Subject: Suffering - Job 32-34

Job 34:34-35 (ESV Strong's)
Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words are without insight.’

Subject: Suffering

How do you respond to suffering?   To answer that question we often turn to Job to observe him, since is the poster-child for suffering.   When we do this, we need to make sure we also remember chapter one of the book.   Job's suffering was brought on because God called him "righteous" and Satan said he was such because he had special favor from God.  In Satan's view, if you removed the favor, Job would curse God.  Job DOES give us much to embrace in regard to suffering.  His lesson's are numerous and worthwhile for our own, personal suffering.   However, the above passage is a lesson we might want to learn: To Avoid!   In all of Job's words, as the scene unfolds day-by-day, he begins to use his words loosely.   Remember, in Job's mind he IS righteous.   In God's own testimony of Job He counted him righteous.  Yet, Job knows he has sin.  But, in his words, the world around him begin to see the futility of Job's argument.  The evidence, as known my men, is to overwhelming.   In their view, "Job speaks without knowledge.".  In reality Job was speaking without knowledge.  He DIDN'T know why God was allowing this to happen to him.  Instead of "justifying" himself, he should have praised God.  This is Elihu's argument.   Note Elihu's words:

Job 32:2 (ESV Strong's)
Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.

When we are in the midst of suffering we need to bless God and not speak as though we lack understanding.   Speak about what we know in suffering.  What we know is that God is caring and will care for us.  He will not allow anything in our lives we don't need or can't handle in His grace.