Suffering & a Sovereign GodHow Do They Co-Exist?

The Book of Daniel Speaks to this Question

Responding to Pain & Suffering

This March series so far:

1—There Can be Gain in Pain

2—God is Totally With Us in Our Pain

3—Job showed us the sinful pride of thinking we can can accuse God of wrong because of suffering.

Is This Syllogism True?

God is all -powerful

God is all-good

But suffering exists

Therefore, God is either not all-good or not all-powerful

The Book of Daniel shows us a clear answer.

The Book of Daniel

Sir Isaac Newton wrote Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John (published in 1733), in which he stated:

"Daniel was in the greatest credit amongst the Jews…

And to reject his prophecies, is to reject the Christian religion. For this religion is founded upon his prophecy concerning the Messiah."

The Four Beasts/Kings of Daniel Seven

Great Site for Bible Summaries: http://www.shmoop.com/

The Book of Daniel

The life and visions of Daniel, a Jew exiled at Babylon as part of God’s punishment on all Jews for their rebellion against God. (586-538 BC)

Book of Lamentations describes the chaos & pain in Jerusalem after being conquered by these same Babylonians in 586 BC.

The Book of Habbakuk tells of God’s plans to punish His beloved Jews by using the Babylonian army to conquer them.

Chapters 7-12 like Book of Revelation: God’s predestined sovereignty in the midst of prophesied chaos.

Jesus quoted from Daniel in Matt. 24:15

The Book of Daniel

Predicts the victory of “A son of Man” and the Kingdom of God over all kingdoms. ( Dan. 7:13-14)

Rev. 11:15 echoes: ”The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever.” (Handel’s Messiah)

God’s people win in the end: “But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever.’(Dan. 7:18, 27)

The Book of Daniel Themes

Main Theme: “…the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth..” (Dan 4:17)

Prophecies of future world history, an Anti-Christ figure and coming of Jesus to rescue

God’s people will suffer under evil kingdoms but God will rescue them in eternity.

Sovereign & Inscrutable

2:37: God puts cruel pagan king over all nations. Uses him to conquer Israel.

"Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed.” (11:33)

Sovereign & Inscrutable

7:21: The 4th beast’s “horn” wages war on the saints ands overpowers them

7:25: The saints will be worn down

Dan. 11:35: "Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.”

The Inscrutable God

“All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?’ “ (Dan.4:35)

The Inscrutable God

O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”… (Rom. 11:33)

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?’" (Rom.9:20)

When We KnowHis Sovereignty

"By smooth words he (evil king) will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know [trust} their God will display strength and take action.” (11:32)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

Not Meant to Know

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.” (Prov. 25:2)

Bible speaks of God’s mysteries several times in the NT.

After the last vision: “Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days.” (8:27)

Trusting God’s Goodness

✤ Elihu in Book of Job: God allows suffering so “That He {God} may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man, and keep back his soul from the Pit.” (33:17)

✤ God uses pain to refine, heal and to save righteous people from the residue of pride and sin in their souls

✤ Job had to repent because he accused God of not being just toward him. His own reasoning & logic was his pride.

Conclusion

God’s goal to is not to fully protect us from suffering in this life but to go with us “through the valley of shadow of death” to prepare us for ruling and reigning with Jesus in the Kingdom of God in heaven.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 For. 4:17-18)

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;Do not anxiously look about you,

for I am your God.I will strengthen you, Surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Is. 41:10