Hope Sabbath School: Lesson 4 - God and Human Suffering (4th Qtr 2016)

welcome to Hope Sabbath school an in-depth interactive study of the Word of God we're looking at the problem of suffering why does God allow bad things to happen to good people we're studying the book of Job and I believe you'll find some encouraging news from our study today as we discover God who he's like what he's like and how he reveals himself to us even in the midst of our suffering we're glad you joined us and welcome to the team this is a challenging series isn't it I never thought I'd spend so long reading the book of Job in fact to be honest with you I found it quite depressing because most of the book deals with inadequate answers to the questions that are raised but I'm so thankful for the divine revelation here and I'm sure we'll be blessed as we study together today we're glad you're here because you perhaps have had questions of your own and say why is my loved one apparently abandoned by God I know that the Spirit of God will guide you in our study today we're glad you're writing to us at SS hope at hope TV org we're glad you're watching on your apps on your iPad's and phones and tablets and it's what was great to hear from you here's a note from Bernard in Sweden now Bernard Kenneth is actually from Ghana but he's lived in Sweden for 30 years and he writes to us and says greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I wish to thank God for giving the founders of Hope Sabbath school such an amazing insight in starting an inspiring interactive and highly interesting Bible study program thanks to the entire team I've been watching hope Sabbath school regularly since January of 2015 and I love it I've been recommending it to friends relatives and to my own Sabbath School class I've been a Sabbath school teacher for many years but I must say that hopes Sabbath school has made a difference in how I teach you know that's one thing you may not know you can go to our website hope TV org / Hope SS and download the outlined that we use we have tens of thousands of people doing that because that simple outline is like a road map to help you teach an interactive class of your own Bernards been using that in teaching a class and he concludes by saying your smiles are contagious well everybody yes and make a positive impact and so does your genuine interest in sharing the Word of God well Bernard which is so glad that you're a missionary there in Sweden it's great to know that you're not only hearing the word but sharing it with others Thanks for writing masu sarah writes from uganda and says i am visually impaired with residual vision of less than five degrees i guess that's just a small zone of vision formerly a teacher I thank God for hope Sabbath school downloading your study is one of my major activities in the first three days of the week I don't know maybe has slow download right takes three days may God continue to bless you well I want to thank you masu Sarah you're probably listening then aren't you - hope Sabbath school we also have people that listen while they driving listen while they're exercising we're just glad that you're part of our Hope Sabbath school family here's just a short note from jerod in Kenya and Jared writes and says I thank God for the good work of spreading his word god bless you I loved the teachings of God's Word and Jared that's a short note but it means a lot to us from there in the great country of Kenya and one last note here from Doris in the UK but she's originally from the island of Mauritius that's out in the Indian Ocean she says I like hope Sabbath school and thank God for the opportunity to search the Word of God for ourselves what'd he say that's it isn't it get into the Word of God ourselves she said we started studying the Bible and after six months we decided to give our lives to Jesus that's beautiful she said there were so many photographers I felt like a royalty getting married praise the good Lord I did miss one last one from Daniel in Malawi we've got a quite a few emails from Malawi right there in the heart of Africa and Daniel says hope Sava school has really changed my life I've learned the importance of holding on to Jesus even in the hard times well that's a great email for our series Daniel we're talking about the experience of job and going through difficult times maintaining that connection knowing that we have a loving God who's holding on to us so yes you've learned an important lesson god bless the hope Sabbath school team for your ministry well thanks for writing to us if you haven't written recently we'd love to hear from you you can write to us at SS hope at hope TV org someone said what if they don't have email well talk to your grandson and see if your grandson will send an email because we'd love to hear from you to see how God's blessing you in a study of his word right now we're going to sing a scriptures on 3,000 years old and yet it seems so relevant for this series of studies on the book of Job it's taken from Psalm 27 verses 13 and 14 it says I would have lost heart unless I believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living wait on the Lord be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart let's sing it together I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord I would have lost heart unless I had to meet but I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living weight on the board the yogurt courage and he shall strengthen your heart wait on the Lord The Orchid courage and he shall strengthen heart wait I say wait I say on the I would have lost unless my have believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord I would have my ass fight unless I had to be that I would see the goodness of in the land wait be off the courage and he shall strengthen God wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart wait I've sailed let's pray together father in heaven we want to learn to wait on you to trust in you to hold on knowing that you're holding on to us even in the difficult experiences of life in this sin ravaged world and I thank you that this study today as we look at Mewis creator and the suffering that's around us we would see a true picture of your character and we would understand how much you love us and have a good plan for each of our lives so bless in the study of your word today we pray in the name of Jesus amen yeah well we're going to start by looking at God as creator and I'm actually going to go to job first so if you look in your outline in job chapter 12 verses 7 through 10 we'll start there now we were just thinking how much of Scripture was available to job at the time when he was going through this crisis and the answer is we don't know of any in fact many Bible scholars believe that job was the first book written so he had promises passed down through the patriarchs maybe all the way from promises given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden but he could look around and he could see in addition to what had been passed down to him Joshua could you start our study in Joshua in job 12 verses 7 through 10 and then we're going to look at some other scriptures which help present a consistent picture that we're not here by accident but we are the result of a creator's work amen and I'll be reading from the New King James Version and the Bible says but now ask the beasts and they will teach you and the birds of the air and they will tell you or speak to the earth and it will teach you and the fish of the sea will explain to you who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this in whose hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind so Joby's saying you know look around look at creation and you'll see now we are living today this was we don't know maybe up to three four thousand years ago that job is giving this testimony today it's become very popular to believe that we are not the result of creators work that we're here by chance and very bright people come up with theories to explain that and let me just say it's the best that we can do if we discount the possibility of God it's the best we're here somehow alright but the Bible consistently points to God as creator Jobe says take a look around and see so let's look at some other passages of scripture that confirm God is creator is there one that comes to your mind that you'd like to read God is creator semi so think about Romans 118 okay would you read that for us here the Apostle Paul is speaking to the church in Rome yeah and read verses 18 through 20 for us 18 through 20 from the New King James Version for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because what may be known of God is manifest in them for God has shown it to them for since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his external power and Godhead so that they are without excuse so Paul saying just look there's evidence you've got to ignore the evidence to say we're here by accident I love that scripture song in Psalm 33 maybe someone could read it verses 6 through 9 they would sing all of these songs you know we've lost the tunes that's what my wife keeps writing new scriptures on but Stephanie there's some very profound insights and I think it's in 2nd Samuel that David says to the Lord you put your word in my mouth so this isn't just his human thoughts but he's expressing the revelation that's been given to him Psalm 33 6 to 9 yes and the King James Version says by the word of the Lord where the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth he gathered at the waters of the sea together as in heat he layeth up the depth in storehouses let all the earth fear the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him for he spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast now I want you to remember the power of that creative power of the spoken word because we're going to come to an amazing revelation in just a moment and we think about that creative word in the Ministry of Jesus but right in the beginning of the what we have is the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures how does that begin in Genesis 1 and verse 1 does anybody know God created the heavens and the earth it just starts it doesn't tell us it doesn't have the explanation I'm not sure we'd understand it fully though we just heard that he has such creative power in his word he speaks and it happens but he was an amazing revelation from the New Testament let's go over to John chapter 1 because in John 1 and Colossians 1 we find a remarkable revelation and Kenneth if you could read for us John 1 verses 1 through 3 I'll be reading from the New King James Version and interest in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God he was in the beginning with God all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made and this Cree this creator who's called the word became flesh verse 14 and dwelt among us sometimes we say Jesus created the world's actually Jesus was born 2,000 years ago the word became flesh it was the eternal son of God who created the world right and the evidence is around us Austin could you read Colossians 1 verses 16 and 17 here Paul adds the testimony of job said look around we're not here by accident now his challenge is if God has made such beautiful things why are such bad things happening to me we're gonna address that question of human suffering but certainly God our Creator has made many good things I'm reading from the New King James Version Colossians 1:16 and 70 is that correct yes says for by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth visible and invisible whether Thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created through him and for him and he is before all things and in him all things consist and if you look in the context there in Colossians chapter 1 the him is the one who in whom we have redemption through his blood yes it's talking about Jesus isn't it and it's saying Jesus the Son of God who was the word who became flesh not only were all things made by him but also by him all things hold together that's how important he is I love the Jonathan the the testimony of the angelic host in Revelation 4 verses 8 through 11 that's also a revelation by the son of God it says revelation of Jesus Christ to his servant John how does that read in revelation 4 we're reading from Genesis to Revelation an overwhelming testimony that we have a creator who has a purpose for our lives alright I'm reading from the New International Version it says each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around even under his wings its wings day and night they never stopped saying holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures give glory honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship Him who love lives for ever and ever they lay their crowns before the throne and say you are worthy O Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being did you hear that clearly you're worthy to receive all of this honor because you did what created all things and are you will by you will so God has a purpose God has a plan and jugg didn't have all of the scriptures we've had today but Jobe says look around and see they did not the hand of God create these things now I've got I've got a couple of important questions why is it important and we're gonna talk about human suffering in just a minute but why is it important to know that we have a creator and that we're not here just by chance now it's why is that important to know we have a creator well if we don't recognize that we have a creator then what purpose do we have here so that gives us a purpose I guess at that point we're gonna want to know what that purpose is right so we're gonna go to the revelation through the prophets why else is it important Missy the natural world you see how much incredible organization there is painstaking organization oh you have to really study it and break it down cuz it's beyond it's far beyond that we could put in books it just keeps going on and on and on and on and on and they say our knowledge is doubling now every how many you use is every few years now we're just studying things that exist right and and scripture claims by his will they were created God gave us a gift we're gonna talk about in just a minute to remind us of his creation yes if we could please go to a scripture sure Psalm 139 alright verse 14 Psalm what another scripture song Joshua Psalm I love the Book of Psalms a collection of 150 scripture songs Psalm 139 that's correct and verse 14 all right just give us a moment to find that 139 and verse 14 and how does that read in your Bible I and the Bible says I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well and so this verse especially for me helps me to remember that God created me individually and he loves me and for each and every one of us we shouldn't suffer with the depression or a feeling like we're worthless because God made each and every one of us for a purpose so back to the purpose Alex mentioned but also it helps us to know that we're valued right yeah we're not just an accident we have value so God gave a special gift if you've read the creation account God gave a special gift of the human family to help us to remember him as our Creator what does anybody know what what was that special gift semi so he gave us in Exodus 20 they too gave us the Sabbath and actually it's remember in Exodus 20 but the gift was given when right right of the creation and let's take a look at that in Genesis 2 verses 1 through 3 Stephanie if you read that for us but you write to me so it's reading in the commandments in the fourth commandment remember it's like you know about this but remember it right Genesis 2 verses 1 2 3 and I'll be reading from the King James Version thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made so we've started our study today with Jobe saying take a look around I mean didn't the hand of the Lord do all of this and we've seen from Genesis to Revelation the testimony about a creator god but now comes the big challenge and it's a challenge that Jobe faced and that is if God is good and his creation is good why is there so much suffering and sickness and death in the world it's a good question isn't it let's go back to Genesis and look in Genesis 1 now let's just look at part of the creation account mark as if you could read verses 25 to 31 of Genesis 1 just part of the account and you'll notice this is God's reflection on how the creation went now be reading from the King James Version and God made the beasts of the earth after his kind and cattle after their kind and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and God saw that it was good and God said let us make man in our image after our likeness and let him let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth so God created man in his own image and the image of God created he him male and female created he them and God blessed them and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth verse 29 and God said behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you it shall be for meat and to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the earth and to everything that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so verse 31 and God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the sixth day so this a phrase that is repeated and and then augmented there in chapter 1 and it is that it was it was good in fact it became very and then he gives the Sabbath to say remember how awesome it is to know that you're not here by accident remember your Creator right who in six days made the heaven and the earth so it just sounds so wonderful so what went wrong well Jesus told a story we'll go back to Genesis in a moment but Jonathan could you read the first part of the story in Matthew 13 and then Ruth if you could continue the story in the next portion of Matthew 13 we're going to look first at 24 to 30 of Matthew 13 and then we'll look at verses 36 to 43 and Jesus we've discovered from our studies so far should know more than anyone what really happened because he is the word who became he's a manual God with us so he knows about the creation because we studied by him all things were made and they were very good they were very good when he made them but here's the story he tells Jonathan starting in verse 24 of Matthew 13 okay NIV says Jesus told them another parable the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field but while everyone was sleeping his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away when the wheat sprouted and formed heads then the weeds also appeared the owner Owner servants came to him and said sir didn't you sow good seed in your field or didn't then did the weeds come from an enemy did this he replied the servants asked him do you want us to go and pull them up know the answer because while you were pulling up the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them let both grow together until the harvest at that time I will tell the harvesters first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned then gather the wheat and bring it into my bargain now if we didn't have the explanation that Ruth is going to read in just a few minutes we could probably look at the story and say okay so the good man the man who says the good seed represents God it not always does that person represent God because you've got times when you've got an onion which man and who fires his unjust managers not always God but here then you've got the enemy and what does the enemy do wants to destroy to make a mess of something that was good we have the benefit in this story though of getting some explanation Ruth and if you could continue reading in Matthew 13 verses 36 down through verse 43 okay I'm reading from the New King James Version then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house and his disciples came to him saying explain to us the parable of the tares of the field he answered and said to them he who sews the good seed is the son of man the field is the world the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom but the tares are the sons of the wicked one the enemy who sowed them is the devil the harvest is the end of the age and the Reapers are the Angels therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so it will be at the end of this age the Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness and will cast them into the furnace of fire there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth then the righteous will shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their father he who has ears to hear let him hear I love that last part about the righteous shining like the Sun in the kingdom of their father amen like God let me be like job when you look at and said that daughter of mine she's blameless before me and that's walking by faith isn't it walking by faith they're gonna shine like the stars in the kingdom of our Father but the the enemy is identified here as the devil and remember we've studied in Revelation 12 he's called the devil and Satan and dragon dragon and serpent which is a reference to Genesis chapter 3 and that's the that's where the rebellion that started in heaven mm-hmm covering cherub named Lucifer angels joined him by his deception cast out of heaven and the battle comes to planet earth now joke doesn't know a lot of that story does he but he's got about to see the battle unleash in his part of the world now how soon after Satan comes in tempts our first parents and you can read that in Genesis 3 how soon do you start to see the the weeds growing to use the analogy of the good seed and all of a sudden weeds how soon does that happen from your reading of the story Nancy looks to me like it happens immediately because Adam and Eve start blaming each other where are you Adam well the woman you gave me right Lucy blaming they're both everybody I'm blaming you all right thank God you gave her and it's her you know and then she starts blaming and and so and and it accelerates doesn't it what what's comes next in the story Austin after the blaming of each other well chapter 4 you know Genesis for anybody animating yeah Canaan is Abel Cain and Abel are at first kind of yeah Cain's jealous right because God has accepted Abel's offering and not his and then finally what murder so it how long very quickly very quickly the the weeds begin to sprout and and the disaster comes and and now it's about to be unfolded in the life of Jobe I don't know if you've thought about this but we read the revelation of the council in heaven remember in our study in job chapter one I wonder people Jonathan reading that they never they never heard this before right when they read the job we don't know quite about when it some think it was Moses that wrote that and so where there's still several thousand there thirty three hundred years ago I wonder what they thought as they saw that there's this great battle going on although I mean you talk it you hear the stories about the Enoch like the prophecies of Enoch passed down to Jude and we don't have that written down so there there was probably oral truths that were passed down to people that they had heard from Enoch from other people that were still being passed down generation to generation yeah that's right because Enoch he gives a prophecy about the coming of glory right so in the report in the little book of Jude so so you're saying that certain truths about what God taught to Adam and Eve in the garden about the seed of the of the woman will crush the Serpent's head some of those things were being passed down but he really didn't know very much did he but he's got some things he's holding on to and he's faced with a dilemma he knows there's a creator yeah and he believes that the creator is he's good so sue me so take us to his dilemma if you would in job chapter six and we're gonna read the first ten verses job chapter six verses one through ten job chapter six verse 1 to 10 reading from the New King James Version says then job answered and said oh that my grief were fully weight and my calamity laid with it on the scales for then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea therefore my words have been rushed for my for the errors of the Almighty a within me my spirit drinks in their poison the terror of God are arrayed against me does the wild donkey Bray when it has grass or does the Ox law over its folder can flavorless food be eaten without salt or is there any taste in the white of an egg my soul refuses to be touched to touch them they are as loathsome food to me all that I made have my request that God would grant me this one thing that I longed for that it would please God to crush me that he would lose his hand and cut me off then I'll still have comfort though in anguish I would exalt he would not spare for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One why how would you describe job's condition here serious serious he feels like God is attacked over somehow God is all-powerful he's the Creator God is doing this but he doesn't understand why how how would you describe his inner state Stephanie I think he's overwhelmed but I appreciate where he's at he's just being very real with God and sometimes we we deny what's happening but he's not so you'd say there are stages of grief aren't there yes I think some of us have studied those at times the first stage is what isn't it it's no Nile right and then the next stage is anger and then depression and some people never get past those and then the next step is bargaining wait we've got bargaining there somewhere too don't we bargaining comes before depression doesn't it Marcus thank you and and then acceptance if some people get to that place so is he in denial here no no he's not in denial is he angry yes he could be angry is he bargaining with God here let's talk about this guy what it is it is like depression as well because he says it mean it may be better for you to just take my life and let me end it all yeah yeah III don't know I don't know if he's suicidal cuz he's not wanting to hurt himself in fact he's going to say I'm gonna keep holding on to you even if you decide to crush me right right that's the story but it's like kind of like Jacob kind of like you wouldn't let go okay so I'm gonna keep holding on even if it's gonna dislocate my hip yeah but I don't really know what's happening here but I know you're the sovereign god that I do know let's look at another passage in job chapter 10 and what question is Nathan would you read job 10 verses 8 through 12 what what question is job asking here sure job 10 verses 8 through 12 you caught me a little unawares because I was thinking about that last passage in Jordan you know the reality is that depression is real even for people who are living for God and fallen making it so through a state of depression and we should not lose hope even in depression you see job is still hanging on and something that you said in a previous study was we can't base our response on our feelings feelings right we've got to be based on the faithfulness of God knowledge 'i'm is the beginning of overcoming them and and after you you read the passage in job 10 i want to talk about some some other stories of bible characters who had every reason to feel maybe angry bargain or depressed before they finally make it through to saying i'm gonna accept this as where I am but I'm gonna keep connected to God knowing he's holding on to me yoke 10 verses 8 through 12 okay I'm reading from the New King James Version your hands have made me and fashioned me an intricate unity yet you would destroy me remember I pray that you have made me like clay and will you turn me into dust again did you not pour me out like milk and curdled me like cheese clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with the bones and sinews you have granted me life and favor and your care has preserved my spirit what do you hear there's kind of a scramble isn't it what's coming out in this in these this conversation that job is having with God Jonathan you're smiling what are you hearing it's like he's Lakes back and forth of yeah yes this way is it yeah he's not lost hope he's still saying you know you you granted me life and favor your care is preserved my spirit but on the other hand it's like what do I do if I feel like you're crushing me Missy I can't help but think of the psalmist David when he was being pursued by Saul you know at one moment he's exalting at the other he's like in the death of despair and so that gives me hope that you know God accepts me through all my rollercoasters of emotions and he's with me no matter what and my job is to not let go and to keep hanging on to God have you been in that journey or do you love one someone you know where this is kind of up and down it's so easy to judge them and say pull yourself together but you know sometimes as I'm gonna hold on to guys like I can't handle it you know have you is anyone haven't experienced like that I do in your own life for someone you know I love Jonathan yeah I mean like I've definitely gone through a spot where my for various reasons there was things happening around me they were definitely depressing to some degree or other but and then my own body started in my mind started kind of following through and I had a really hard time just keeping that that foundation and like like he said I mean like it wasn't a spiritual there wasn't anything I was doing wrong it's just my own mind just I didn't have that foundation I just kept falling through is like I just couldn't keep a help happy thoughts right yeah just kind of crashed so how did you how did you process that because here you are honestly what I had to do I filled my mama Scripture songs and for a while I just played scripture songs and they just constantly going and that kept got me through one of the worst times in my life because there was there was a I could go in the whole story was a very tough time in my life but I put that on and that would I would find as I would conceal listening to Scripture or just just psalms in general I would my subconscious whatever over slowly just in the background would finally accept something like there was some lie or something I was believing about God and just over time it was suddenly it would accept it like oh and I would just get this piece of like okay what'd I just hear oh I heard that oh yeah I was kind of believing my subconscious was kind of believing something bad and so I kind of it finally oh yeah yeah okay that's true and so then I would come back up is that a powerful testimony yeah it reminds me in a previous study someone talked about I needed to surround myself with some good friends you surrounded yourself for your ear buds there's some good words from the Lord and that was helpful for you Nathan we can't go through this series of studies without mentioning the reality of depression even in the church sure um followers of Jesus maybe live in a world where depression is a reality and it's it's increasing actually in our day and and it would be a mistake for us to say well you just need more faith or you just need to trust God more you need to pray more because I've heard those kind of responses and that's just not true it's part of the human experience and for some people for various reasons it's more of a struggle than for others but many people have been successful and even faithful people have dealt with depression I'm thinking of Abraham Lincoln I mean he struggled with depression it was very real to him and yet God blessed him one of the you know he's one of the most respected presidents in the United States history and I think that we we have to be careful as Christians because it's very easy for us to just say if that person just had more faith and we can do more damage by saying just pray about it come on you know it's not like you said earlier snap out of it job's friends realized he had every reason to be concerned and they did the right thing by rallying around him and for the first seven days they were doing pretty well they were just with him and then they blew it when they opened their mouths and we can do the very same thing we can open our mouths and just say the wrong things and cause more harm and we're actually speaking the wrong words and God later had to tell job you know they're in the wrong and you need to pray for them so that I'll forgive them you know someone else and experience Joshua yeah I would say that it was around 2011 I decided to start taking my spiritual life seriously and at the same time I was unemployed and what ended up happening was that God blessed me with a new job and the day that I was supposed to start training for that job I would soon have to fly off to a different city in the US to train I ended up with in the hospital and the doctors essentially told me I had bilateral pneumonia which I had never even heard of before and so I was in the hospital for nine days I lost a lot of weight I actually thought at one point I was gonna die and I remember laying in the hospital bed thinking you know my sister she had died when I was 15 and I said Lord like don't don't make my parents go through the death of another child and I said you know I've started to follow you now but just spare my life because I don't want them to go through this again and on top of that you see I'm trying to follow you now like please and so you know he of course I'm here today it really you know you have that faith building experience but then something else happens where you get hit low again and then you know by God's grace he'll bring you back up so I think he does these things sometimes on purpose just to show us like look I'm always gonna be here for you you need to trust me so challenging situations and even feeling angry kind of bargain with God or depressed can be part of the human experience I think of some stories in the Bible of people who went through some hard times you kind of tell this to her isn't it but then think about what what kind of thoughts and feelings do you think they went through during those experiences a story comes to mind Stephanie I think of Moses okay and walking through the wilderness and the challenges that he went through so you thinking here he's 80 years old when he's called back from the desert of Midian and he leads the people through an amazing miracle of deliverance right through the Red Sea but but they're complaining and and then he acted without fee and then he was not able to go into the promised land but he still had a blessing at the end so are you thinking suggesting an interesting thought that he may have wrestled with some depression over that that God says you know and you're thinking of the story where instead of speaking to the rostra he struck it twice saying something that was not true about the plan of salvation that maybe he he had a real low time we don't know do we you've been going through having to bring those that mass amount of people through the wilderness and their negativity your Christian life oh yes there is one prophet and then I'll come to you Marcus there is one prophet that we're told that after a great time of deliverance that he he really hit bottom mountain and his name was hi Jen and actually he says the same kind of thing that the joke said he says just just let me die no this is old too much for me Marcus I think of Joseph especially in Potiphar's house who was doing the right thing by not allowing pot of his wife to take advances on him and yet he was thrown into prison for believe his 17 years so you're thinking you're sitting there for 17 years thinking oh Lord I did the right thing you know I'm but I'm still here being punished and I'm thinking well what was going through his head but again you know he held fast to the promises of the Lord that he knew and held on and said I would not like I will not let go and then the Lord delivered him it's an even higher position yeah and I'm someone can check on this but I'm not sure it was 17 years but I bet it felt like 17 years but it was a long time wasn't it and it was totally unjust he was put in prison for doing what was right would that make someone angry good me maybe not angry with God but angry with part of his wife maybe even angry with Potiphar I know he could have killed him if you really believed it but he still did get him put in prison right depressed yeah for sure so we go through those times thanks Nathan for reminding us of that and that does not mean God stopped loving us it certainly doesn't mean he's abandoned us in fact it may even mean that he is smiling upon us because we have honored him in this great struggle I think about Naomi and when she lost her husband and her sons and the way that she felt - even changing her name tomorrow because she believed that you know God was done with her and that was it for her and so but through Ruth she was actually able to understand kind of please that's a great day she was able to understand that no God is he's great and he's still with them and and he helped them from that situation to greater things with Boaz of course yeah thank you and of course that story is told in the Book of Ruth the major name indeed but again there's a beautiful story of a joyful ending but uh a dark chapter right a difficult chapter and to suggest that it was sinful to be depressed in that time when actually it's probably a fairly healthy human reaction and to have to somehow make it past that to the to the new beginning Ruth that God had for Naomi and and for Ruth doesn't it say in the end that she actually helps nurse Bruce baby that was poet and beau is no I rope what was their baby's name is that Oh bad Oh bad Oh bad day no it's like wow talk about from ashes to joy but but it was a tough road wasn't it yes yes yes and I also want to also emphasize when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and he also went through a struggle and early on our system was talking about Moses his experience when God had a plan and somewhere in the Bible God resurrected Moses and most his time became a person who somehow and carried Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and you know sometimes what I see is by the grace of God when we make it into the kingdom Goldin job sees the number of people who were blessed by his struggle because most of the things I see here is like a prayer to God and God was there listening you know he pour his heart out and God listened and there England and God also talked to him I love what you said I'm gonna repeat it just in case someone missed it but when job finally gets to the kingdom of heaven by the way he does testify I know that my redeemer lives right and he will stand in the earth on the last day amen to know the joy of his heart then yes that I kept holding on to God knowing that he was holding unto me even when I didn't understand and to see how his testimony is encouraged so many yeah that's that's really a remarkable that will be a day of joy won't it be sure Nathan we can be rough on mrs. Jobe we talked about her before cuz she said curse God and die and I want to come to mrs. job's defence because I you know you talked about depression being a natural human response in some situations and and imagine what she went through yeah we think of we talk about job's losses but it was her losses too and then in the in that one verse we read in another study in chapter 2 where job says shall we accept the blessings but not shall we not also accept the adversity but he says we heat job is acknowledging that you and I are going through this together you're feeling it and I understand your feeling that depression in that pain and in the end it's interesting that when God tells job go pray for your friends and then there to offer sacrifices and to make it right they're chastised but misses job is never chastised by it she's not listed with the friends as gonna come to his missus job's defense you know I think we can't be too hard on it you're well and she's and God isn't because God doesn't say anything negative about her in the end of the book interesting I think God doesn't give job a different wife wife that has in the seven sons and three daughters right yeah so thank you and maybe that's an important lesson God is a good creator live our life has meaning and purpose and hope but but an enemy has come and sowed these tears and chaos is the result and we struggle with that job struggle sometimes he says maybe it would be best god I'm not gonna let go of you but if if if you need to just crush me because this seems too hard for me I want to want to conclude our study today and come back again and give you a chance there's no right or wrong answer here two promises and Jonathan I love what you said about making it through that hard time I don't know if you had headphones or earbuds but you know so I don't know whether to put my finger in my ear or over my hair but it was there was there a promise that jumps to mind for you and then I want to give others in the group we're not going to avoid these difficult times we're not going to avoid these heartaches but we will face them differently because we're connected to God right so was there a promise that was especially meaningful to you I mean I can think of some was I didn't memorize all the numbers all the times but I I built these playlists like an can help you if you can't remember like I built some playlists and stuff were they were kind of in different things and some of them were other inspired writings as well then combined together that would just be when I were kind of my okay I need I need myself on my my healing versus my like really tough times verses and I think 141 just the whole chapter of one for anyone was one of them if I remember right there's just a lot in there Tom 141 yeah I call to you Lord come quickly to me I'm sorry would you like to read one of the verses I'm sure we just kind of read the first couple verses let's go there because that's it that's a psalm that I'm not as well-acquainted with Psalm 141 and which verses would you like to read see I was I was always listening to it audio Lee so I never like captured exactly which verses what and these kind of things so I'm not sure I mean we can just read maybe the first two or so like it all right but there's a lot of them yeah and what translation ringing from NIV New International Version Psalm 141 verses wanted to yes I call to you Lord come cook it to me hear me when I call to you I mean my prayer be set before you like incense may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice I I don't know what were the ones but I know there's some other ones were David is expressing like his pain like his literal pain like sometimes when you deal with depression you can kind of get this pain in your body is just if it's real it's like and he like has that ache in his bones and so it's it's it's good sometimes it's good to have David that you can like okay this man I've got dealt with this had been there so this crying out is not just it it's good right this is a crying out from deep in his soul and and yet by calling out what's he recognizing even in that calling out to me so what's he recognizing the higher power yeah the God is there and that God wants to listen right I don't understand but I'm crying out to you I've got several hands raises in a new text or a response to the text that has just been read the new text new to have a new 10 new text all right we got three texts that we closed and and I I'd like to tell you wherever you are what joining us for Hope service school I'd like to hear a text that has encouraged you you can write to us at SS hope and hope TV donor we'll send it out to the whole team maybe it will be a text that we need to hear right now so when you're facing those trials and they're inevitable on planet earth even though God's a good creator an enemy came and sowed leads and we're in the middle of that struggle some words of comfort we've got Psalm 141 1 & 2 let's take a look Joshua at another verse this is just second chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 alright second chronicles chapter 7 yes just verse 14 and verse 14 ah I think that's the famous verse isn't it yeah 2nd chronicles 7:14 how does that read in your Bible and the Bible says if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land it's comfort for you most definitely and I guess for job he's already confessed his sins here but he still needs to humble himself doesn't he and say God I'm just gonna trust you I'm not gonna complain it was a little complaining at time but he was struggling yes well Nancy the verse that I have that I thought of when you said he was holding on but God was holding him to the verse that I think of is Deuteronomy 33 and verse 27 Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 2 give us just a moment to find that by the way isn't it wonderful to just search the Scriptures the Holy Spirit guides us and what translation are you reading we have the New King James Version and it reads the eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms the eternal God is your refuge and underneath there's an old gospel song that says leaning less why is that important we've been talking about holding on you know yeah but but he's got us he's already got us I love that text in John 10 no one can snatch them out of my hands we have time for one more verse Marcus James 1 verse 12 James chapter 1 and verse 12 and with this text we'll have to track wait until our next study James 1 and verse 12 I'm reading from the King James Version blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he has tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him crisis we're facing our cry to God is God I love you I can also say I'm hurting I'm depressed I don't want to get up this morning but I love you and I know my redeemer lives right and I choose to stand under his banner and when my grips getting a little weak thank you that underneath me are the everlasting arms what an amazing what an amazing assurance we have I'm so glad that you've been with us for this study today as we've talked about God and human suffering he is not the cause of the suffering in fact he wants to be the solution if we will trust wholly in him I want to pray for you today maybe you're going through a great crisis in your life that we'll know the support as you say God hold me in your everlasting arms and know the peace and the rest that only he can give let's pray together our Father in Heaven I know in our hopes Abba school family around the world they have to be people going through great trial right now thank you for the promises that you've brought to our remembrance may we believe your promises and rest in your loving care and we thank you that you are good and you have a good plan both now and forever in the name of Jesus amen thanks for joining us for hope Sabbath school today I am so blessed by this series of studies why because we're all going through suffering we're facing challenges but we have a peace and an assurance that comes from a living connection with God hold on knowing he's holding on to you and take that good news to those around

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

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Keywords: seventh-day adventist, hopesabbathschool, hope sabbath school, Job, God's word, Bible study, gospel, christianity, human suffering, Old Testament

Id: iuBN6tPiN-s

Length: 58min 30sec (3510 seconds)

Published: Sun Oct 16 2016