Download Habakkuk Lesson 7 - Calvary Chapel of Kearny

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Calvary Chapel of El Cajon
Women’s Bible Studies
AFFLICTION AND THE CHARACTER OF GOD
Lesson 7
The book of Habakkuk deals with the affliction incurred by a nation, which had turned from
following God. The nation of Israel was guilty. Still there were some living in Israel who
continued to serve God, yet would suffer along with the guilty. This can cause us to question
God’s ways and intentions. This week we are going to take a little detour from Habakkuk and
study the story of Job. Unlike the story of Habakkuk, Job’s story is of an individual afflicted
for a reason unknown to him. Habakkuk 2 closes with the statement The LORD is in His
holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
As you study Job, you will discover that, although the circumstances are very different from
those in Habakkuk, Job’s response to God’s reply was very similar: I will lay my hand over my
mouth (Job 40:4).
May your understanding of God and acceptance of His ways be multiplied as you study this
week.
DAY ONE: Read Job 1:6-12
1. Job was not present when the decisions were made to allow affliction in his life. From his
standpoint, if he were to relate his story, it might go something like this: “I was just
standing there, minding my own business, walking blameless and upright like I always do,
when wham, wham, my whole world started falling apart!”
Often you may feel like Job, really unaware of the spiritual realm and its relationship to
your life. Summarize what was happening in heaven while Job was “minding his own
business” (Job 1:6-12).
2. These opening verses of Job reveal some things about Satan, the enemy of our souls. What
was he doing just prior to coming before the LORD?
a. What does 1 Peter 5:8 reveal about Satan’s intentions as he walks about the earth?
3. God pointed out His servant Job to Satan. What does both, Job 1:1 and 1:8 indicate about
Job?
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a. Satan’s reply in verse 9 was, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Often it is easy to walk
rightly when things are going well and God’s blessing is evident in our lives. But, what
about when times get rough? That was Satan’s challenge. What did he challenge God to
do? (verse 11)
4. What does God give Satan permission to do in Job 1:12?
a. Notice that Satan’s power is limited to God’s permission. What did God tell satan that
he could not do to Job?
b. Satan is a formidable foe. However, he is subject to Almighty God. What do the
following verses teach about Satan’s limitations in your life as a believer?
Luke 10:19-20 ~
1 Corinthians 10:13 ~
James 4:7 ~
1 John 4:4 ~
DAY TWO:
1. The result of Satan’s afflictions was the loss of all of Job’s sons and daughters, loss of his
servants and his livestock. Read Job 1:21-22 and Job 2:3. Summarize Job’s response to
these tragedies.
2. Satan does not give up easily. He returned to God for permission to inflict further harm.
What did he request? (Job 2:4-6)
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a. What did Satan do? (Job 2:7)
3. Job again reacted with integrity, in spite of his wife’s encouragement to do otherwise.
Record the responses of both Job and his wife from Job 2:9-10.
4. Job’s friends appear on the scene in Job 2:11. They had heard of Job’s adversity and came
to mourn with him and comfort him. What does Job 2:13 say that they did?
a. In what ways have you found a friend’s silent presence comforting?
5. Job 3 begins with the words, After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his
birth. What did he say according to Job 3:25, 26?
a. Describe Job at this point of his trial.
DAY THREE:
1. Most of the remainder of the book of Job covers interactions between Job and his friends.
His friends were free with their counsel. Some of their counsel was wise, but they arrived
at many wrong conclusions. One of their conclusions was that Job’s affliction must have
been a result of some sin in his life. There are times when affliction is the result of sin. But,
sin is not the only cause of affliction. Read John 9:1-3. Why did Jesus say that the man was
blind?
a. In what ways can God be glorified in affliction?
2. Job cried out to the LORD several times. Record his concerns according to Job 13:20-21.
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a. Write these verses in your own words.
3. Job’s peace of mind wavered under the weight of his trials. David wrote in Psalm 61:2,
when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Job also knew to
cling to what (and Who) he knew to be true. What are some of the rich truths he declared
during his affliction?
a. Job 19:25-26 ~
b. Job 23:10 ~
c. Job 28:28 ~
d. Record the reason why Job knew these things according to Job 23:12
4. Another friend of Job’s, Elihu, appears in chapter 32. He was angry with Job. Write the
reason for his anger from the last part of Job 32:2.
a. What does it mean that Job justified himself rather than God?
b. Read Job 34:5 to see an example of Job justifying himself. What might be wrong with
this kind of attitude?
Your decrees are perfect; they are entirely worthy of our trust.
Your decrees are always fair; help me to understand them, that I may live.
Psalm 119:138,144 NLT
DAYS FOUR AND FIVE:
1. Job 38 begins with the words, Then the LORD answered Job out of a whirlwind, and
said…
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We will be spending the next two days concentrating on God’s reply to Job. Read through
chapters 38, 39, and 41. Record some of your favorite statements about all that God has
created and controls. (Be sure to record the reference of each verse you use. An example is
provided for you.) He is the One who laid the foundations of the earth (38:4)
DAY SIX:
1. Job responded to the LORD’s statements with humility. Read Job 40:3-4 and Job 42:1-6.
Record Job’s responses.
a. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You (Job 42:5). We
do not know that Job literally saw the LORD. We only know that God spoke to Him.
God speaks to us through His Word, through His still small voice, and through others.
Describe how going through a trial can take us from a surface knowledge of the LORD
to one of knowing Him in a deeper way.
2. God not only had words for Job, but He had some things to say to Job’s friends regarding
their counsel. What were they? (Job 42:7)
a. What does this say to you about giving ungodly or inappropriate counsel to others?
Challenge: Look up other Scriptures related to affliction and record what they say.
3. What did you discover about God from this lesson?
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.
Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:10
In the time of adversity and in the time of affliction,
Jeremiah 16:19 O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The
Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, "Surely our fathers have
inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things."
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Jeremiah 30:15 Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of
the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to
you.
Jeremiah 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to
break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and
to plant, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 48:16 "The calamity of Moab is near at hand, and his affliction comes quickly.
Lament. 1:3-5 Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells
among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits. [4] The
roads to Zion mourn because no one comes to the set feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her
priests sigh, Her virgins are afflicted, And she is in bitterness. [5] Her adversaries have become
the master, Her enemies prosper; For the Lord has afflicted her Because of the multitude of
her transgressions. Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.
Lament. 1:7 In the days of her affliction and roaming, Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant
things That she had in the days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the enemy, with
no one to help her, The adversaries saw her And mocked at her downfall.
Lament. 1:9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts; She did not consider her destiny; Therefore her
collapse was awesome; She had no comforter. "O Lord, behold my affliction, For the enemy
is exalted!"
Lament. 1:12 "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see If there is any sorrow
like my sorrow, Which has been brought on me, Which the Lord has inflicted In the day of
His fierce anger.
Lament. 3:1 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
Lament. 3:19 Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall.
Lament. 3:33 For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
Hosea 5:15 I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will
seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."
Amos 5:12 For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just
and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.
Amos 6:6 Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But
are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Amos 6:14 "But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel," Says the Lord
God of hosts; "And they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath To the Valley of the
Arabah."
Obadiah 1:13 You should not have entered the gate of My people In the day of their calamity.
Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid
hands on their substance In the day of their calamity.
Jonah 2:2 And he said: "I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered
me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.
Micah 4:6 "In that day," says the Lord, "I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and
those whom I have afflicted;
Nahum 1:9 What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.
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Nahum 1:12 Thus says the Lord: "Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this
manner they will be cut down When he passes through. Though I have afflicted you, I will
afflict you no more;
Habakkuk 3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian
trembled.
Zeph. 3:12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the
name of the Lord.
Zeph. 3:19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And
gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land
where they were put to shame.
Zech. 1:15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, And they
helped--but with evil intent."
Zech. 8:10 For before these days There were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; There
was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in; For I set all men, everyone,
against his neighbor.
Zech. 10:11 He shall pass through the sea with affliction, And strike the waves of the sea: All
the depths of the River shall dry up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the
scepter of Egypt shall depart.
Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated
by all nations for My name's sake.
Mark 4:17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward,
when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the
beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
Acts 7:11 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and
our fathers found no sustenance.
Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their
groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt." '
2 Cor. 1:6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective
for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.
2 Cor. 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears,
not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly
for you.
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2 Cor. 8:2 …that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Philip. 1:16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my chains;
Philip. 4:14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
1 Thes. 1:6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in
much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
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1 Thes. 3:7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted
concerning you by your faith.
1 Tim. 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged
strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently
followed every good work.
Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin,
Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the
sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your
joy to gloom.
James 5:10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an
example of suffering and patience.
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
psalms.