The sovereignty of god in the book of job

May 30, 2018 so while we believe in gods sovereignty, we also mourn and despise evil because it is the antithesis of our good god. Job gives us an incredible example of how to trust in the sovereign god to bring about what is ultimately best for us even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Objective is not to make a case for god s sovereignty but instead learn how god s sovereignty is demonstrated job is an excellent book for this brief summary of the book of job. So the subtitle for the lesson is trusting gods sovereignty. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. North hamilton church of christ the sovereignty of god. I really could just end the blog post there, but there is just too many good nuggets of info that i cant leave unsaid. Yours is the dominion, o lord, and you exalt yourself as head over all.

It was only after job had acknowledged gods sovereignty and prayed for his friends that god restored everything job had lost and doubled in every case except for his children because they would marry and give job grandchildren. In the larger scope of gods plan, job is part of the righteous remnant god preserves unto the crushing of satans head cf. Here are some realizations that i never really comprehended before. Then, you can test those general statements about god s sovereignty with lots and lots of examples.

In the book of job the great adversary of believers is shown to be who he truly is the evil perpetrator behind the devastating disasters that strike job s life. God shows job is someone god uses in his plan and for his purposes. So this week we want to add to our understanding of the unified voice of god by talking about the sovereignty of god, the sovereignty of god so if god is all powerful if god is unlimited in his ability than that unlimited ability that unlimited power implies control. Bible book introduction videos introduction to job english. The book of job, satan, sickness, and the sovereignty of god duration. Insidious sovereignty of god belief makes powerless victims. Framework for understanding god s sovereignty in our earthly lives comes in the next lines.

The idea that god is in control seems like it honors god because many mistakenly think that absolute control over everything at every moment is. At the close of the book, god restores jobs fortunes and his health, showering him with blessings. If moses wrote the book of job, it still retains its title as the oldest book in the bible since it would be approximately 3500 years old. The word sovereign, although it does not occur in any form in the english bible, conveys the oftrepeated scriptural thought of the supreme authority of god. Job keeps his integrity how does the book of job show that all intelligent creatures can contribute to the vindication of gods sovereignty. Job discovered that to know god was infinitely more important that knowing the reason for suffering and pain. But god makes that promise, and millions throughout history have testified to its truth because god has proven his ability to back it up time and time again. Job was blameless, meaning no sin was found in him. While the sovereignty of god is infinite, the use of his power is defined by his other attributes. Find out what job actually teaches about god, sickness, satan, and sovereignty. In chapters, god tests jobs faithfulness through allowing satan. The idea that god is in control seems like it honors god because many mistakenly think that absolute control over everything at every moment is a fundamental requirement for god to be god. By its conclusion, the true subject of the book emerges. The old testament story of job is one of the most famous in world literature, and not just because it is beautifully written.

Job had to lose it all before he could acknowledge the greatness of god, the majesty of god, and the sovereignty of god. The sovereignty of god and the suffering of man logos. Job 3841, god demonstrates that jobs complaints arise from limited understanding, but he exonerates job and is angry with his accusing friends. God s sovereignty is a stumbling block for atheists and unbelievers who demand that if god is in total control, that he eliminate all evil and suffering from the world. Objective is not to make a case for gods sovereignty but instead learn how gods sovereignty is demonstrated job is an excellent book for this brief summary of the book of job.

Characteristics such as truthfulness, goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, and love define gods every action. Whether or not god is actually sovereign is usually not a topic of debate. Think includes theologies from narrative to systematic, as well as topics such as christology. The sovereignty of god and the suffering of man, cyril j. The test of jobs faith, allowed by god in response to a challenge from satan, revealed gods loving sovereignty. The book of job can scandalize us with its portrait of suffering. Job is about sovereignty, satan, suffering, and submission sovereignty. Barber writes, the book of job deals with the weighty issues of gods sovereignty, satans malevolent opposition, and the problems that accompany unexplained human suffering. Its purpose is to illustrate gods sovereignty and faithfulness during a time of great suffering. It is as though he senses the approach of god in this storm and brings his words to a close.

The christians answer is that the sovereignty of god is beyond human understanding. The book of job is a message about a sovereign god who is above the pain and suffering we experience in this life. The sovereignty of god by derek thomas from the book of job. He addresses the difficult question of the relationship between gods sovereignty and the existence of evil, sin, and suffering.

By way of illustration, in a sermon entitled, gods sovereignty in the salvation of men, jonathan edwards declares. It was only after job had acknowledged god s sovereignty and prayed for his friends that god restored everything job had lost and doubled in every case except for his children because they would marry and give job grandchildren. God has consistently moved his creation toward its ultimate purpose, setting the bounds of nations, motivating rulers proverbs 12. Jobs suffering did not come because he was bad but rather because of his unwavering faithfulness to god. If one attribute were disproportionate or overemphasized, chaos would result on a universal. Clearly job is a faithful believer, one that we would say god loves. In the opening chapters job 12, the book will show that god is right in heaven. This book is a very honest look at the sufferings of a man who lost everything he had.

In this bookdesigned for lay people trying to come to grips. In the midst of suffering, we must never lose our hope in god. Dec 27, 2017 the book sets out from the beginning to show that the reasons for human suffering often remain a secret to human beings, yet under the rule of god. Dan mohler the book of job, satan, sickness, and the. This sounds great when god puts you in a certain location at a certain time, which led to the new job youve been hoping for, or when you look back at all the things that came together for you to meet your spouse. Philips, author of the philips paraphrase of the new testament. Elihu is introduced after eliphaz, bildad, and zophar have long concluded that jobs suffering must be a punishment for sin. The sovereignty of god part 6 church of the great god. The promise itself is a testimony to gods sovereignty. Thomas looks at elihus contribution to the book of job and what it teaches about the sovereignty of god. You say god wants to heal everyone, well what about job. In a most revealing way, satan, the implacable foe of god and his people, is unmasked in the opening chapters of this book.

How is the sovereignty of god defined as god honoring your free will. At the close of the book, god restores job s fortunes and his health, showering him with blessings. The test of jobs faith, allowed by god in response to a challenge from satan, revealed gods loving sovereignty and supremacy of divine wisdom over human wisdom. Im going through this because i dont want us to somehow or another get caught. Oct 01, 2016 you say god wants to heal everyone, well what about job. The book of job by derek thomas ligonier ministries. Let us, therefore, labor to submit emphasis added to the sovereignty of god. The grace of god in suffering 7 gods grace and your. Thomas walks us through the book of job and considers what the bible says about our darkest moments. How is the sovereignty of god defined as god honoring your. What does the book of job teach us about the sovereignty of god. Job s fear of god has endeared god to job in a very deep way.

Gods glory revealed god, majesty of god, uniqueness of god, greatness of headship god, glory of yours, o lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth. God is sovereign in our struggles analogy of father giving away child he would not be in control. God is sovereign in our struggles analogy of father giving away child. Characteristics such as truthfulness, goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, and love define god s every action. Whatever happens, it accords with the counsel of god s will. Gods sovereignty is foregrounded as moses recounts to israel the way things are, the way the world works, and the way they must live in order to receive gods blessing. Saint 6 the sovereignty of god and ethnicbased suffering 123 carl f. And not just gods sovereignty, but gods absolute, complete, perfect sovereignty. The word sovereign is not used in the king james version of the bible. Scripture is clear that god is in control of all things and sovereign over them rom.

I have read through the book of job numerous times, yet i had so much to learn. The sovereignty of god in the suffering of job light to. An introduction to the book of job faithlife sermons. The sovereignty of god in the suffering of job light. Job a story about the sovereignty of god truth in grace. Suffering and the sovereignty of god job 42 the old testament story of job is one of the most famous in world literature, and not just because it is beautifully written. The test of job s faith, allowed by god in response to a challenge from satan, revealed god s loving sovereignty and supremacy of divine wisdom over human wisdom.

The book of job, one of the wisdom books of the bible, deals with two issues crucial to every person. At its beginning, job seems to be a book about human suffering. Jan 18, 2012 considered to be both a theological and a literary masterpiece, the book of job is an honest portrayal of god allowing a good man to suffer. God has raised up job to fear him and be upright cf. What happens next is a clear picture of the sovereignty of god. In verse 9, he insinuates that job is not such a great specimen of reverence for god. Then, you can test those general statements about gods sovereignty with lots and lots of examples. Jeremiah study bible suffering and the sovereignty of god. Im working on a book about this, so theres hundreds of places i could have gone. It is famous because it touches the most universally intense subject of all. He is an example of faithfulness as he loses everything important to him yet remains faithful to god. The sovereignty of god on display in deuteronomy adam setser. Elihu is introduced after eliphaz, bildad, and zophar have long concluded that job s suffering must be a punishment for sin.

Background from esv study bible the story of job has its setting outside israel to the east and south uz is related to edom, which may be the setting of the book, the author of job is a hebrew, thoroughly immersed in the. If we believe that god wills everything, good or bad, to happen to us, it gives us some temporary relief from confusion and condemnation, but in the longterm, it slanders god, hinders our trust in god, and leads to passiveness. Jack zavada is a writer who covers the bible, theology, and other christianity topics. In the late 1950s, i was introduced to god s sovereignty when someone gave me a small book, your god is too small, by j. The book is really a long sermon from moses to the people of israel, but moses talks about god in language not found anywhere else. Gods sovereignty is one of the most important principles in christian theology, as well as one of its most hotly debated. God created and sustains all things, and there is nothing outside of his control. He says that the only reason job fears god is to get rich. In a matter of probably hours, job had lost everything that was important to him except his wife and his own life. Answering big questions about the sovereignty of god. Considered to be both a theological and a literary masterpiece, the book of job is an honest portrayal of god allowing a good man to suffer. The book of job opens in verse one by telling us that job was a blameless, upright man who feared god and turned away from evil. You will find bible commentary, doctrinal discussion, teaching aids, and more. In job, we see a man who god allows to be directly attacked by satan.

As a christian teacher, theologian, and student of scripture, this blog is an extension of my passion for sharing gods word and the knowledge of christ. God s glory revealed god, majesty of god, uniqueness of god, greatness of headship god, glory of yours, o lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth. He draws his theme from conversations with many people whose concepts of god were so limited that he felt it was no wonder they had little or no faith. Job fears god because it will mean health wealth and prosperity, thats all. Satan accuses job of not serving god with pure motives. Toward the end of elihus speech 3237 a thunderstorm had gathered and filled him with awe.

Highlights from the book of job the bible what is its message. Framework for understanding gods sovereignty in our earthly lives comes in the next lines. John ritenbaugh focuses upon god s management of mankind. Barnhouse discusses what gods sovereignty means for daily life, and shows how those in christeven under immense sufferingcan find peace knowing that they are in the hands of their loving god. Indeed, jobs sufferings come upon him because god taunted satan in the heavenly courts, leaving us to wonder who satan would have tormented if god had not suggested job. In the late 1950s, i was introduced to gods sovereignty when someone gave me a small book, your god is too small, by j. The sovereignty of god part 5 the sovereignty of god part 6 the sovereignty of god part 7 the sovereignty of god part 8 the sovereignty of god part 9 the sovereignty of god part 10.

Here, satan attacks the character of both god and mankind. In the book of job the great adversary of believers is shown to be who he truly is the evil perpetrator behind the devastating disasters that strike jobs life. God insists, that his sovereignty be acknowledged by us, and that even in this great. Whatever happens, it accords with the counsel of gods will. Hi, im phil johnson and im here in the studio today with john macarthur and were going to talk about the sovereignty of god. And sure enough, somehow, out of the whirlwind comes the voice of god to job chapters 3841. And job lives a life that is pleasing before god, so much so that god himself points job out to satan. Job 3841, god demonstrates that job s complaints arise from limited understanding, but he exonerates job and is angry with his accusing friends. The sovereignty of god is one of those theological ideas that causes some significant challenges in the lives of believers. John, weve done a number of these studio interviews over the yea. Apr 08, 2019 whatever happens, it accords with the counsel of gods will. Gods sovereignty is a stumbling block for atheists and unbelievers who demand that if god is in total control, that he eliminate all evil and suffering from the world. What does the book of job teach us about the sovereignty.