Bad Things, Good People,Comforting God

By Thomas and Elcy Philip

We are in an imperfect world.

Today’s popular view of blessedness:

We live in a period of prosperity theology

-people like to hear that message

-those who preach prosper

Bible contradicts today’s popular view:

-OT heroes

  • Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, … Moses, David
  • Hagar, Hannah, Ruth

-NT heroes

  • Jesus’ mother, Mary
  • Jesus, the Christ
  • Jesus’ disciples
  • Stephen, Paul
  • Jim Elliot, Amy CarlMichael

Why do bad things happen?

-Our iniquities: Genesis 5:6- (The great flood); 1 Samuel 2:27-36 (Prophesy to Eli);

Books of Major Prophets (Israel); Matthew 7: 24-27 (The wise and foolish builders)

-God allows: The book of Job (story of Job)

-To achieve God’s purpose: Jesus & disciples

Mark 2:22 (Parable of wine and wineskin)

-Other’s action: Saul and David

1 Samuel 18- (Saul’s jealousy toward David)

-God’s glory: "Rabbi, who sinned … that he was born blind?" (John 9:2-3)

Our God is a God of comfort:

-Psalm 34: 18“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

-Psalm 147: 4“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”

-Isaiah 61:1“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, …”

-1 Corinthians 4: 3“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, …”

How does God comfort?

-through His word / promises

  • Psalm 119: 50“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life”.
  • Psalm 119: 52“I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.”

-through psalms & hymnsof hope

  • Psalms are songs. E.g. Psalm 23
  • Singing is opposite to weeping. By singing, we are expressing our desire to be joyful rather than staying in the weeping state.

-through speaking to God

  • Many psalms deal with utter desperation and inescapable crisis. Psalm 22:1 (famous) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Towards the end, the psalmist finds hope and new vision.

Psalm 22: 25 “From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;”

  • Mathew 26: 42 "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

-through visions

  • Gen. 28: 10-20: Jacob’s dream at Bethel
  • Acts 7: 55 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

-through messengers / people

  • Genesis 18: 10“One of them said, "I'm coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man”.
  • Lamentations 1: 21"People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me.”
  • 1 Corinthians 4: 4“the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
  • 2 Corinthians 7: 6“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,…”
  • ‘You are God’s five senses in the world’

-Through giving thanks to God even when we do not feel like

  • 1 Thessalonians 5: 17, 18 “pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When viewed in the context of eternity:

-Romans 5:3,4 “but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

-Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Do you face a problem today? You too are a child loved by God. Don’t run away; come closer to Him.

Are you willing to be God’s senses? Please, don’t wait; you are in high demand.

Can you give thanks to God in your trouble? Please, do; it is going to make a big difference in you.

Are your eyes open to see God’s glory in your suffering?

May the good Lord give each of us a song of thanksgiving in our hearts and bless us, even when things seem to be off-track. Amen

Ashwa-sha da-yakana-y yeshu arikilunte; Enthenthu bha-rangal e-rivanna-lum; Enne- kai vida-thavan

Thomas & Elcy Philip, MS State, September 30, 2006