We are living in a suffering world. 我们活在一个多灾多难的世界

We are living in a suffering world. 我们活在一个多灾多难的世界 • War, famine, earthquake, tsunami, cyclones, pollutions (in air, water & land) , sickness, diseases, terminal illnesses, Aids, drugs, terrorism, gangsters and so on 这个世界充满战争，天灾水灾，地震，疾病，绝症，爱之病，毒品，恐怖事件等等

How should you face sufferings? • 我们如何面对灾难？ • What is the biblical view on sufferings? • 圣经对灾难有何看法？

Job 约伯记 • Today, let’s findout more about sufferings in the book of Job. 今天我们要从约伯书学习到生活灾难 • Job went through much sufferings. Perhaps, he went through one of the worst human experiences of sufferings. 约伯经验到很多很大的灾难，可能是很残酷的经验。

In one day, Job lost all his possessions (7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-donkeys, & many servants) & all his 7 sons & 3 daughters. 在一天内，他失去七千羊，三千骆驼，五百对牛，五百母驴，并有许多仆婢，和七个儿子，三个女儿。 (Job伯1) • In another day, he lost his health (his whole body was full of skin diseases). 接下来，他满身生满皮肤病. (Job伯2)

Then he lost the support of his wife. 节下来他失去他的太太的支持 His wife asked him to curse & forsake God, his Maker since God hadn’t protected him from all the calamities. 他的太太认为上帝没有保护他们一家人，约伯应该诅咒和放弃上帝。 But he refused to forsake God. 但是约伯坚持不放弃上帝

Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.[c]The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” • 约伯: “我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身归回；赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华。耶和华的名是应当称颂的。”(1:21) • He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[e] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” 约伯却对他的太太说：你说话像愚顽的妇一样。嗳！难道我们从神手里得福，不也受祸麽？”在这一切的事上约伯并不以口犯罪。 (2:10)

Then his 4 friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu- 32:2) kept insisting that God was punishing him for his hidden sins. Job insisted that he had dealt with all sins in his daily sin offerings. 他的四个朋友(以利法, 比勒达, 琐法,爱里胡）坚持约伯是有罪受上帝的惩罚。约伯认为他已经认清所有的罪。

The book of Job is a very ancient book based on the use of the Hebrew language. The whole old Testament was written in the Hebrew language. The OT that we are now reading in our own languages are all translated copies of the original text. • 约伯记是一本非常古老的书，它是用希伯来文写成的。整本旧约圣经都是由希伯来文写出来。今天我们都读的旧约都是从原文翻译出来的。

The book of Job约伯记 • What are the biblical views on sufferings? • 圣经对灾难有何看法？

3 views on human sufferings对于灾难的三种看法 • Originated from God (Job 伯 1:21, 2:10) 灾难是从上帝而来。 “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” “赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华” “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”“难道我们从神手里得福，不也受祸麽？”

A form of punishment as the results of one’s sins (Job’s friends opinions). God was angry with his friends. 灾难是上帝的惩罚. “7 耶和华对约伯说话以後，就对提幔人以利法说：我的怒气向你和你两个朋友发作，因为你们议论我不如我的仆人约伯说的是。” (42:7-9)

Sufferings could be the results of灾难可能起自于: • My own sins 我得罪 • The sins of other people 别人的罪 • The work of Satan 撒坦的工作

A refining process as God’s way of refining & training His children (Job伯42:12-13) He has something better to give to his servants. 灾难是上帝用来磨练上帝的仆人。上帝有更好的要给祂的仆人们

Job 约伯记 42:12-13 • The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had 14000 sheep, 6000 camels, 1000 yoke of oxen and 1000 donkeys. 13 And he also had 7sons and 3 daughters. • 12这样，耶和华後来赐福给约伯比先前更多。他有一万四千羊，六千骆驼，一千对牛，一千母驴。13他也有七个儿子，三个女儿。

Job was much blessed at the end約伯到最后受到更多的祝福 • 14000 sheep 羊 • 6000 camels 骆驼 • 1000 oxen 牛 • 1000 donkeys母驴 • 7 sons & 3 daughters • 七个儿子，三个女儿

Another view on human sufferings还有一种对灾难不同的看法 Suffering is a mean to show forth the glory of God 灾难是神要在我们身上显出祂的作为来

John 約9:1-3 Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 耶稣过去的时候，看见一个人生来是瞎眼的。2门徒问耶稣说：拉比，这人生来是瞎眼的，是谁犯了罪？是这人呢？是他父母呢？3耶稣回答说：也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为来

How should you face sufferings? • 我们如何面对灾难？

Job questioned God being unjust. (Job伯 31) 约伯认为上帝不公平。 God put before Job a series of questions. Job couldn’t answer. (Job伯 38:1-3) 上帝一连系的询问约伯有关这个宇宙的来源。约伯答不出。同样的，我们有好多东西不明白。但我们知道天父为祂的儿女有最好的计划。 Likewise, we don’t understand many things because God is an infinite God. We don’t know how he works in our lives. But we know He has a perfect plan for you & me. (Romans罗 8:28)

Romans 罗8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, • But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand • 有许多未来的事情，我现在不能识透，但我知谁掌管明天，我也知谁牵我手

Baptism 洗礼 1. Amber 2. Jenny 3. John

We are living in a suffering world. 我们活在一个多灾多难的世界