Suffering For the Sake of Righteousness

Job 1:7-8, Job 2:2-3, Job 38:1, Job 39:1 
 
Undoubtedly, everybody has heard about Job at some point in time. The book was written to discuss the age-old question, “Why do the righteous always seem to suffer?” The purpose of Job is to give a demonstration of the sovereignty of God and the value of true faith. 
 
An introduction to the book of Job:
 
It is one of the five books of poetry:

1. Job
2. Psalms
3. Proverbs
4. Ecclesiastes
5. Song of Solomon

 
There are five parts or sections in the book of Job:

1. The testing of Job 1:1-2:13
2. Three friends give their answers 3:1-31:40

• The First discussion 3:1-14:22
• The Second discussion 15:1-21:34
• The Third discussion 22:1-31:40

     3.   Another man answers 32:1-37:24
     4.   God answers 38:1-41:34
     5.   The Restoring of Job 42:1-17
 
Sources of Suffering:

1. Personal sin
2. Other people’s sin
3. Avoidable physical (natural)
4. Unavoidable physical 

 
Suffering can be a punishment for wrongdoing, however that is not generally the situation. Success is not generally a compensation for being good. The children of God (born-again Christians, believers) are not excluded from tribulations. We might be unable to comprehend the trial and torment we are experiencing, but it might be the catalyst to draw us closer to God. We need to learn how to perceive Satan’s assaults and not to be apprehensive about it. God sets the constraints of what evil that Satan is allowed to do to us. We should try not to let any experience make a divider that would separate ourselves from God. We cannot govern what Satan does, however, we can control how we respond and react when things begin turning out badly. 
 
How do we respond? 

• 1 Peter 5:8-9, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
• James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 1:13, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
• Acts 14:22, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
• 1 Peter 1:6-7, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
• Romans 8:17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
• 2 Corinthians 1:5, For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
• Philippians 3:10, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
• 2 Timothy 2:12, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

 
Now turn to 1 Peter 4:12-19. 
Jesus’ words are brought to mind by Peter: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matthew 5:11). Christ will send His Spirit to help those whose faith is being attacked. However, this does not imply that Christian behavior causes all suffering. When it is abundantly clear to everyone else that the individual’s own unfavorable behavior is the root of his or her problems, a person may occasionally complain, “He is just picking on me because I am a Cristian.” To identify the true cause of our suffering, it may necessitate careful consideration or wise counsel. However, we can rest assured that Christ will be with us throughout any suffering we endure as a result of our devotion to Him.
 
Being a Christian is not something to be ashamed of. At the point when Peter and John were mistreated for proclaiming the Good News, they cheered in light of the fact that such oppression was a sign of God’s endorsement of their work.

• Acts 5:41, And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

 
We should not attempt to avoid suffering or seek it out. Instead, we ought to continue doing what is right despite the potential for suffering. 
 
Now look at Job 38:1. 
God spoke out of a mighty wind or storm. Job's questions were not at the heart of the issue, so it was surprising that He did not respond to any of them. Instead, God revealed Job's ignorance of God's moral order by utilizing Job's ignorance of the natural order of the earth. How could Job possibly comprehend God's mind and character if he did not understand how God's physical creation worked? When it comes to judging, there is no higher standard or criterion than God Himself. The standard is set by God alone. The only option we have is to rely on Him and submit to His authority. 
 
Then Job 39:1. 
God demonstrated Job's limited knowledge of the animal kingdom by asking him a number of questions about it. Job did not answer God's questions. Instead, He was persuading Job to acknowledge and submit to God's sovereignty and power. He could not hear what God was really saying to him until that point. 
 
God speaks but we might not know the answer. If we do not comprehend the workings of creation, how can we comprehend the mind and manner of God? We must identify and surrender to God's might and ruling, then will we be able to hear God. Are we worse off than Job or are we more righteous than he was? Do we plead our innocence to God or offer our humility? We are not to question God’s justice, but we are to repent of our attitude. True faith begins with our submission to the Lord and being humble.
 
If God had not restored Job, would the message have been any different? No, I do not think so. Our restoration may not be on this earth, but it will be completed. We are to be prepared for trials, persevere through those trials, and give praise to God continually.