Seven is an important number in Scripture.
There are seven miracles in John,
all called “signs.”
We come to the seventh sign,
The last sign before the cross,
the raising of Lazarus.
After my husband died, I saw the
connection between the seventh sign
and a passage in Job,
and it comforted me as nothing else had.
Let me tell you a story.
Most of you have experienced the death of a loved one, and you know death, as Paul tells us, is “an enemy.” It is the last enemy for a believer, but still, it is an enemy. You may, as I did, have seen cancer tear the one you love apart, and finally, take him. I wanted to have the coffin opened and see Steve’s body once more before he was buried and the coroner had my son tell me that I must not, for Steve’s body was “not the same.”
A sword in my heart. You cannot wax elegant about death.
IT IS AN ENEMY!
When pain is deep, you either back away from God (which is what the enemy is rooting for) or you press in with all your heart. Like Peter, I thought, Lord, where else can I go?
The Lord led me to the sermons of Tim Keller, and I began to listen (repeatedly) to his sermons on Job. Job never knew why so much suffering was coming into his life, but we do. We know that it was God’s proof to Satan and the world, that there are those who love God for God and not just for His gifts. Keller said, “God could never say to Job:
This is going to be really rough, my child, but hold on, for one day I will make you famous, name a book after you, and you will comfort millions.
For if God told him that, Job would be suffering for something.”
Job had to be in the dark about his suffering.
But because Job truly loved God, he didn’t back away. He lamented, which is what we are taught to do when we do not understand what God is doing. And three times, God comes to Job with comfort in the midst of one of Job’s laments. God never tells Job why he is suffering, but He does give him comfort.
It is the first time that God comes to Job that I want to share with you, for it is linked to the seventh sign in John.
I want you to discover this with me, rather than my simply telling you. You will remember it better.
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
- If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most?
Monday: The Lament
In a typical lament, there are three parts:
- The Lament — you honestly tell God of your pain and how you are feeling about Him.
- The pause or question — you ask God a question and allow Him to speak into your heart.
- The resolve — His Spirit reminds you or shows you a truth and you resolve to trust Him.
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers.
4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38)
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it?
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it?
5. If you soul is troubled, practice the lament here.
Tuesday: Job: Getting Honest
Keller pointed out that Job seems very strong in the beginning.
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22?
But Keller said it isn’t until his friends “sit shiva” for him that Job begins to be really honest. “Sitting Shiva” is Jewish custom that when a friend is hit with tragedy you go and sit seven days (seven meaning perfection, or, as long it takes) in silence, mourning with those who mourn. Job’s friends did this outwardly, but inwardly they were planning to attack him when the seven days were over. This painting is by Tissot.
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts?
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now,
Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3?
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely
to become honest about your pain?
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail him in Gethsemane?
Wednesday: God’s First Speaks To Job
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21?
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2?
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12?
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line
of 14:14. Find them,
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17.
Thursday: You Will Long for The Creature Your Hands Made
All things were made by Jesus, John tells us in his prologue.
He knit each of us together in our mother’s womb.
God showed Job that He loved him, and that when Job died, and his body decayed,
that Jesus would “long for the one his hands made.”
15. Again, what does Job realize from the Spirit of God in Job 14:15?
16. How do you see Jesus’ grief in John 11:33-38?
17. How do you see Jesus doing for Lazarus what God promised Job He would one day do for him in John 11:43?
18. Imagine the day that Jesus will do this for your loved ones in Him and for you! What names will He be calling? And what will we be like?
19. Jesus had brought others from death to life, but this is the first time He had done it so
publicly. What was the reaction according to John 11:53?
20. In order to raise Lazarus, what did it mean for Jesus?
21. What do you think is the spiritual meaning behind the 7th sign?
Friday: Keller Seminar or Other Devotional
22. Share anything you learned from the Keller Seminar or other devotional.
Saturday:
23. What is your take-a-way and why?
118 comments
What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin? The artwork stands out to me. The pictures just seem to capture the raw emotions. I remember the first time I read Job back when I was a new Christian. I did not find any comfort in it at all. I was just frightened that this is the kind of life that a person who trusts God can expect. I truly believed at that time that being a Christian got you special protection from evil. And it caused me to question God’s love for His people. Because while some people say that Job was restored in the end, his original 10 children were still dead and to me that didn’t make any sense at all.If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? Your bible study is #1 I got an email invitation to join your study about six months after I had filled out a card at a conference. It came a few weeks after my niece’s tragic death and it was on suffering. It just was the right thing at the right time. Also hearing from different people of my niece’s salvation brought me peace knowing that I will see her again and spend eternity with her.
Dawn, your experience is that of so many — expecting God to protect us from everything and then being disappointed.
Thanks so for sharing.
My thought on Job’s children is that everything was doubled except for the children — for those who had died were alive. Yet I know that parents would rather have those children on earth, of course, and not wait!
Dee, on the children, do you mean that they were alive in heaven? Those that died?
Yes. That’s why they were not doubled, I believe.
Dawn, I got that same online invitation to join Dee’s God of All Comfort study…..it was back in January 2010 that we started, I believe. I had signed up to receive Dee’s emails after hearing her on the radio. I felt like I’d been thrown a lifeline.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
” Where else can I go.” Have any of you heard this song called Rescue by Desperation Band? A few of their lyrics include:
Cause I need you Jesus,
To come to my Rescue
Where else can I go
There is no other name
By which I am saved.
Capture me with grace
I will follow you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPe9pzxRzo4
Oh the power of a song! Last night my husband and I got to go to an Andrew Peterson concert at a small church just a few blocks from our home. He sang for us and told us his stories for two hours. We wept, we laughed and he invited us to sing with him at times. He spoke about his brokenness and how for three years (recently) he entered a very deep depression and how God rescued him. At times he wept as he sang. At the end he invited us to participate in the song Is He Worthy. If you know the song, you know that he asks questions and the audience answers, and so the song flows. Here’s the link for those who want it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIahc83Kvp4
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most?
I know that all of us here have been deeply affected by a loss through death. And some of us have lost a child. When President Eisenhower was once asked what was the hardest thing he had ever faced, he said it was the death of his small firstborn son. Our 14 month old firstborn daughter, Abigail, died four days after open heart surgery in January of 1981. She would be 39. Grief is messy and can come over us in waves at unpredictable times, especially in those first months. And it leaves us especially vulnerable to the accusations of the enemy of our soul. What helped me? Grief has a way of stripping away pretense. I wrestled out my anger and disappointment and deep sadness before God. And when I was too weary and disheartened He just held me and let me cry ~ even when I questioned Him. One verse that particularly helped was Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
He met me in that dark place.
Another thing that helped me was that I would just take my guitar and get out a hymnbook and put new melodies to old hymns. Or I would find a contemporary song that expressed my heart and learn it. Some songs helped me just to express lament. It was such a helpful way to allow my God to begin to heal my broken, hurting heart. Thank you, Dee, for encouraging me to tell my story here four years ago. I had never actually written it down until you invited me to do that. If you are new to this blog and you know someone who has lost a child, perhaps Dee’s study from four years ago would speak to them. Dee included a portrait that my artist-husband did of our little girl as well as a song that one of our other daughters wrote about the sister she never knew.
https://deebrestin.com/2015/02/responding-to-suffering-a-woman-transformed-by-the-gospel-part-i-lesson-6/comment-page-1/#comments
Sorry my post is so long here this morning. My heart is full.
Oh I wish I could have been with you at that concert, Nila!
Nila, I don’t find your post too long because you have so much to share. I like hearing about how music ministers to you so deeply.
Dee,
I’m sorry. It looks like my comments here earlier this morning are awaiting your moderation ? Probably because I included links ?
Yes!!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
What stood out to me is this sentence, “God never tells Job why he is suffering, but He does give him comfort.” This has been so true in my life and has helped me “love God for God…”. He is a God of comfort and through my suffering He has taught me so much…not easy, but necessary. Necessary, so I can grow in my spiritual walk and come alongside and have compassion on others who are suffering.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one deeply loved, what helped you the most?
This hits close to home as we recently lost my husbands sweet Mother, Carolyn. She was 92 and an amazing woman, loved the Lord her family and others. We also lost our first child to SIDS in 1982…very devastating! What helped me the most is knowing God is sovereign and feeling His loving arms around me. He is faithful and never changing.
Good to hear your personal story, Sharon!
Sharon, I don’t think I knew that you lost a child to SIDS, I am so sorry.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
I have suffered greatly in my life and cling to the book of Job for comfort. I may not ever understand why God has allowed the suffering in my life (like Job), but I know He loves me and is always with me through those times.
I am trying so hard to remember all the signs without looking back. My brain hurts and I am feeling feeble minded! There was the fish, water to wine, blind man, lame man on the mat, and ? Can someone help me review?
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most?
My mom died a few years back and I guess the thing that seemed to help me most was sticking to routine, including bible study, where people were uplifting and helped me through. Relationships and kindness. Caring for each other. My sister stepped up and we have never been so close as we have the last few years. That would make my mom very happy. My mom had a way of capturing her thoughts in writing and many of those were pleading with God for persistence or whatnot. Some were bible verses. They were usually written on some small bit of paper and so I tack them around the house. It reminds me of her and what she valued in her life. I love that.
As I have mentioned often here, the other death was my dad when I was 13. God was there with me and always has been there; that’s what made it tolerable.
Laura — this is a good article reviewing the signs: https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/spiritual-life/the-seven-miracles-in-john/
I love the story with your sister!
Thank you for this article Dee. It really helped me!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin? I remember reading about Job not being given a reason for His suffering in “The God of All Comfort.” I also remember Keller speaking of this. When we suffer we are always suffering “for” something, right? God does not waste our tears but we either trust His process and story for our lives or we demand to know so we can “decide if it is worth it” or we myopically give up deciding there is “no good big enough to justify this hardship.” But God doesn’t allow suffering just for suffering, right? So we are always suffering for something….but it’s for more of Jesus. It’s for renewed perspective or some other “good” we cannot comprehend. So this is either a healthy perspective or it is still a trap to have my inconvenience compensated. To trust Him for/in my suffering or to look for the payoff are opposites….I think.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? I don’t know if I would term them “traumatic” (though all death is indeed somewhat traumatic) but I watched my mom lose her mom….I also miscarried…. both times culture said “no big deal” … grandmas are ‘supposed ‘ to die and she lived a good long life…the miscarriage was treated a an event and not a person… what helped me the most is a deep sense that they both live on! With my grandmother reliving memories and lamenting times gone by, lost, was painful but somehow therapeutic. I also wrote a lot of poetry and journaling after both.
You are certainly right that when we suffer with the right attitude we grow — perseverance leads to character, character to joy.
When Keller says Job had to suffer for “nothing” he meant he was showing his love for God by persevering even when God took away his gifts. I think you get that, just a bit confusing, I know.
Jill, I find those comments about “well she lived a good long life” to be insensitive….it doesn’t matter that a mom or grandma lived to be in their 80’s or even 90’s because it still hurts terribly when you lose them!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
“When pain is deep, you either back away from God (which is what the enemy is rooting for) or you press in with all your heart. Like Peter, I thought, Lord, where else can I go?”
Thinking on a painful trial from last year, I remember questioning His presence, His care, and at times not wanting to talk to Him, fearing He would respond with silence. But even still, the idea of trying to run from Him, live life without Him, was unbearable. I often remind myself I do not want a God I can understand. I want a God so mighty, so “other”, so holy—that I will not always understand His ways but I can learn more and more to trust His hand, even with my eyes shut.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most?
Faith in His Sovereignty. Faith is a gift, I cannot create it within me, but He gave me faith to believe He is who He says He is. Then immersing myself in truth, to remember who He says He is, and silence the enemy.
Love this: “I do not want a God I can understand.”
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin? God could not reveal to Job why He allowed the suffering but it was a powerful witness that there are those who love God simply for who He is and not for the blessings He bestows. I have been asking God “why” for quite a while and am struggling to move into the realm of “Tho He slay me yet will I trust Him”. I have been listening to Joni Earikson Tada on suffering. Today’s culture would have us believe that we should never have to endure any suffering when God’s word is clear that suffering is part of this life…but when surrendered to Him as an act of worship can be transformational.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? My mother’s death was the first one that really pierced me through…I grieved so deeply and for so long that I finally began to ask God why His word said we don’t grieve as thos who have no hope…when that is how my grief felt. He impressed on my heart that I was grieving as one who had no hope because I believed things that were not true. As I asked, He began to reveal those to me in a gentle yet persistent way. The verse that became most meaningful to me then was Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones. I came to see that death was not part of His original intent for us. Death grieves Him and He takes great care in ensuring that the death of His chosen ones brings Him much glory and furthers the kingdom.
“But because Job truly loved God, he didn’t back away.” I pray that I would love the Lord enough to do the hard things & to trust Him no matter what.
It breaks my heart to hear of the death of babies that some of u have had to face. 🙁 My dear mum died in December & I miss her so. I’m most comforted knowing that she is with the Lord she loved, free of her Alzheimer’s & able to dance & sing…also that I know I will see her again in Heaven. Reading her bible & seeing things that she underlined gives me joy & peace & a connection with her.
Lucy — Joni is so clear on this — I do often think of her as living a Job-like life in joy and trust.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin? I am eager to discover the seven sign and learn more about Job.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? I lost my mom to cancer when I was 30 and she was 50. It happened in 3 1/2 months, so quick I could wrap my head around it. I poured my heart out to God and pressed into him. It was the only way I could make it through my grief.
So soon to lose your mom, Tami — but you have come forth like gold.
1. “When pain is deep, you either back away from God (which is what the enemy is rooting for) or you press in with all your heart.”
Thinking primarily of the girl I mentor, and how much work it can be to ignore the loud cries of the evil one and concentrate on the still small voice of the Lord.
And, Job never knew why so much suffering, but we do. We know that it was God’s proof to satan and the world, that there are those who love God for God and not just for His gifts.
It is a comfort to be able to extrapolate this into our lives and know that God does have a reason and we can trust Him with that.
Then, the Tim Keller quote and your line, Dee, about Job needing to be in the dark his suffering, though even there God would comfort him.
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin?
a. Like Peter, I thought, Lord, where else can I go?
This was the first sentence that struck me as it reminded me of our Sunday School study today based on Mark 7. It was the story about the healing of the deaf and mute man by Jesus. Mark 7:32 said, “32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.” The word begged is akin to what Peter is saying here: the friends were desperate for this man’s healing; no more options except Jesus.
Where else can I go? To you alone, Jesus, my Lord.
b. We know that it was God’s proof to Satan and the world, that there are those who love God for God and not just for His gifts.
Lord, that I may seek you only.
c. “…Job would be suffering for something.” “Job had to be in the dark about his suffering.” These lines have really pricked my heart.
I find myself thinking that if only God will tell me why I am suffering, it will help me deal with the pain-my idol of comfort.
. d. God never tells Job why he is suffering, but He does give him comfort.
In continuation of my answer to c, I realize that I need not feed my idol for comfort because true Comfort is found in Jesus alone.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most?
I was not able to be at my sister’s death bed when she passed away. I wanted to see her so badly, I asked my brother in law to send me a picture of her during her last days. I wept hard seeing her frail body. And even nowadays when missing her is so overwhelming, I find comfort in knowing that death has been defeated already and that one day this curse will be no more and I will see my sister in a new resurrected body. Cancer free! And both of us with Jesus!
Yes — that is such a comfort, Bing!
3. The lament is in verses 1-3. The pause is in verses 4-6, and the resolve is in 7-12.
4.A. Jesus laments that His soul is ‘overwhelmed to the point of death’; does anyone care enough about Him to to stay up with Him and go through it with Him.
It is so hard to go through pain with someone else! It makes us so uncomfortable. We’d rather keep a little distance, and get our sleep.
B. Jesus prays for the cup to be taken away from Him, if possible.
C. The continuation of the verse, He says He is resolved to do God’s will regardless.
Love your answer to 4A — so true. I think, in part, that is what is means to bear another’s burden.
Always enjoy the study of your heart mixed in all of this.
Sorry, first it wouldn’t take my entry at all and now I can’t get rid of the duplicate.
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers.
is it this? 1-3 is the lament, 4-6 is the pause, and 7-12 the resolve? I’m not very good with this…
You got it!
Yay!
Monday
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verse numbers.
1-Lament, verses 1-3 (Doesn’t say what he’s lamenting over). 2-Pause, 4-6 (What God speaks into his heart gives more insight). 3-The Resolve, 7-12 (Gives evidence of what he’s lamenting).
4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in His pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38)
He tells them how He’s honestly feeling, “soul crushed with grief to the point of death.” He wants them to stay awake and be at His side, pray with Him, keep watch. I think His deep sorrow must of made the disciples uncomfortable and no fault to them, just lack of understanding. This is a reminder to me that when others are lamenting, that I don’t need to have all the answers. What’s important is just being there, listening, loving and praying.
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it?
His plea is to have the cup of suffering be taken away.
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it?
I want Your will to be done, not mine.
3. Read a Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers.
1. The lament – verses 1-6 seem to be a covert lament, the psalmist is talking about the things God hates in a way that makes you think he is observing those things, but he doesn’t directly say so.
2. The question – I feel like it is an invisible question…he is lamenting all the while wondering, but then the answer comes…
3. The resolve – verses 7-12. “But I…” so perhaps the question was really him observing sinfulness and seeing that same sinfulness in his heart and wanting reassurance, and he got it.
4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? “My soul is very sorrowful, even to the point of death.”
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it? He asks for a different path, an easier path.
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it? “Not my will but thine.” He is trusting God, not only in what must be done but that God loves Him so much that God would not ask for pointless suffering from Him.
5. If your soul is troubled, practice the lament here.
The lament- God, everything seems to be going wrong.
The question – Will everything turn out ok? Will I asked to do something painful? Are these circumstances powerful enough to derail what I think my story should be?
The resolve – God, you write all stories and you personally care about me and my story. God, you allow pain but you hold me and walk with me during it. Victory is assured by the hand of the Almighty but my eyesight is nearsighted and I must not let my expectations blind me to God’s story. I will trust You, by choice if not by feeling, I will seek You and Your narrative. Let me hear Your voice. Let my heart be soft toward Your path. “Not my will but Thine.”
Jill ~
Amen to this: …. but my eyesight is nearsighted and I must not let my expectations blind me to God’s story. I will trust You, by choice if not by feeling…
As you pack and prepare to move across the country and enter in to a lot of unknown in the next couple of weeks, may this Rich Mullins song encourage you as much as it does me. Hold Me Jesus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTDRjqVIyVY
Sunday:
What stands out to you from the above and why? What questions or comments do you have before we begin? – Dee, I’m so sorry for the pain you went through with Steve. How hard to see the suffering he went through. What stood out to me after that was how Job had to suffer without knowing why. God needed to see if he would continue to follow Him even through his pain and suffering. How hard it is for us to do the same. We always want to know why and cry out to him Why Lord? I still have that question and can’t wait to ask Him that. Why did you take my niece at such young age? Why did you take my sister suddenly when she was finally happy? I could go on and on but I know I may never know the answers to those questions.
If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? – I have been through many and what helps me, though I miss them terribly, is that they are no longer suffering. I believe my sister and my dad are with the Lord now and I can only pray that my niece cried out to Him before her life on earth was over.
The Lament — you honestly tell God of your pain and how you are feeling about Him.
The pause or question — you ask God a question and allow Him to speak into your heart.
The resolve — His Spirit reminds you or shows you a truth and you resolve to trust Him.
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers. – The Lament – verses 1 – 3; The Pause & Question – verses 4 – 6; The Resolve – verses 7 – 12
4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38) – I think that Jesus is crying out to his friends and trying to explain the pain that he will be going through and that he doesn’t want to be alone when it happens.
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it? – It is when he cries out to God to let the cup pass from him.
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it? – He ends with accepting the pain that will come to him because he wants the Father’s will to be done and not his own
5. If you soul is troubled, practice the lament here. – Lord, I cry out to you for answers to my questions. Why do I feel at times I’m not being heard. I know Lord that you know what is best, I’ve seen it done before. I wait for you Lord to show your glory. I know you are handling the situation at hand and you will do as you see fit. In Jesus Name Amen
The Lament — you honestly tell God of your pain and how you are feeling about Him.
The pause or question — you ask God a question and allow Him to speak into your heart.
The resolve — His Spirit reminds you or shows you a truth and you resolve to trust Him.
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers.
Vs 1-3: he cries out to God & asks Him to listen, (Lament) then he waits for His answer. (the Pause) Vs 4-10 the psalmist reminds God of His character & asks him to punish the evil.(more Lamenting)
Vs 11-12 The Resolve: The Spirit reminds the psalmist that God protects & blesses those who love & obey Him; they can “always sing for joy”.
Jesus lamented on the cross:
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38)
Jesus was telling them of His anguish & sorrow, & asking them to stay with Him…He wanted their comfort.
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it?
Yes, Jesus pleaded with His Father to remove the cup of suffering if it was possible 🙁
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it?
Jesus resolved to do the Father’s will even if it meant His suffering & death.
5. If you soul is troubled, practice the lament here.
Oh Lord, I know You see my struggles & understand & listen to my cries. I will look for You with alert expectancy. “I will climb my watchtower & wait to see what the Lord will tell me to say & what answer He will give to my complaint”. (Habakkuk 2:1) I want to walk with You & please You in this situation, so help me to obey.
Jenny — like how you reference Habakkuk.
Your closing prayer reminds me of the opening lament of Psalm 10, Julie.
1. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verses numbers.
It was a little hard for me to do Psalm 5 but I printed it out and came close to what others wrote here. 1-3 Lament; 4-6 Pause and then wrote 7 as resolve. Then after that, I got lost. LOL, So it helped to know that the rest 8-12 is resolve. Makes sense now.
4. This is a bit more challenging but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38)
My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. Stay with me
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it?
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
A. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it?
Yet not as I will but as you will.
5. If you soul is troubled, practice the lament here.
Oh Lord, please hear me when I cry out to You. Do not let my words fall on deaf ears my King and my God. I say with the psalmist, my tears have been my food both day and night. Even though I am married I feel alone and unprotected.
But, I know You are a God who loves the widow and the orphan and You will not leave me unprotected. You are my husband and my maker…my kinsman redeemer. How long until I sense Your nearness?
I will listen for Your voice in the night as You sing over me. And I will praise You in the morning and say it is well with my soul. There is no one who loves me more so to whom I should turn but You? I know that my Redeemer lives…blessed be His name.
Lucy,
Have you read the book by musician and author Michael Card entitled Sacred Sorrow?
It is a beautiful reminder of how even our lament is a form of worship. A broken, contrite, crushed heart He does not turn away.
(Lucy, have you joined the private facebook prayer group for Dee’s Bible Study Friends? If so, perhaps we could connect via facebook messaging if you like.) May our Lord encourage you in significant ways today.
No, I have not read that book but will plan to look it up. I do know his music! How do I join the Face Book group? Would love to connect that way.
Lucy (and others),
I just contaced Renee who was one of the blog sisters who set up private facebook page.
If you would email her at reneeo@brookings.net with “Dees Blog” in subject line. She will then invite you to the group.
Nila can you tell Lucy how to join?
Beautiful prayer.
Lucy, you’ve shared here before about your difficult marriage, and I’m not sure if I ever pointed you to Leslie Vernick? Dee actually knows Leslie. She has written several books, one is The Emotionally Destructive Marriage. If you visit her Facebook site, she frequently does Facebook Live videos about different topics, which you can watch for free. She also offers what she calls Core groups for women (I’ve never signed up for that) which does have a cost, which includes telephone conferences with her and the other women and a private FB group and more extensive teaching. She is a Christian counselor whose heart is to help women who are in either difficult marriages or abusive ones. She covers topics such as how to stay (in your marriage) well, and also how to leave well, as for some women in very abusive marriages where there is no repentance, they need to separate from their husbands. I believe her teaching is unique and helpful because in many Christian circles, a wife is simply told to pray more, submit more, but she debunks the myths that say that we can change our husband’s behavior (sometimes it may happen, but often it does not, even when the wife is “trying harder”). She’s not afraid to tackle any topic. One of her live videos was on the topic of “do I have to have sex with my husband if he is abusive to me?” She’s very practical and gets right to the point.
6. Job’s strength…. He grieved appropriately, deeply, but he also worshipped Him.
I think we get the idea that worship is all about when we are having a spiritual high and saying yeah to God. The Bible seems to have a whole different view on it. That it is a choice, regardless of a person’s emotional state. A time to acknowledge who God is, His character traits, His titles, and that I am coming to Him not because I feel good, but because it is true and right to choose God right then and there.
7.a. Job’s friends grieve with him to start, and then they just sit with him for seven days and nights. They sit there in perfection, that number seven. That took a lot of commitment. They tore their clothes, wept, and sprinkled dust on their heads.
b. In chapter three, Job curses the day he was born. He says he wishes he hadn’t been born, that it had never happened. Makes me think of George in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, sure that all would be so much better without him.
8. When someone mourns with you, you can get really honest about your pain, maybe even exaggerate to make a point. You feel that they ‘get it’; that they understand you and are on the same page. They are safe, and they won’t be unfeeling with you, but support you in your pain.
Great answer to 8, Mary.
4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross.
A. How do you see a lament in his pleas to his friends? (Matthew 26:38)
He says His “soul is crushed…”
B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it?
Yes, He begs for the Father to “take this cup…”
C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it?
He says “…if it is Your will…”
i have danced this scripture often to a piece called “Thy Will Be Done.” I know it well.
5. If you soul is troubled, practice the lament here.
Oh Lord! I am definitely troubled because of my lack of care for my body.
Please help me turn this path around and seek to take better care of myself with respect to eating and drinking.
I will listen with fervor for Your guidance all through this day with care.
Tuesday
Keller pointed out that Job seems very strong in the beginning…
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22?
I see it in Jobs response. He got up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the the ground and worshiped. He then said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through it all he didn’t sin or blame God.
7. Read Job 2:11-3:2
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts?
In verse 2:13 it says they sat on the ground with Job for 7 days and nights and didn’t speak, for they saw that his pain was very great.
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now, Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3?
Job curses his birth.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely to become honest about your pain?
Because you believe that person cares and really wants to hear your deepest pain. I remember when we lost our son and my Dad gave me a hug saying, “I love you so much and when you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen.” I have never hugged my Dad so tightly as then.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends likewise, fail him in Gethsemane?
They didn’t truly mourn with him, no empathy, they wanted to figure out what he’d done wrong that would cause something so terrible to happen.
In Gethsemane, they fell asleep rather than praying and keeping watch with Him.
What a wise dad,Sharon.
Oh Sharon,
Your dad’s tender and wise words.
One song that helped me after the death of our little girl was a song titled “A Visitor from Heaven”. I will see if I can find a link and post here later.
A Visitor from Heaven
https://youtu.be/m-OXA3RRXRE
Thank you for sharing that Nila…beautiful!
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22?
I find this interesting,..Job sent, and [d]sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and [e]offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, It may be that my sons have sinned, and [f]blasphemed God in their hearts, thus did Job [g]every day.
Job had a habit of worship and great care for his family to be in right standing with God and not sin. He must have purposed to worship God no matter what and not to sin against him. I see him as one with great conviction and strength. If I encountered the losses of Job, I don’t believe my reaction would be to worship.
7. READ JOB 2:11 THROUGH 3:3
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts? The spoke not a word.
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now,
Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3? Job cursed his life.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely
to become honest about your pain? When someone is with you in your pain, it causes us to realize our situation is so bad that others notice. You now have someone to talk to.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail him in Gethsemane? Job’s friends were prideful to speak as if they knew why all this happened. Jesus’s friends didn’t’ stand with him and neither did Job’s.
Tami — I too am impressed with his worship. Like David, when he lost his son.
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21? Withdraw Your hand from me and do not let the dread of You consume me.
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2? Job is saying that man’s days are so short…too short and insignificant to bear such deep sorrow!
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12? At least for a tree there is the hope of a shoot springing forth to new life…but when man is dead there is no hope.
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line of 14:14. Find them. Job longed for the Lord to hide him until His wrath was spent. Then Job expresses his hope and trust that change would come.
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17. Release will come; You would call and I will answer; You yearn for me Lord; You note each of my steps.
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22?
He tore his robe in lament, he worshiped God, and he praised God, resolving his situation by realizing God brought him into the world with nothing and could take it away as well. I don’t see that he really questioned God though.
7. READ JOB 2:11 THROUGH 3:3
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts?
They came to be with him, not speaking but just being there.
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now, Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3?
He begins to get mad, cursing his own birth.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely to become honest about your pain?
Maybe, by having the person there means they could affirm your pain? You might think you’re in pain, but maybe you are being overly sensitive to a situation. Having someone else to say, yes, this is horrible, means you are not exaggerating to yourself.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail him in Gethsemane?
I’m not sure how they failed him. They didn’t speak to him, but they were with him sitting shiva.
Jesus’ friends fell asleep on Him!
Laura — I should have asked, “How do you know his friends will fail him!”
Laura — I should have asked how they will eventually show their hearts.
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21?
He asks that God “…remove the heavy hand from him…” and to “…not terrify him with His presence.”
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2?
He recognizes the fragile state of the human condition. He says life is fleeting.
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12?
He says a tree can grow again, but a person is gone like water that evaporates.
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line of 14:14. Find them.
He asks God to hide him in a grave, and when His anger had passed come get him from the grave. He then asks, can the dead rise? He says it would give him hope to know that they could.
9. Job’s friends failed him because as soon as he began to express some of his deep emotions, they start telling him he shouldn’t feel like that. They try to ‘fix’ it. A highly irritating thing to do, even if your sorrow is just back pain.
The disciples failed Jesus because even after being specifically asked for a short time frame to keep watch with Him (keep shiva?), they fell asleep. And not just once, but three times.
10. Job asks God to stop piling on the disasters and give him mental, emotional, and spiritual relief.
11. Job reflects on the fact that mankind is fragile and short lived, and it is part of what pains him.
12. Job feels that a tree is better off than a man because it has hope. Even after being cut down, it can sprout again and live, whereas when men die, that is the end of his story on earth.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? This week’s opening took me back in my mind to the study you once led here, Dee, on The God of All Comfort. You are right, you “cannot wax eloquent about death”. It is hard work to travel through the waters of grief, and I know that you surely know that, Dee.
2. If you have been through a traumatic death of one you deeply loved, what helped you the most? OH. The traumatic death was of my 21 year old nephew, Thomas, who died of a drug overdose in his own home, found by his sister the next morning. It was as if the ground gave way beneath the feet of anything I believed, and most of all, I wanted to know WHY this happened. What helped me the most was going through Dee’s online study of The God of All Comfort – processing, asking, and searching with others, learning to lament, searching the Scriptures. I was, at first, angry at God, and wondered, “Where were You, God, when Thomas was dying?” I remember some very deep wrestlings, and a particular Keller sermon on Jesus raising Lazarus in which he said something about when Jesus was weeping, and how that word didn’t just mean he was crying, but it was like a tearing-up of His very insides as He looked into the future of all the funerals and death that would not get a miracle, and He was angry. It was then that I saw that Jesus cared and grieved Thomas’ death, too. I came to the conclusion that even if I could be given a box that contained all of my answers to my questions of “why”, they wouldn’t bring me any comfort; it was knowing who God is and His character, His presence, that brought comfort. There was also a book called Saving a Life by Charles and Janet Morris that was extremely helpful because it talked about a “different kind of rescue”.
So good from Susan:
I remember some very deep wrestlings, and a particular Keller sermon on Jesus raising Lazarus in which he said something about when Jesus was weeping, and how that word didn’t just mean he was crying, but it was like a tearing-up of His very insides as He looked into the future of all the funerals and death that would not get a miracle, and He was angry. It was then that I saw that Jesus cared and grieved Thomas’ death, too. I came to the conclusion that even if I could be given a box that contained all of my answers to my questions of “why”, they wouldn’t bring me any comfort; it was knowing who God is and His character, His presence, that brought comfort.
Wednesday
10. What two things does Job asked God of in Job 13:20-21?
He asks God to remove His heavy hand from him and to not terrify him with His awesome presence.
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:7-12?
He’s angry and frustrated that death is so final and some other things He created aren’t that way.
12. What does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12?
At least a tree has hope…when it’s cut down, it will sprout again and even if the roots have grown old in the ground and its stump is decayed, at the scent of water it will bud and sprout again like a new seedling.
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line of 14:14. Find them…
His plea..”Oh, that You would hide me in Sheol (The neither world, the place of the dead). That You would conceal me until your wrath is past, that You would set a definite time and then remember me ( and in Your lovingkindess imprint me on Your heart)! “If a man dies, will he live again?” Amplified Version
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths that God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17.
1. Through all the days of waiting through his struggle until his change comes, God will call and he’ll answer Him.
2. God will long for him, the work of His hands.
3. God will number each of his steps.
4. God will not observe nor take note of his sin. His transgressions are sealed up in a bag and God will cover his wickedness from His view.
Tues: Job 1-22; Job was strong in the beginning cause he was able to say “The Lord gave & now He has taken away. May His Name be praised!”
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts?
They came from a long way away & sat with him in silence & support till he was ready to talk.
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now,
Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3?
Job curses the day he was born & says he would’ve been better off dying in his mother’s womb.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely
to become honest about your pain?
I think if we feel safe & supported we can open up.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail him in Gethsemane?
They tried to advise him & “fix” things, instead of just be there & listen. Jesus’ friends were too overwhelmed with their own grief & discomfort to really be there for Him.
That’s good in the Amplified Version, Sharon.
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22? It is said that he sought God continuously. He took God and sin seriously, offering sacrifices and seeking the right ways. So much so that God, himself, boasts of his track record (and , more likely, his heart which would have been the fuel for his track record).
I don’t know if this will help anyone else remember the seven miracles, but after reading the article Dee posted for us as a review, I decided to make up a mnemonic device to help myself remember them. Always the teacher I guess? Here goes:
WIW – water into wine
HOS – healing officials son
MOM – man on mat
FOF – feeding of five thousand
WOW – walking on water
MBB – man born blind
RLZ – raising Lazarus
Watch How My Father Will Make Roses.
Hope this helps!
Very good, Laura!
7. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts? They had enough compassion to come and then, to stay. They showed understanding of his circumstance by wailing and tearing clothes and threw dust on their heads. They gave their time to Job to show support. The painting doesn’t really depict this.
B. What do you see in the opening of Job 3? Job doesn’t want to be alive.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely to become honest with your pain? That is difficult to articulate but, indeed, understanding/empathy opens truth’s door. I wonder if it is because they are speaking your language and therefore you know you will be understood. If someone spoke Japanese to me (which I do not speak at all) they would use few words and keep conversation to necessities only. However, when someone speaks English to me, we can go in depth on a number of topics. When your hearts speak the same language you feel understood. When you feel understood you feel free to express yourself.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail Him in Gethsemane? They all gave into comfort/selfishness. Job’s friends sought to fix him so the uncomfortable tragedy would end. Jesus friends gave into sleep so their uncomfortable weariness would end. None walked WITH Jesus or Job through their suffering but rather tried to selfishly end the suffering. (?)
I like that “speaking your language”
This is so true, Jill, “When you feel understood you feel free to express yourself.” There are a couple people in my life that I do not open up to because I’ve learned that they either don’t understand me, or aren’t willing to expend the effort to try.
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17.
“You would call and I would answer, and you would yearn for me, your handiwork. For then you would guard my steps, instead of watching for my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover my guilt.”
Job 14:15-17 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/job.14.15-17.nlt
Laura, I really like this NLT translation of this verse in Job! I also like your mnemonic above for remembering the miracles – very clever!
Susan, I am liking the NLT version too! A friend uses it and I thought I would try it out for awhile. I’m guessing it isn’t the best translation but I’m not for sure on that.
3. Read Psalm 5 and see if you can identify the three parts of the lament using verse’s numbers. The Lament: verses 1-6 The Pause or Question: verses 7-8 The Resolve: verses 11-12 4. This is a bit more challenging, but so meaningful. Even Jesus lamented before the cross. A. How do you see a lament in His plea to His friends? (Matthew 26:38) Jesus tells his friends that His soul is so overwhelmed and He pleads with them to stay awake with Him. B. Can you see a question, a plea, in Matthew 26:39? What is it? Jesus asks His Father if this plan for Him to go to the Cross might be averted. C. Can you see a resolve in that same verse? What is it? Jesus resolves to do the Father’s will.
13. Job asks to be hidden until God changes Job’s circumstances. And he also wonders about man living again after death.
14. Four gospel truths from God:
a. It is God who brings renewal, release, and restoration. Verse 14
b. God seeks us and desires us, verse 15.
c. While God does keep close track of His creatures, it is not His pleasure to accuse us more and more, verse16.
d. God gathers our sin into one place and deals with it there, bringing us forgiveness, verse 17.
15. Job sees that it is God’s desire to have an intimate relationship with him. By extension, He wants the closest possible relationship with each and every one of us.
This is so huge — so different from other religions — and God revealed this to Job in the time of Genesis!
Job sees that it is God’s desire to have an intimate relationship with him
16. Jesus was moved in Spirit, He was troubled and wept.
What Susan wrote in answer to 2, that Jesus was grieving all death, everywhere, is so good!
17. Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the grave, by name. I’ve heard it said that without Jesus specifically calling just that one person, there would have been more people coming out of the grave at His command. That He uses an individual’s name is such a comfort to me. It means that He doesn’t just want a harvest of souls, He wants each of us one by one, by name.
18. Someday it will be me coming back to life, along with all I love who know Jesus. But we won’t have to go through death again, as Lazarus did. We will be like Him in a glorious new body. I’ve always wondered if the Pharisees succeeded in killing Lazarus to quiet that testimony, and what happened to the saints that were raised at the time of Jesus’s resurrection and walked the streets of Jerusalem. Did they have to go through dying again?
15. Again, what does Job realize from the Spirit of God in Job 14:15? Job realizes that death will be a welcome thing…it will be his time of change and release…a time he will hear the yearning call of his Heavenly Father and would answer that call with a resurgence of yearning life.
16. How do you see Jesus’ grief in John 11:33-38? The Amplified version says Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and troubled ( chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed)…He wept, others commented on the tenderness of His love for Lazarus…sighing repeatedly and deeply disquieted.
17. How do you see Jesus doing for Lazarus what God promised Job He would one day do for him in John 11:43? Jesus, deeply yearns for His loved one…Lazarus…and calls him forth from the grave…just as He promised Job in Job 14:15.
18. Imagine the day that Jesus will do this for your loved ones in Him and for you! What names will He be calling? Wendell, Mary Miles, Jimmy, Jim, Bette, unnamed babies. And what will we be like? We will be changed…imprinted with His heart.
Keller pointed out that Job seems very strong in the beginning. 6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22? As wave after wave of bad news hits him, Job tears his clothing, shaves his head, and falls to the ground in worship, saying that the Lord gave and took away, yet he praises the Lord and never accuses God of doing wrong. A. How do you see his friends sitting shiva outwardly, if not in their hearts? Their expressions look as if they, too, are mourning along with Job; their eyes are closed or downcast – they are not scrutinizing Job outwardly. B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now, Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3? After the seven days of silence, the firs thing Job says is that he curses the day he was born. He says that he would rather have died right after being born or been born stillborn and never have seen the light of day. 8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely to become honest about your pain? Because you feel like you’re being heard, really listened to, and it feels safe. Recently when I had lunch with a friend, I started to open up about something I’m struggling with, but I feel like she didn’t really hear what I was saying, and began by saying, “Let me tell you something…..” and then proceeded to give me an example from her own life, but she missed what I was saying completely. After that, I didn’t want to try to explain. 9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus’ friends, likewise, fail Him in Gethsemane? Job’s friends thought they had it all figured out, that Job’s troubles were the result of something he did wrong, therefore incurring God’s anger and punishment. Jesus only wanted His friends to stay awake and keep company with Him, but they were too tired and fell asleep. Humanly, He wanted their support and presence as He was about to face death, but He was left alone.
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21?
He asks that God would stop punishing him, & not crush him with terror 🙁
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2?
He laments that we are all born weak & helpless, all grow & wither as quickly as flowers.
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12?
Trees can be cut down, but their stumps can sprout again like a young plant. Not so with man. “people die, never to rise”.
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line
of 14:14. Find them,
Job says he wishes he could die but that God would “set a time to remember” him. Then he asks “If a man dies can he come back to life?”
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17.
The Spirit tells him to “wait for better times, till this time of trouble is ended”; God will call him; God will be pleased with Job; He will watch his every step; He will forgive & wipe away all Job’s sin. What a faithful & Loving God!
Thurs:
15. Again, what does Job realize from the Spirit of God in Job 14:15?
That the Lord will call for him & be pleased with him, His creature.
16. How do you see Jesus’ grief in John 11:33-38?
His heart was “deeply moved” & He wept & was compelled to go to the tomb.
17. How do you see Jesus doing for Lazarus what God promised Job He would one day do for him in John 11:43?
Jesus “called” for Lazarus by name & with His authority! He called him forth from the grave.Wow! I never saw this connection with God’s promise to Job. How exciting!!
18. Imagine the day that Jesus will do this for your loved ones in Him and for you! What names will He be calling? And what will we be like?
He will call forth all the names of all those who believe in Him. He will give us new bodies. I wonder what we will be like? We will be like Jesus! Wow!
19. Jesus had brought others from death to life, but this is the first time He had done it so
publicly. What was the reaction according to John 11:53?
The pharisees saw Jesus as a threat to their Jewish nation & heritage. “From that day on the Jewish authorities made plans to kill Jesus”
20. In order to raise Lazarus, what did it mean for Jesus?
It meant exposing Who He was & His power over life & death. It meant putting His own life on the line for Lazarus & for our sake. Jesus would have known what the Pharisees reaction would be. Thank You Jesus!
21. What do you think is the spiritual meaning behind the 7th sign?
That Jesus was revealing His authority in Heaven & on earth; His power over death & that He will one day call forth all who believe in His Name. He is “the Resurrection & the Life”. If we believe in Him, we will have eternal Life, even tho our earthly bodies will die. He is our Hope forever!
Such a good illustration of the harm that comes when a friend is in grief and we instead of truly listening share a similar time of our grief. I understand they may feel they are saying, “I understand,” but underneath is still that self-focus which must die in order to love well.
Thursday
15. Again, what does Job realize from the Spirit of God in Job 14:15?
That God will long for him, the work of His hands.
16. How do you see Jesus’ grief in John 11:33-38?
I see Jesus’ grief as a mixture of emotions. “Anger (verses 33 & 38) at the sorrow caused by death.” (Amplified). His soul and spirit were troubled, which according to Vines is truly rendered “He troubled Himself (“affected with great pain or sorrow” ~ Strongs) .” He wept…the Greek word is “dakruon” which means “to shed tears” and this is only used of the Lord Jesus! (Vines)
To me this really shows the human part of Jesus and gives me comfort that He understands my pain, my sorrows and my losses.
17. How do you see Jesus doing for Lazarus what God promised Job He would one day do for him in John 11:43?
He shouted for Lazarus to come out.
18. Imagine the day that Jesus will do this for your loved ones in him and for you! What names will He be calling? And what will we be like?
Zeb, Norman, Betty, Don, Carolyn!! We will be changed…”transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” (1 Corinthians 15:53) So many questions have always been in my mind about this…one day we will know.
19. Jesus had brought others from death to life, but this is the first time he had done it so publicly. What was the reaction according to John 11:53?
From then on the Jewish leaders plotted to kill Jesus.
20. In order to raise Lazarus, what did it mean for Jesus?
It meant that there is victory over death.
21. What do you think is the spiritual meaning behind the seventh sign?
Im not really sure but from what we’ve studied, I see for believers, that physical death isn’t the end, that God longs for us, the work of His hands.
Carolyn!
Love our connection, Sharon.
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21? Job asks God to “withdraw your hand from me” – I’m thinking Job is expressing that he feels God’s hand is against him, that he is being punished, and he asks that God would stop frightening him. 11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2? Job laments that the life of a man is short and full of trouble, and, as if that weren’t enough, why does God fix His eye on such a one, to judge him. I find this very interesting: “Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!” I think of Jesus and how it shows that His birth was different from the birth of any other man because the perfect, pure man came from an impure woman in that Mary was not herself born without sin. And then, how it is only God who can take us who are born in impurity, like David said, “conceived in sin”, and declare us pure and righteous. 12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12? Even if a tree is cut down and its stump dies in the ground, there is a possibility that new sprouts will grow and become a plant. But when a man dies, any hope of life coming from his dead body is over. 13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line of 14:14. Find them. In verse 13, Job has a plea of “if only….” he seems to be saying if only his body would be in the grave until God’s anger (over sin?) has passed; that there would be a set time for being dead and then, God would remember Job. He then asks, “If a man dies, will he live again?” 14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him the truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17. Job says that he will wait for his 1) renewal to come. He says that when God calls him, he will 2) answer (implies life because dead men don’t speak). Another truth is that 3) God will long for Job, the creature He has made. 5) Job says that God will cover his sin, not keeping track of his sins and he uses the metaphor of them being sealed up in a bag. I believe this is comforting because it reassures Job that God isn’t bringing him to life again in order to be condemned for his sins.
10.What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21? That God withdraw His hand and that dread of God would not terrify him The Message translates the second thing in verse 22, as a request for God to speak with Job, which was my thought as well other translations imply that Job is aking God to take away the suffering (His hand) and to stop scaring Job (Job wants reassurance that he is cared for by God and not abandoned). Job believes God is afflicting him by His own hand and believes that this must mean that God no longer cares because the gifts are gone. These themes continue in our world today!
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2? He laments that life is fleeting and short .
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12? Because a tree is never fully dead in the ground but instead has a chance for a second life . Interesting that a man who no longer wants his own life due to suffering is pining for more life …
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the furst line of 14:14. Find them. He is asking God if mankind (himself in particular) will be remembered or be cast off?
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17. God “longs for the work of His hands” in other words He cares for Job. God does not “keep watch” over iniquity in other words, He forgives. God covers Job’s sin in other words Christ will pay the price (and now has paid the price). God would number Job’s steps in other words God watches over Job lovingly to the point if being able to count his steps.
Friday
22. Share anything you learned from the Keller seminar or other devotional.
I invited my daughter to do a 40 day devotional plan through a Bible app called “ Journeying With Jesus” by Susan Narjala with me and when she joined this Mom was thrilled! It has brought me great joy to read her responses each day and know that she desires to draw closer to Him. It has been a wonderful journey leading up to Jesus‘ death, His different sayings, His resurrection and meeting the women and disciples. God is good and I’m so thankful that He loves me unconditionally.
19. The reaction to this very public miracle was for the elite from Jerusalem and The Jews to plot to kill Jesus. The Bible doesn’t tell us, but I’d be curious to know if it was on the Sabbath. The day they were to rest from pursuing their own interests and turn their attention to God. In their blinded eyes, they couldn’t see that God had, in the fullness of time, turned His attention to them and was bringing salvation to them.
20. Raising Lazarus sealed the resolve among the leaders to kill Jesus.
21. In this very public setting, the meaning could be that just as all men are born spiritually dead, so Christ is able to call each of us to new life. This was the last miracle before the cross. The last visual He was giving to those who thus far were vehemently against Him. He was even willing to bear our sin on Himself, dying and then rising, to lead the way for us. It is like He said, here, I will go ahead and die for you. Then I will raise Myself in power as a visual aid that I can get you out of death also.
Mary, I like your explanation of the spiritual meaning behind this sign.
He was “modeling” what we would be doing through His dying on the cross and rising from the tomb. Interesting thoughts
6. How do you see this in Job 1:2-22? – Job took all the bad against him with grace. He knew what he had was not his to keep and that God could take anything give to him at any moment. All we have here on Earth is just temporary and will not be ours once we are gone.
A. How do you see his friends “sitting shiva” outwardly, if not in their hearts? – As they were walking toward him they raised their voices and wept, they tore their robes and through dust on their heads
B. Job doesn’t know what they are thinking yet, for they have not spoken. And now, Keller says, Job gets honest. What do you see in the opening of Job 3? – He cursed the day he was born and wished the day he was conceived had never happened.
8. Why is it, do you think, that when someone truly mourns with you, that you are more likely to become honest about your pain? – When someone really understands what you are going through you know they are being honest with their mourning for you. They aren’t just saying things we really don’t want to hear, just to make us feel better. For me, them just being with me and praying is better than when they say “they are in a better place”, though they are, if they have a relationship with Jesus, I don’t really want to hear it at that time. I want my loved one with me still.
9. How did Job’s friends fail him? How did Jesus friends, likewise, fail him in Gethsemane? – I don’t think they were really there for him as he needed them. They were their in body but not lifting them up in prayer or helping him get through this time. They had others things on their minds and may have thought that their weeping and crying out was a help to both Job and Jesus.
10. What two things does Job ask of God in Job 13:20-21? – He asked that God withdraw his hand from him, not to let anything else bad happen to him and to help not be afraid of God during this time.
11. How does Job continue his lament in Job 14:1-2? – That man only lives only a few years before trouble comes to him
12. Why does Job think a tree is better off than a man according to Job 14:7-12? – That even if the branches are cut off, all it needs is a little water for new growth to come.
13. We see the turn with a plea and a question in Job’s lament in Job 14:13 and the first line of 14:14. Find them – He wants to be hidden among the dead and he says if a man dies will he live again
14. The Spirit of God now speaks to Job’s heart, showing him truth. Find at least four truths God impresses on Job’s heart to comfort him in Job 14:14-17. – Once troubles have passed from us, we will have a better life; We will be called back to Him and we will hear him when he calls; He will watch over us and see what we do and where we go; Our past will be forgotten and He will forgive us.
15. Again, what does Job realize from the Spirit of God in Job 14:15? – That once the Lord calls me to him, he will be pleased with me.
16. How do you see Jesus’ grief in John 11:33-38? – He saw how upset Mary and the others were that it upset him as well and he wept because Lazarus, his friend, had died.
17. How do you see Jesus doing for Lazarus what God promised Job He would one day do for him in John 11:43? – Jesus spoke to Lazarus to wake up which gave him a new life and God saw Job through the trial he had on him and once it was over Job had a new life to start fresh.
18. Imagine the day that Jesus will do this for your loved ones in Him and for you! What names will He be calling? And what will we be like? – I can’t wait for this time to come, I will be seeing my Dad John, my sister Joan and my Grandmother Anna. I hope there are more that I will be surprised to see as I don’t know if they cried out to Him at their last breath. I will be so happy to see this and overjoyed with excitement, it has been too long.
19. Jesus had brought others from death to life, but this is the first time He had done it so publicly. What was the reaction according to John 11:53? – They were not happy with what Jesus was doing and talked about how to kill him.
20. In order to raise Lazarus, what did it mean for Jesus? – For Lazarus to be risen from the dead, it meant Jesus would have to die.
21. What do you think is the spiritual meaning behind the 7th sign? – This was all part of the plan, to show that those who had died will be alive again. It was the start of raising people from the dead, just as Jesus would also be risen from the dead. It shows the power of the trinity.