The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God

My wife bought me this book for my birthday during my first year in China (2003), and it has been picked up more than once. The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God does not rank as one of my favorite Piper books, but both the writing and photography are beautiful. The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God is an interpretive poem which Piper reads on an accompanying CD. Job is my favorite Old Testament book, and an example of wisdom literature. Here we have a man who has his riches destroyed, his family taken, and his own body afflicted yet Job ended up at the feet of the Almighty, in humility, worship, and praise. We all face suffering at some point in our lives, but what makes calamity endurable is that His sovereign goodness and bounty of love sustains us. Job is a primary example of steadfast, persevering faith in the face of extreme suffering.

We have heard the story of Job. His riches destroyed, his family taken, and his own body afflicted. We can only imagine the depth of his loss and pain. Yet as we ponder Job's misery, do we see the threads of God's mercy in it? We will all face suffering at some point in our lives; it is inescapable. But what makes calamity endurable is not that God shares our shock, but that through every flame of pain and flood of fear, His sovereign goodness sustains us. Author John Piper's interpretive poem -- which he reads on the accompanying CD -- together with photographer Ric Ergenbright's stunning visuals, remind you of the unshakable fact that God governs all things for His good purposes. Allow your eyes to see life -- to see God -- in new and powerful ways. And let your spirit rest, knowing that the Lord is not only sovereign, but sweet.

We have heard the story of Job. His riches destroyed, his family taken, and his own body afflicted. We can only imagine the depth of his loss and pain. Yet as we ponder Job's misery, do we see the threads of God's mercy throughout it? We will all face suffering at some point in our lives; it is inescapable. But what makes calamity endurable is not that God shares our shock, but that through every flame of pain and flood of fear His sovereign goodness sustains us. John Piper's interpretive poem and the stunning photography of Ric Ergrenbright remind your heart of the unshakable fact that God governs all things for His good purposes. Allow your eyes to see life--to see God--in new and powerful ways. And let your spirit rest, knowing that the Lord is not only sovereign, but sweet. - Publisher. Table of Contents......Page 5 A Word of Thanks......Page 7 A Word to the Reader......Page 8 Part 1 - O God, Have Mercy On My Seed......Page 11 Part 2 - That I Should Bear This Pain, Not You......Page 29 Part 3 - O Spare Me Now, My Friends, Your Packages of God......Page 45 Part 4 - Unkindly Has He Kindly Shown Me...God......Page 63 A word of thanks A word to the reader Part 1 : O God, have mercy on my seed Part 2 : That I should bear this pain, not you Part 3 : O spare me now, my friends, your packages of God Part 4 : Unkindly has he shown me God