It is an age-old question: “Why do the godly suffer?” The book of Job addresses this issue through the sad experiences of the godliest of the godly—a man named Job.

Is it possible to worship God even when He takes everything away from us? This is the question facing us in the book of Job, and the test case will be the godly man Job himself. He will be God’s Exhibit A—to answer the question with a resounding, “Yes!”

When life deals one cruel blow after another and there is no silver lining behind the dark clouds, that is when we most need to fall before God in humble worship. That is when we learn to worship Him for who He is rather than for who we expect Him to be.

Job is sorrowing and for good reason. He has lost everything, including his children. But his suffering is about to increase with the onset of physical torture. He is also about to demonstrate that even in the midst of such suffering, a child of God can glorify the Lord.

Job is not the only one suffering. Behind the scenes his wife is dealing with the loss of her children and watching her beloved husband endure physical and emotional agony. Her brief appearance opens our eyes to the lonely pain experienced by secondhand sufferers.

We have all heard that actions speak louder than words. But sometimes it is simply our presence that speaks loudest and most eloquently. It is this ministry of presence that brings so much comfort and encouragement to those who are suffering.

Intense suffering can drive even a godly person like Job to despair. Many of us have been there ourselves and too often found no one who could understand and encourage us. This is why the divinely inspired book of Job is so important to us and all suffering people.

When we insist on seeing everyone’s physical well-being as a reflection of that person’s spiritual condition, we limit our understanding of God and our ministry to those who are suffering. We see this lived out in Bildad, who acted more as Job’s judge than his comforter.

Life is not always pleasant, and as Job learned, sometimes even those from whom we expect support and encouragement offer neither. The one constant, though, is our unchanging, compassionate God. And Like Job, even when we are confused by what He is doing, we can trust Him.

Like Job, we long for relief and answers in times of suffering. But when friends have no answers and God’s Word offers no specific explanations, we can still cling to the wonderful assurance that our Redeemer lives, we will see God, and in Him we will find comfort and ultimate answers.

Wise words of counsel and encouragement are blessings welcomed by any believer. But words are helpful only to the extent that they are true to reality and consistent with the Word of God. How Job could have used humble friends who offered such comforting words.

To his credit Job did not allow suffering to rob him of his faith in God or his understanding of God’s nature. He did not grasp why God was allowing him to suffer, but he acknowledged God’s greatness. It is not our experiences but God’s Word that infallibly reveals God to us.

Job’s friend Elihu did not have all the answers, but he knew when we are suffering and see no end to it or purpose for it, we need to recall the basic, comforting truth that God is sovereign and uses suffering to teach us. Our responsibility is to “listen and serve him.”

Our hope, our assurance, our peace, and our comfort in trying times are all tied to the truth that God is the Creator. Like Job, we can be sure that this omnipotent God who spoke the universe into existence is fully in control of all the circumstances of our lives.

The great value of studying creation is that it gives us greater understanding of and appreciation for our Creator. It reveals His power, providence, and goodness; it humbles us as we grasp our place in His creation; and it rebukes elevated views of ourselves.

Dwelling on God and His wonderful creation puts our lives into perspective. Seeing the limitations of our knowledge and strength in light of God’s wisdom and omnipotence, silences our complaints and energizes our worship. This was the lesson for Job, and it is a lesson for us.

Creation is a wonderful teacher. It is a powerful witness to the might and wisdom of the Creator. Observing what He has done comforts us with the assurance that what He is doing in our lives is fully within His control and according to His wise purposes.

In the end, the tragedy that marked Job’s life is replaced with God’s abundant blessings. We may not find relief from our suffering in this life, as Job did, but he points to the wonderful truth that the suffering of the righteous is temporary and God’s blessing awaits them.

Psalm 1 gives us the key to a stable, fruitful, satisfying life serving the Lord. Simply put, we must reject the words and ways of those who reject righteous living and give ourselves to the Word of God, drawing upon it constantly for its life-giving, life-changing instruction.

Jesus Christ is our Savior. But He is also the eternal King. Psalm 2 shows us that His position, His work, and His power demand daily, whole-hearted, humble devotion to Him as our Savior King.

The example of David in Psalms 3–6 encourages us to pray in times of trouble, gain perspective on our circumstances, not delay confession of sin, and look beyond our own troubles to become channels of God’s grace to others.

Psalm 7 reminds us that God is just and powerful enough to deal with the slanderous, hateful attacks upon us. Psalm 8 illustrates that He is also gracious and powerful enough to use weak people like us to carry out His will.

Psalms 9 and 10 remind us that we need to regularly recall God’s past blessings. Doing so, gives us assurance for the present and the future, and that is needed, especially when current situations do not seem to reflect God’s justice and concern.

When the foundations of society crumble away, God’s people should not despair. Indeed, only they will have a true foundation for life and hope, and that foundation is the Lord.

In Psalms 13–15 we find some great and little-known truths about prayer. Here, too, we are taught two crucial, contrasting truths of life—the desperate corruption of sin and the redeeming grace of God by which we can walk blamelessly before Him.

Followers of the Lord are not exempt from injustice, false charges, and threats. Through David’s example in Psalms 16–18, we learn to respond to such trials with prayer, assurance that God is always present and active, and believing and acting on the promise of our resurrection.

God’s revelation in creation is a testimony to all of humanity that He exists, He is all-powerful, and He is the Creator. But that witness is inadequate in itself. This is why He has given us His special revelation in His Word and called us to share this truth with others.

Do we take the Bible for granted? We need to treat it as the treasure it is—the enduring Word of God Himself, which offers guidance and instruction that is as trustworthy as the one who gave it. Psalm 19 reminds us that God’s Word is of far greater value than “much fine gold.”

In this life, we strive against sin, Satan, and an ungodly world. But we can march into the spiritual battle confident of victory if we are trusting in and faithfully following our victorious King.

Psalm 22 brings us prophetically to the cross of Jesus a thousand years before that event unfolded. It reminds us that the death and resurrection of Christ were always in God’s plan because we were always the objects of His infinite love.

We who know Jesus Christ follow the Good and Great Shepherd, who leads and provides so thoroughly and compassionately that we have need of nothing else. This is true satisfaction—resting in all He provides.

This sin-cursed world is not always a safe and pleasant place. But we are not here alone. Psalm 23 reminds us that the one who created us, redeemed us, and leads us also protects us and assures us of His everlasting goodness and mercy and an eternal dwelling with Him.

In Psalms 24–26 David testifies to God as the one who makes him righteous, guides his path, and by God’s grace causes him to walk in integrity. This is his personal testimony, but it can be ours as well.

In Psalms 27–29 we are challenged to patiently wait on the Lord to work on our behalf in His time, trusting Him and praying. We are also inspired to reach out to others, sharing with them God’s faithfulness and the truth that He is in control of all things.

Psalms 30–31 reveal some devastating consequences of pride. Pride itself is sin, and it keeps us from admitting other sins and from enjoying the Lord’s presence and fellowship. Psalm 32 gives us the key to victory over pride—simple, heartfelt confession of our sins.

As believers, our lives should be filled with love for God and thanksgiving for His goodness to us. But to follow the Lord also means hating sin and desiring that sin be dealt with justly. Psalms 33–35 reveal these two emphases.

Psalm 36 urges us to listen to the Lord and walk in His light. Psalm 37 stresses how important this is by contrasting the righteous with the wicked, who ignore His word. And Psalm 38 points us to the hope we have when we fail the Lord by confessing our sins to a gracious God.

The trials of this life can warp our perspective. We need to step back often and look to the Lord and His Word for a renewed biblical perspective that puts our focus on seeking God’s glory. This is the theme we see running through Psalms 39–41.

There are all kinds of circumstances that can bring turmoil into our lives and discourage us. But we must not let them rob us of the sure and eternal hope that is ours because we know God as our God and our salvation. This is the wonderful reminder of Psalms 42–44.

We live in uncertain times, but with the certainty that God is in control; He reigns over all His creation. Psalms 45–47 teach us that we have a refuge in Him now and the sure hope of worshiping Him in His immediate presence in the coming kingdom.

Jerusalem, or Zion, has a central role in God’s eternal plan. But God Himself, our Creator, Redeemer, and Judge is central to all history and eternity. It is not our sacrifices but His sacrifice that opens the door to eternal life.

Sometimes the most important lessons are learned from the sad experiences of others. In Psalm 51 David’s grievous sins and their aftermath become the means of teaching us the nature and content of genuine confession.

As one who felt the sting of betrayal on numerous occasions, David’s psalms speak powerfully to this issue. They offer us wise counsel that is focused, not on the betrayer, but on the God who will take our burden on Himself and sustain us.

God is the all-powerful Creator and sovereign Lord. But He is not far removed from our daily, and often painful, experiences. Psalm 56 reveals Him as a compassionate Father, who knows our steps, understands our hurts, and has graciously given us His Word to guide our lives.

David’s experiences and the psalms that came from them teach us at least two things. First, they illustrate that the trials in this world are unrelenting. But second, they teach us that there is hope in the Lord in every situation, for He is our fortress and refuge.

The world and our circumstances will tell us otherwise, but we can confidently entrust our needs to God. When our faith is in Him alone, we can wait faithfully for His provision, knowing He hears and will respond in His time. This is the theme that runs through Psalms 60–62.

We are divinely designed to thrive in the presence of our creator God. David understood this, and it is reflected in Psalms 63–65. Praising God for His faithfulness, trusting Him when we are under attack, and obeying His Word are keys to enjoying security and satisfaction in Him.

Psalms 66–68 remind us that our life is a journey. It may not be an easy one; there may be great challenges along the way. But as we trust the Lord, we have the assurance of His presence and guidance and that our journey will have a glorious end.

Psalm 69 reveals details about Jesus’ earthly life that would be fulfilled a thousand years later. It also reveals something of God’s sovereign control, knowledge, and purposes; and it assures us that His plan for us, like His plan for Jesus, is right on schedule in every detail.

Psalms 70–72 together stress the importance of possessing a faith that is confident in calling upon God at any time, growing and developing through a life of faithfulness, and always centered where it should be—in the eternal God and His Son, Jesus Christ, our King.

It can be confusing when we look at the world around us and we do not see God’s justice playing out before our eyes. This is why we always must trust God’s Word and His promises and not be distracted by temporary circumstances.

Only when our focus is on God and His works does the world around us come into focus. When God is at the center of our lives, we have a proper perspective on ourselves, others, and this sin-marred world.

Through times of divine discipline for our sins and through the attacks and injustices we suffer in this world, there is always an abiding and sure hope for followers of the Lord. He does not abandon His people, and He never fails in His promises.

The knowledge and experience God gives us are not for us alone. Psalms 77 and 78 urge us to remember and pass on to each new generation what God has done and what He has taught us. This will benefit us and also help others to know Him, think biblically, and live wisely.

The believer’s relationship with God is multifaceted. Psalms 79, 80, and 81 emphasize several important actions that should characterize that relationship, including a proper response to sin and its consequences, humble prayer and intercession, and exclusive and pure worship.

As servants of a just God, we should seek and pray for justice in our world, as we wait for God’s perfect justice to arrive with Christ’s return. Yet even in this imperfect world, we can always find peace and satisfaction in the Lord’s presence.

The wonderful thing about the Psalms is that they give voice to our concerns and struggles and desires. They give us hope when we have sinned, laying the foundation for a fresh new start with the Lord. It is this spiritual revival that is at the heart of Psalms 85–87.

Loneliness can be one of the most discouraging experiences of life. But Psalms 88 and 89 remind us that loneliness provides an opportunity for our faith to grow as it pushes us to turn to the Lord as our truest friend and trust Him. 

Our time on earth is short, and the more we understand that, the wiser we will be in how we live out our days. We will have a proper perspective on life that focuses on serving God with gratitude and faithfulness to the very end. And in this we will find joy and purpose.

God is the Creator and is in control of all creation, and we can rejoice in that truth. Yet this does not mean we are mere observers of life and history. We are called to heed His warnings and live in obedience to Him, giving testimony to the world of the greatness of our God.

Jesus Christ is our Savior, the one who has redeemed us through His substitutionary death. And in this we rejoice. But we can rejoice, too, that our Savior is also our King, our Master, the holy God, and we will one day participate in His righteous reign over the earth.

Gratitude is a distinguishing mark of a follower of the Lord. We should strive to make thanksgiving to God for who He is and what He has done central to our thinking, our actions, our attitudes, and our speech.

Knowing how we should live is important, but it is actually living out those convictions in faith and obedience that gives us victory over despair and the fullness of God’s blessings. And recalling those blessings, in turn, pleases God and fills our worship with joy.

God’s glorious creation, as well as His gracious works on our behalf, should be at the center of our praise and worship of Him. They also should remind us of our solemn obligation to live in faithful obedience to Him.

The Psalms greatly enrich our worship of the Lord. They remind us to be thankful for the many times and ways God has delivered us and for bringing us to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our God, our King, and our Great High Priest.

We are reminded in Psalms 111–114 that both God’s power and His character are demonstrated through His mighty works. His work in us includes aligning our character with His as we learn to be consistently obedient to His Word.

In every situation we are to give glory to God alone. We can do this successfully only when we trust Him through the trials we face, continue to praise Him and invite others to join us, and look to His Word for hope and encouragement.

To love God is to love the Word He has given to us—the Bible. It is through His Word that we grow in our knowledge of Him and His work and grow to love Him more. And it is through obedience to His Word that we experience His blessing and true satisfaction.

A true measure of our commitment to the Lord is our love for His Word and our desire to know it and live it out in our lives. Do we store it up in our hearts as a treasure? Do we use it as our guide in daily life? Do we meditate on it and delight in it? (add the chart below)

No matter where we are in life, no matter what challenges we are facing, we can rest in the assurance that the Lord is our Protector. Moreover, we can rejoice in the truth that we have immediate access to His glorious presence.

How blessed are we who follow the Lord. We know He is on our side because we are on His side. Opposition, attacks, and ridicule only strengthen our faith when we embrace the promises of God and realize that He is always in control.

God’s blessing is upon those who fear Him and seek His glory by His power. This is true of individuals, families, and nations and is seen in the provision, deliverance, forgiveness, and joy He brings into our lives.

When we work together in unity, focused on God’s promises, we find hope for the future and daily refreshment. This is the theme that runs through the twenty-seven verses that comprise Psalms 131–134.

Appropriately, we praise God for what He has done. But we should not forget to praise Him for what He promises us He will do. We can rejoice that He will fulfill His purposes in us and that His righteous justice will be meted out to all one day. 

God is omniscient—He knows all things. He is omnipresent—He is everywhere present. And He is omnipotent—all-powerful. These great truths are cause, not only for careful self-examination, but also for great comfort and encouragement for every follower of the Lord.

God knows us, and has always known us, fully. And He longs for us to know Him. To know God is to understand His holy character and therefore love what He loves and hate what He hates. Knowing Him means submitting to His Word and being open to His examination of our hearts.

In Psalms 140–143, David reminds us that while we are always in need of God and sometimes in very desperate need, our relationship with the Lord and honoring Him must always come first. When that is our priority, we can rest in the assurance that He will do what is best for us.

No person can compare with the Lord. He cares about us and cares for us. He is the almighty God and the gracious Redeemer, and He is worthy of our complete trust. It is only appropriate that we, like the psalmists, determine that our praise of Him will be continual and unending.

The book of Psalms could not end on a higher note. Psalms 148–150 call us to fulfill our ultimate purpose in life—to praise the Lord.

The book of Proverbs not only gives us instruction for living but also the assurance that in heeding its teaching we will gain the knowledge, wisdom, and skills needed for daily success that honors the Lord.

Wisdom from God is a great deal! The benefits are numerable and eternally significant, and it costs us nothing but the time and effort to study God’s Word and humbly submit to all it teaches.

The lure of sexual sin is prominent and persistent in our world today, just as it was in Solomon’s time. The answer to such temptation has not changed. We need to take God’s warnings seriously, be always alert, take steps to guard ourselves, and lean on the Lord and His strength.

Wisdom is displayed in what we do and in what we avoid. Proverbs 6 presents some important warnings related to both activities. We do well to take them seriously, not to impress others, but to please God.

Wisdom from God is necessary for wisely serving God. We need to keep this truth ever in mind, for it is easy to ignore the voice of wisdom and foolishly entertain the temptations that confront us daily.

What we pursue in life reveals who we are. If we seek wise friends, good counsel, and a righteous lifestyle, we testify to our relationship to the Lord and set an example for others who desire to honor Him.

Wise are those who humble themselves before God, plan carefully but entrust their plans to the Lord, have a strong work ethic, and are committed to instructing their children about the Lord. The Lord honors such godly wisdom.

The essence of wisdom is making wise choices, and sometimes the wisest choice is to avoid certain people and habits. Thankfully, the book of Proverbs gives some very specific guidance on such decision making through “the words of the wise.”

The proverbs of Solomon in chapters 25–29 contain godly wisdom for daily life—what we should avoid, what we should practice, and the attitudes and character we should develop. True success in life will be found through embracing this divinely inspired instruction.

God’s Word is the source of godly wisdom. But God also has given us vivid illustrations of His wisdom in the things He created. Understood through the lens of the Bible, creation teaches us and inspires us to live wisely and honor our Creator.

Proverbs is an instruction book for living wisely in this world. And good instruction is best reinforced and impressed upon us by living examples. Proverbs 31 shows us how to appropriate the teaching of the book through the marvelous example of a godly woman and wife.

Human wisdom offers no satisfaction in life and no hope. Solomon, who possessed great wisdom, offers himself as living proof of this, as well as a warning not to follow the path he has taken.

In themselves, happiness, pleasure, and achievement are fruitless, unsatisfying pursuits. Only when our lives are focused on God and we accept and use His gifts for His glory do we find true contentment and joy in this life. This is Solomon’s message in Ecclesiastes 2–5.

Outward acts of righteousness cannot hide from God an empty heart. It may gain us applause, but it will not be the applause of heaven. Following the Lord requires vigilance and careful examination of our motivations, as well as our actions, as Solomon’s words remind us.

Solomon warns his readers of the dangers of foolishness, the greatest of which is ignoring God. Speaking from experience, he urges all to put off sin now; and to those still in their youth, he says trust the Lord now. This is only common sense.

People look for meaning in life in an array of worldly pursuits. Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes by reminding us that purpose and direction in life are found in knowing, worshiping, and obeying the Lord. And this, Solomon says, is the “end of the matter.”

The Song of Solomon is a celebration of God’s gift of marriage and intimacy. God-given sexual desires are a part of the dating/engagement relationship that every dating/engaged man and woman together are to guard with the help of God and His word.

Everyone agrees that love must be central to marriage. The question we must ask is, What kind of love? The Bible shows us that it must be Christlike love—selfless, committed, contented, intimate, and joyous.

A marriage that brings lasting satisfaction and joy cannot be built on excitement and infatuation. Rather, it will be established on love that is selfless and persevering, a love that mirrors God’s love for us. This is the predominant message of the Song of Solomon.

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Job.

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These study guides are for the use of the purchaser and his/her immediate family. Please do not distribute or share this material. 

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Psalms

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These study guides are for the use of the purchaser and his/her immediate family. Please do not distribute or share this material. 

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Proverbs

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These study guides are for the use of the purchaser and his/her immediate family. Please do not distribute or share this material. 

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Ecclesiastes

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These study guides are for the use of the purchaser and his/her immediate family. Please do not distribute or share this material. 

The Wisdom Journey study guides for the book of Song of Solomon

NOTE: This is a digital resource. After you checkout, it will be available in the "My Media" section of your account. 

These study guides are for the use of the purchaser and his/her immediate family. Please do not distribute or share this material.