Out of the storm
Questions And Consolations From The Book Of Job
Published on 17. December 2012
111 pages
978-1-84474-789-4 (ISBN)
Description
Why does a good God allow innocent suffering? Why does a just God act unfairly? Why does a sovereign God let disease and evil run rampant?
These are not questions asked from the onlooker's armchair, nor from the academic's desk, but from the anguish of the sickbed and the frustration of the wheelchair. The problem of pain is considered with the heart as well as the head.
Christopher Ash leads us through the biblical story of Job as we wrestle with these questions today. He honestly explores the lonely and cruel nature of suffering and whether God can be found in the midst of it. He exposes the shortcomings of Job's friends who deny the possibility of innocent suffering, and are unaware of the roles that Satan, the fall and the cross have to play. With compassion and clarity he takes the reader through Job's long debate with God - towards a humbling and hopeful resolution.
These are not questions asked from the onlooker's armchair, nor from the academic's desk, but from the anguish of the sickbed and the frustration of the wheelchair. The problem of pain is considered with the heart as well as the head.
Christopher Ash leads us through the biblical story of Job as we wrestle with these questions today. He honestly explores the lonely and cruel nature of suffering and whether God can be found in the midst of it. He exposes the shortcomings of Job's friends who deny the possibility of innocent suffering, and are unaware of the roles that Satan, the fall and the cross have to play. With compassion and clarity he takes the reader through Job's long debate with God - towards a humbling and hopeful resolution.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Nottingham
United Kingdom
Product notice
Reflowable
ISBN-13
978-1-84474-789-4 (9781844747894)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2004
Inter-Varsity Press
€11.50
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Content
- Intro
- Out of the Storm
- Contents
- Preface
- Outline and structure of the book of Job
- Part 1. Job and what happened to him
- Part 2. Job's friends and their 'conversations' with Job
- Part 3. The answers to Job
- 1. What is the book of Job about?
- Job is a very long book
- Most of Job is poetry
- Notes
- 2. Do we live in a well-run world? (Job 1:1 - 2:10)
- The scene is set (1:1-5)
- Scene 1: The Lord's council chamber (1:6-12)
- Scene 2: Job's land (1:13-22)
- Scene 3: The Lord's council chamber (2:1-7a)
- Scene 4: Job's land (2:7b-10)
- Notes
- 3. Weep with those who weep (Job 2:11 - 3:26)
- Job is terribly alone
- Job can only look back
- Even in his darkness, Job cannot avoid God
- Notes
- 4. What not to say to the suffering believer (Job 4 - 27)
- The comforters are not impressed with Job
- Job is not impressed with his comforters
- God is not impressed with Job's comforters
- Their system
- Their tone
- What they don't believe
- No Satan
- No waiting
- No cross
- Notes
- 5. Two marks of a real believer (Job 4 - 27)
- A unique pain
- A passionate longing
- Notes
- 6. Is God for me or against me? (Job 19)
- The monster god (19:1-22)
- The monster god has attacked me unfairly (19:1-12)
- The monster god has isolated me cruelly (19:13-22)
- The Redeemer God (19:25-27)
- 7. Why will God not answer my question? (Job 28)
- A costly search for a valuable object (28:1-11)
- Wisdom is priceless and unobtainable at the same time (28:12-22)
- The humbling resolution (28:23-28)
- 8. Why justification matters desperately (Job 29 - 31)
- Job 29: the good old days when I was justified
- Job 30: Job's final lament
- Job 31: the final appeal
- 9. A surprising new voice (Job 32 - 37)
- Ought we to listen to Elihu?
- Elihu's first speech (32:6 - 33:33)
- Elihu's second speech (Job 34)
- Elihu's third speech (Job 35)
- Elihu's fourth speech (Job 36 - 37)
- What are we to make of Elihu?
- Notes
- 10. The God who is God (Job 38:1 - 42:6)
- The Lord's first speech and Job's response (38:1 - 40:5)
- The Lord's second speech and Job's response (40:6 - 42:6)
- Notes
- 11. The end comes at the end (Job 42:7-17)
- The perseverance of Job
- Perseverance in warfare
- Perseverance in waiting
- The compassion and mercy of the Lord
- Humbling (42:1-6)
- Acceptance (42:7-9)
- Blessing in the end (42:10-17)
- Notes
- Postscript: so what is the book of Job about?
- For further study
