How Long O Lord?

Reflections on Suffering and the Problem of Evil

#2: The Suffering People of God: Distinctive Forms of Christian Suffering

BOOKS: D.A. Carson, How Long O Lord and John Currid, Why Do I Suffer?

I.  Distinctive Forms of Christian Suffering

a.  Discipline

  1. In the Bible…

Judges 3:7-11: And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Psalm 78:34 When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. 35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.

  1. In history… Adoniram Judson
  1. Today…

Conclusions:

  1. Hebrews 12:5-12
  1. See also Rev. 3:19

WCF 5.5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled;(1) and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.(2)

(1) 2 Chron. 32:25,26,31; 2 Sam. 24:1.

(2) 2 Cor. 12:7,8,9; Ps. 73; Ps. 77:1,10,12; Mark 14:66-72; John 21:15,16,17.

b.  Suffering by Opposition and Persecution

  1. In the Bible…

Acts 5:40-41: and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

1 Peter 4:12-16: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

  1. In History… Christian persecution by the Roman Empire
  1. Today…

Conclusions:

John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Mark 8:34-38: And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

“A church that is merely comfortable, that never evangelizes, never encourages its people to stand on the front line, will never be strong, never be grateful, never be able to sort out profoundly Christian priorities.” (Carson, 86).

c.  Suffering for Conformity to Christ and Nearness to God

  1. In the Bible… David

Psalm 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

Psalm 25:16-18 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

Psalm 61:1-3 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

  1. In History… Spurgeon, Calvin
  1. Today…

Conclusions:

·  We are drawn near to God and His Word. Evidenced in the Psalms.

·  We are called to die to ourselves… this is hard!

·  Humility: “Adversity shatters the allusion that we are self-sufficient.” -Currid.

Anne Bronte, “He Doeth All Things Well”

If Thou shouldst bring me back to life,

More humble I should be,

More wise, more strengthened for our strife,

More apt to lean on Thee;

Should death be standing at the gate,

Thus should I keep my vow;

But, Lord, whatever my fate,

let me serve Thee now!

·  Separation from the World.

“The sufferings of the believer manifest the unsatisfying nature of the present world.” - Currid

1 John 2:15:Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

“God brings trails on believers so they do not cling to the world, but to God alone. And He restores believers to proper creaturely dependence upon Himself” (Currid, 66).

d.  Suffering for the Perseverance of the Saints

  1. In the Bible…

1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

  1. In History… William Carey
  1. Today…

II.  Our Response

  1. 2 potential responses when we see tragedy and suffering in the lives of others:
  2. Pat Robertson on Haiti:

"They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, 'Ok it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another…”

  1. Luke 13:1-5: There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
  2. Warning of future judgment
  3. Not a call for us to figure out why it happened to them
  4. It should instead cause us to look to God!
  1. Examples in Scripture
  2. David, Psalm 6:

O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD--how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

How does David respond?

  1. A right response:
  2. Turn to God in prayer and cry out
  3. Turn to the Word

1.  Brings solace and comfort:

a.  Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

  1. Restores the downcast believer:
  2. Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
  3. Jesus used the Word against the devil in the desert
  4. Matt. 4:1-11
  5. Examination
  6. Trust God
  7. Look to God for deliverance
  8. Delight in God
  9. Habakkuk 3:17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
  10. Maintain a proper perspective of suffering…
  11. Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--