The Adult Sunday School

Sunday, October 12, 2014

On 10-19-14, Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Hope Complains or I Will Call on God

Hope Complains

I Will Call on God

Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25

International Sunday School Lesson

October 19, 2014

Commentary

Jed Greenough

Do you ever ask why things happen or are the way they are? It wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t and it is even more normal when we ask the types of questions as Job is when we are experiencing something. We empathize with what others are experiencing too just like Job is doing in today’s scripture.

When I read today’s scripture I immediately thought of Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes. Different words but still just like the wonderings of man and woman when they encounter tough times and reach a certain point in their lives. Was Solomon thought less of by God, was Job? Read God’s reply in verse 40 and one might think so but we will get our answer for sure next week!

As Christians we can wonder about these types of thoughts and continue in our faith but we must be prepared to give an answer to those who are not believers who ask thoughts such as:

How can a loving God…? Why would God allow…? If God is real why does…?

We know the questions and we had best know some answers for in my mind not being so equipped and not stepping up to answer is akin to rejecting God if we profess to know Him. We might say that God does not cause anyone to sin from James 1 also we might say that we know clearly from the beginning of the Bible of our world’s fallen state that sin is in the world and everything can therefore happen in that state and furthermore that bad things happen to so called good people as a result.

You must see that there are as many ways to answer as there are Christians but you do need to be prepared to give an answer.

For Discussion:

1. Seldom grateful for hardships at the time do you look back later and see that it improved you?

2. Isaiah 55:8-9

3. Discuss instances of discussing with non-Christians why things happen as they do in the world.

4. If you need assistance understanding, discuss with your class.

5. It might be hard for a non-Christian to understand but discuss how God doesn’t want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) even those who commit the injustice as mentioned by Job.

6. Discuss the church and a Christian’s role to help the poor, needy, naked and hungry as mentioned by Job.

Upcoming Lessons

10-26-14 Hope Satisfies or Things to Wonderful for Me, Job 42:1-10

11-2-14 God’s Divine Glory Returns or God’s Glory Fills the Temple, Ezekiel 43:1-12

11-9-14 The Altar, A Sign of Hope or The Altar Offers Hope, Ezekiel 43:13-21

Sunday, October 5, 2014

On 10-12-14, Job 19:1-7, 23-29 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Even So, My Redeemer Lives or I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

Even So, My Redeemer Lives

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

Job 19:1-7, 23-29

International Sunday School Lesson

October 12, 2014

Commentary

Jed Greenough

Last week I proposed that God did not answer Habakkuk’s complaining but rather spoke past him. This week as we begin in Job we see that he figured that out too when he said in verse 7 that he’d been wronged but got no response from God. But Job is still in for some surprises as we study this book over the next couple weeks.

Have you been wronged or suffered and cried out to God but felt that you got no response? Perhaps you know someone who has fallen away because this happened to them.

Job has demonstrated in this week’s scripture what being a faithful Christian today can be like when we suffer in all the myriad of ways we will. Job lost his family, his servants and his livestock. He suffered from depression and had to “endure” his friends. Despite the fact that there is nothing new under the sun, to Job this was a unique experience as it seems to each of us when we suffer. But I think to be fair to ourselves I believe it is important to read Job and gain inspiration because sometimes we can be a little too hard on ourselves and our faith when we do suffer.

We read the thoughts that are going through Job’s mind I ask you to consider that God knows them so why “hide” them? We see that Job asks God about what is happening and there isn’t anything wrong with that per say but in the end as God replied to Habakkuk that the righteous will live on by faith we see that is what Job did, live on by faith. We read this in perhaps the most famous verse from Job when he said, “I know that my redeemer lives.”

Sometimes when I read Job it seems he has lucid and then unclear moments and if we don’t keep his suffering in mind we might not give Job the weight it deserves. If you’ve had this problem concentrate on the fact that despite what he’d been through He wished ironically enough that his words of faith were recorded. He still yearned for God and the day when he would meet Him.

For Discussion:

1. Do you still sing the great old song I Know That My Redeemer Liveth?

2. Discuss what Job has been through.

3. Discuss helpful examples from your life or another’s.

4. Discuss Job’s speaking out of his despair.

5. Discuss Job’s friends.

6. Discuss why Job calls God “my Redeemer”.

7. On a side note pray for all your fellow students throughout the world. Some are strong but many are just beginning and others are facing a myriad of challenges.