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Call to worship: Psalm 3

Text: Job 3

We want to know how to support the lamenter by leading their lamenting hearts to the hope that lamentation still, ironically, reveals.

Outline:

1. Hearing Job's lamentation, 3:1-26
   • Job's cursing, 3:1-10
   • Job's questioning, 3:11-26
2. Helping lamenting Job.
   • Let lamenters lament, and listen well
   • Take (mental) notes to (eventually) serve as eye-salve
   • Search out evidences of grace in the lamenter's lamentation
   • Steady their hope in the ever-attendant presence and promise of God
   • Run a line from their lament to the cross and back

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. In 3:1-2, Job opens his mouth. How are his words different now than when he's spoken before? Why might they be different? Does Job curse God? What does Job curse?
2. In 3:3-10, Job gives expression to the painful musings of his soul. What's the essence of his desire, what's central to his cursing? 3:10 gives the reason he curses the day of his birth. What's the reason? In the second part of his reason, do we begin to perhaps see a latent idol coming to the forefront for Job? On the other hand, is it wrong for us to prefer a trouble-free life? Does that desire shine a light on another world? Is our groaning not much to do with our longing to be there? Rom 8:18ff.
3. In 3:11-26, Job's cursing turns to questioning. He moves to the 'why.' Have you ever been in his shoes? What does Job's 'why' reveal about his faith? Is his suffering making him atheistic? Or is he still clinging to God? Does not 'why' presuppose an 'answerer'? How then might lamentation ironically reveal a steady hope?
4. In 3:11-19, Job questions why he was born. Is to live at all to be preferred to living like he was? How does Job view death in this moment? As a friend or foe? Why a friend? In 3:20-26, Job questions why God gives light and life to one in misery. Why does God prolong such terrible suffering? Why won't he just let Job die? He wants to die! Important question though—does Job ever take his life in his own hands? Does Job deny God in all of this? What is Job wishing for at the end of the day (3:26)? How does this chapter lead us to Jesus? Is the Gospel to be found in all this darkness and despair?
5. Does lamentation make you uncomfortable? Or do you see it as a God-given means of bringing our grief to God and paving a way to hope in God? When you hear Job, do you want to take him to an asylum, or do you want to take him to Jesus? Is this kind of despair a mental health issue (only), or (in this case) a sign of spiritual health seeking understanding between the poles of a hard life and God's goodness? Are you a competent counselor for lamenting souls? Would you encourage a suffering soul to use the prayer language of lament? If not, why do you think there is so much lamentation in the Bible—there's a whole book called Lamentations, and the majority of the Psalms (the hymns of Israel) are lamentations that, presumably, they'd sing quite frequently! How might the grace of lament be a helpful tool in your tool belt of spiritual disciplines, particularly when hurting and/or seeking to help one who is hurting? Have you thought how you might run a string from lament to the cross and back? Let's continue to grow in gently leading Job's to Jesus.