Job 21

Job's friends would do well to listen to his words and consider them. His teaching is true, but they are unable to receive it. The presentation of truth is sometimes more complex than the teaching of error. Job;s friends have a very simple point to make. Though they have not yet accused Job as plainly as they might, their point is still clear: A suffering man's troubles are a sign of the judgment of God against that man. Though others may have considered him to be wise and righteous, it is evident that God does not see it that way. Why else would He give the man such horrific losses? It must be because of the man's secret sins. Therefore, a suffering man should repent. This is their simple idea.

This understanding of the providence of God is not correct. Job's words tell a more complex story. He approaches this question of suffering from a different angle. His friends have presumed to suggest sin where they have no proof. What about the lives of those who display their wickedness openly in a way that is obvious to all? Do they regularly have their lives fall apart in the manner that Job has experienced? What does the evidence show?

Job urges this reasoning upon his friends, claiming that his words would be their comfort. Even though a false view of suffering might seem comforting to those who are not in the midst of sorrow, it will not serve them well when an evil day touches them. The truth will be more comforting, though it might not seem to bring any hope when it is first considered. The truth begins with God, looks at the fact of Job's righteousness that was known to all, and then wonders at the Lord's providence. It does not deny the sovereignty of God or the greatness of the Lord's suffering servant. The truth waits upon the Lord, knowing that there is much that has not yet been revealed, and that even the revealed things may not yet be fully understood by us. The truth does not deny the dismay of the suffering servant. It turns ever toward the Lord, though a man may not be able to comprehend what he sees with his own eyes.

Job speaks mostly about the wicked in this chapter, and not about the righteous. The friends of Job should readily see his point when they investigate the clear facts in the case of those who are known to be unrighteous. The wicked live. Sometimes they live a long time. They may have many children, and those children may live long healthy lives. They may have many possessions, and seem to be very happy and self-satisfied. They do not appear to be troubled that something is missing in their lives. They seem to have everything. These are facts that need to be considered.

Not only are the wicked often happy in lives, they may even be a picture of peace in their deaths. They go to the grave in peace, as far as anyone can observe. They may have not wanted anything to do with God or of God's ways. They may have actually spoken against God, or denied His power and His love. Why are people in that situation allowed by God to have prosperity? This story happens all the time if we are willing to be honest with the evidence. We may think that the trouble that the wicked deserve will ultimately be visited upon their children, but there are many children of wicked people that appear to be doing very well. Even if God does visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him, isn't it the case that some people who are concerned only with themselves will not be troubled by the difficulties that their descendants face?

Surely God knows what is right, but as men honestly observe the wicked, does it make sense to us to see them and their children doing so well? No matter how we may evaluate the life of any man and no matter how appropriate or inappropriate we may consider the patience and mercy of God in any one case, isn't it still the fact that all people go to the grave? How can we make sense of that? There is something that just does not add up according to human observation and sanctified reasoning. This not adding up is a key insight, one that will bring us comfort as we rest upon the Lord who knows.

The fact is that Job's comforters bring no comfort. Though their simple view of life may appeal to those who do not know any better, all anyone would have to do to have second thoughts about this theory is to talk to people who know that the righteous often suffer deeply and that the wicked are often living easy and happy lives. If they would think about that, then they could come to Job's conclusion that something in all of this is just not right, and that their teachings on suffering are just empty notions.

What is somewhat surprising is that the discovering that something is not right, the discovery that this world appears to be deeply broken, that this could actually yield comfort to the one who is willing to ascribe the greatest power, wisdom, and glory to Almighty God. God knows that the righteous suffer, and He knows that the wicked often live at ease. He knows that things don't add up. He knows what we also should be able to embrace: that there must be something more. It is this something more, this better ending befitting such a great God, that caused Him to enter into our pain so fully in the person of His Son. The death and resurrection of Jesus, and the renewal of the earth in the blood of the Messiah is the more complicated divine answer that finally satisfies our souls. Those who think that everybody is just getting what they deserve have oversimplified the data to tell a story that is simply not true. God's plan of suffering and grace may be more complex, but it is a much better story, and it does bring glory to God and true comfort to people who are dealing with the real facts of lives that are very hard to understand.