Job loses his wealth, he loses his

wealth, he loses his children,

and we ask what on earth is happening,

and the answer is something of immense heavenly importance is

happening.

Imagine how much we would be helped if we could see behind the scenes when we suffer.

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper turns to Job 1.1 through 210 to provide a glimpse into heaven to help us better understand our lives here on Earth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on July 7th, 1995.

Verse 1 of Chapter 1 introduces the man Job and his character.

He was a blameless man, it says, upright,

one who feared God and turned away from evil.

In other words, if suffering is intended as a punishment for evil, he's not a very good

candidate for calamity.

He is a good man. He turns away from evil because he fears God. He pursues the right. He avoids the wrong. His reputation is blameless. His reverence for God governs all he does. Then in verses two to three,

we see how the Lord rewards a righteous man.

The promises in scripture that the Lord is good to the righteous are not without meaning.

He was extraordinarily blessed.

He had seven sons, it says. extraordinarily blessed.

He had seven sons, it says, and he had three daughters.

He had huge numbers of sheep and camels and oxen and asses and many servants. It says he was the greatest of all the people of the East.

His righteousness had not gone unnoticed by his father in heaven.

Then verses 4 and 5 are a little snapshot out of his life I think meant to illustrate his reverence for God and his love for his family.

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