Why Do Calamities Happen?
A Sermon on Job 1:20-22
Originally preached Feb. 8, 1953
Scripture
20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name …
Sermon Description
How does one remain steadfast like Job in the midst of suffering? In this sermon from Job 1:20–22 titled “Why Do Calamities Happen?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that Job righteously endured his circumstances because he understood two things: who he was and who God is. If a Christian is prepared in their heart for the day of trouble, it will be because they recognize that all they have is given to them and that God is good, righteous, and holy. Some will be shattered by hardship and some will ignore it, but believers will stand firm like a mountain peak in a storm, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones shares. Pursue a right view of God and oneself and live in contrast to the world like Job.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Bible is practical and helps us live life, not just poetry.
- The Bible claims to be the only book that can teach us how to live life fully.
- The Bible helps us understand all of life, unlike any other philosophy.
- The Bible tells us how to face difficulties, not just the good times.
- The Bible tells us calamities will happen due to sin, so we shouldn't be surprised.
- The question is how to face difficulties, not why God allows them.
- Job's story shows two responses: thoughtless like his children or faithful like Job.
- Job's children lived thoughtlessly, just seeking pleasure without thinking of God.
- In contrast, Job worshipped God after losing everything, showing great faith.
- To be like Job, we must have the right view of ourselves as naked before God.
- We come into and leave this world with nothing, so we shouldn't cling to possessions.
- Only following Christ, the light of the world, can save us from the darkness.
- The world is fallen and cannot save itself, only Christ can redeem us from it.
- We must look to Christ alone, not worldly means, to be saved from the darkness.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.