult\n\n1.A man born blind: John 9 “Who sinned, this man or his parents?”\n\na.John 9:3: Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.\n\n
- C.And some we Just really struggle to comprehend\n\n1.David: Evil men\n\na.To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.\n\nb.Psalm 57:4: My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.\n
- C.And some we Just really struggle to comprehend\n\n1.David: Evil men\n\na.To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.\n\nb.Psalm 57:4: My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.\n
- 2.Jesus\n\na.Mocked, struck, spit on, scourged, crown of thorns, crucified\n\nb.Heb. 5.8: Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.\n\nc.1 Peter 3.18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,\n\n
- 2.Jesus\n\na.Mocked, struck, spit on, scourged, crown of thorns, crucified\n\nb.Heb. 5.8: Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.\n\nc.1 Peter 3.18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,\n\n
- For us, this has become very real.\n\nCancer, Heart\n
- The Steadfastness of Job\n\nJames 5.11: Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.\n
- James 5.11: Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.\n\nDid God allow Job to suffer just because He could, because he wants to prove he is powerful. Is really just capricious (fickle, sudden unpredictable changes in attitude or behavior, impulsive)?\n
- Job 1:1: There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.\n\nJob 1:5: And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.\n\n
- Job 1:8-12: And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” \n
- Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”\n
- Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. \n
- But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.\n
- 1.Job only fears God because God has blessed and cared for Him.\n\na.Job’s integrity is what is being questioned by Satan, not his righteousness.\n\nb.Job serves God for his own benefit, his faith in God is essentially selfish, his worship is self-centered and self-interested. His faith is a “fair-weather” faith.\n
- Sabeans: Oxen, donkeys\n\nLightening: Sheep, servants\n\nChaldeans: Camels, servants\n\nWind: sons and daughters\n\n(Human and natural disasters)\n
- Job 2:3: And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”\n
- Job 2:3: And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”\n\nJob was not being punished, he done nothing deserving of this, and yet God allowed it to happen.\n
- Job 2:4-5: Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”\n
- Job 2:13: And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.\n
- Job 13:15-16: Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.\n
- God’s “conversation” with Job (38-42)\n\n1.38.4-11: Establishment of the Foundations of the Earth: firm, limits on water\n
- God’s “conversation” with Job (38-42)\n\n1.38.4-11: Establishment of the Foundations of the Earth: firm, limits on water\n
- God’s “conversation” with Job (38-42)\n\n1.38.4-11: Establishment of the Foundations of the Earth: firm, limits on water\n
- 38.12-35: Natural World: morning, light, snow, rain, story, stars, clouds\n
- 38.39 - 39.40: Animals (Jehovah cares for them)\n\na.Food for lions and ravens\n\nb.Birth, growth of young\n\nc.Homes\n
- 40.6- 41.34: The Biggest of the Animals\n\na.Behemoth: Food, shelter, safety (confidence)\n\nb.Leviathan: \n(1)Job 41:10-11: No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.\n
- Job’s Response Job 42:2-6: \n\n“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. \n\nJob understands His God much better, fears and honors Him.\n
- Job 42:2-6: I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”\n\nNow my eye sees you: Job’s faith is now based, not on what he has heard of God, but what he knows of God; now he has a deeper, more abiding relationship.\n\n
- Jehovah’s Reward: restored fortunes of Job (2X), family, sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, children, long life\n
- Did Job’s suffering serve any purpose? Did it have meaning?\n\n1.Difficult for us to see from our perspective.\n\n2.In God’s view, YES\n
- Through the suffering, Job learned more about Jehovah (I had heard, now I see). Jehovah is compassionate and merciful: from the very beginning, to the daily sustaining of the world, towards even the animals. No one can stand before God and really question His purpose, compassion or mercy.\n
- Ecclesiastes 7:13-14: Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.\n\n
- Isaiah 46:8-11: “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.\n\n
- Darrel Yontz pointed to this quandary...\n
- 1.Sometimes the points made in the Bible that we don’t understand.\n\na.Herod and executes James the brother of John and he is the first apostles to die.\n
- b.Herod arrests Peter and intends to kill him too.\n
- While Peter was in prison, the church prayed for Him.\n\n(Had they prayed James also?)\n
- An angel of the Lord comes and saves Peter, but he let James die.\n\nWhy?\n\nI don’t know.\n
- What can we learn from suffering?\n
- An opportunity for my faith to grow.\n
- 2.Jesus\na.Mocked, struck, spit on, scourged, crown of thorns, crucified\n\nb.Heb. 5.8: Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.\n\nGreat High priest, knows how striving to be obedient we suffer wrongly. Obedience may hurt (to death)\n
- c.1 Peter 3.18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,\n
- Hebrews 12:2: looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.\n
- James 1.2-8: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds\n\nDoesn’t say be happy.\n\nCount it all joy.\n\nAs with Jesus, look beyond the trial to the outcome: the purpose of God for your life.\n
- 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.\n
- James 1.12: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.\n
- 1Pet. 1.6-7: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,\n
- 1Pet. 1.6-7: 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. \n
- 1Pet. 1.6-7: tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. \n
- 1 Pet. 3.13-18: But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, \n
- 1 Pet. 4.12-18: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.\n
- A reminder that we all die.\n
- Ecclesiastes 3:2: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;\n\n(Remember He who feeds the lions? That requires that other creatures die!)\n
- James 4:14: yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.\n
- Ecclesiastes 12:1-8: 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.\n
- Ecclesiastes 12:1-8: 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.\n
- 2 Corinthians 4:16: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.\n
- An encouragement to continue in prayer.\n
- 1.Consider the effectiveness of prayer\n\na.I have no doubt that the congregation prayed for James when he was arrested, yet he was killed.\n\nb.When Peter was arrested, we are told that they prayed again.\n
- c.Does that mean that the prayer was not heard or was not effective when they prayed for James?\n\nd.Why did they pray for Peter if the prayer was ineffective with James?\n\n
- 2.What is our attitude when God says no to a prayer?\n\na.Almost all of us inherently understand that God can say no to a prayer. However, he will not say no to all prayers.\n
- (1)Luke 18.1-8: This parable teaches that even the unjust will eventually yield within treated repeatedly.\n\n(a)How much more than what God who loves those that follow him give to those who ask?\n\n(b)The conclusion is we must never quit praying.\n
- (2)What happens is not necessarily an indication of God’s approval or disapproval.\n\n(a)Both James and Peter were apostles, believers, even on the inner circle, but James was killed and Peter was not.\n\n(b)There is nothing in the Scriptures that would lead me to believe that Peter was approved by God and that James was not.\n
- (c)Instead, the evidence points to the idea that both men were accepted by God, and I don’t know why James was taken and Peter was not.\n\n(d)What this does prove is that God’s approval or disapproval is not in every decision.\n
- Consider the fact that throughout Job’s suffering, he continue to address his concerns to God. It is unclear how long Job suffered, yet he continued to hope in God when there was no immediate answer.\n
- Why do the righteous suffer?\n\nWe may not always understand Why.\n\nWe must see suffering as an opportunity for our faith in God to grow so that we know Him and serve Him joyfully.\n\nIt encourages us to pray.\n\nIt reminds us that we all will die... are you prepared for death? For what comes after death? Will you be saved?\n
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