• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• In the book of Job, Job never finds out why he suffers and that is exactly the point of the story.
• The book of Job was written in a chiastic structure.

A chiasm is a literary way of writing where aspects of the message inverts upon itself in order for the reader to draw their attention to one point in the center. And whatever that center point is, is the main idea or the message of the writing.

Book of Job’s Chiastic Structure

A, Prologue — Job’s Suffering on Earth (Ch. 1-2)

B. Job’s Lament and Dialogue with Friends (Ch. 3-27)

C. Hymn to Divine Wisdom (Ch. 28) [Interlude]

B. Job’s Final Defense, Elihu’s Speeches, God Speaks (Ch. 29-41)

A. Epilogue — Job’s Restoration on Earth (Ch. 42)

• Right in the middle of the chiasm is Chapter 28…

Job 28:28 (ESV)

And he said to man,

‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

#1) JOB’S RIGHTEOUS BEGINNING

Job 1:1 (ESV)

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Job 1:2-3 (ESV)

2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

#2) JOB’S SEVERE SETUP

Job 1:6 (ESV)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

• “sons of God” = members of God’s divine council; angels

Job 1:7 (ESV)

The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Job 1:8 (ESV)

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

Job 1:9-11 (ESV)

9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

#3) JOB’S HONEST LAMENT

Job 1:12 (ESV)

And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job 28:20-23 (ESV)

20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.

22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.

• Wisdom does not come from the best that man has to offer. Wisdom only comes from the Lord.

Humans can’t think hard enough or invent the right kind of things or do what ever it takes to gain wisdom.

Job 28:28 (ESV)

And he said to man,

‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

The fear of the Lord is wisdom.

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Psalm 111:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Understanding is to turn away from evil and turn to God.

Job 6:24 (ESV)

“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.

Job 7:20 (ESV)

If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?

This is why true wisdom is trusting God even when you don’t know why. And because you don’t know why, true wisdom is trusting the One who knows why.

Job 2:9-10 (ESV)

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

#4) GOD’S SOVEREIGN RESPONSE

Job 38:4-8 (ESV)

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!  Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,

• Suffering will take place and you won’t always know why, and that’s okay.

Exodus 20:20 ESV

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

Do not stop fearing God when suffering!

• Everything begins with the fear of the Lord. But when you let go of this Holy fear, the fallout begins. Your life will begin to truly crumble.
• The fear of the Lord is to tremble at His Presence & tremble at His Word.

Tremble At His Presence = To respect, to value, to be in awe, reverence; acknowledge His glorious presence; terrified of being away from Him.

Psalm 89:7 NKJV

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

Tremble At His Word = to obey His Word

Isaiah 66:1-2 (ESV)

1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

When you try to seek the why during the suffering when there’s no answer, you will impugn the character of God.

Job 40:15 (ESV)

“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.

Job 41:1-2 (ESV)

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

#5) JOB’S JOYFUL RESTORATION

• The wisdom of suffering is to know that he is control. So fear Him only and turn away form evil.
• You can trust the God who governs the chaos even though he doesn’t explain.

Job 42:1-6 (ESV)

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

CONCLUSION

• “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Mark 10:18 (ESV)

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

• The proper question should be… “Why do good things happen to bad people?”
• In times of suffering, will you trust God is in control? Will you continue to fear Him and turn away from evil?