The book of Job is God’s commentary on the sufferings and trials of His people. Jehovah speaks to our struggles, first, from the viewpoint of His own interactions with Satan, then from the viewpoint of Job’s interactions with his friends and, finally, as the One who appears to Job and his friends in a tornado. The book describes suffering on a scale seldom seen. It shows our weaknesses and the temptations we face when under the hand of God or when called to bring comfort to others who are suffering. For that reason, it is instructive and corrective. But it is also of great encouragement, for it points those who are suffering to God’s sovereignty in trials, and to His faithfulness and saving grace to His own.
This work is not an exhaustive, verse-by-verse explanation of the book of Job. Instead, Rev. Hanko shows how the book fits together and leads up to its grand climax in the appearance of Almighty God! It also shows that Job has often been misunderstood and maligned, and though guilty of sin, as we all are in suffering, is nevertheless one whose faith and hope in God are sure. May it be of help to all who love God as Job did, especially when the God they love chastises and corrects them as He does all of His children.
“God’s sovereignty in all things. This short commentary tells us how God, in all situations, demonstrates He is in control of the beginnings and endings of events. Whether it’s in the desired outcome that we want, it’s God’s will that prevails. As His Word tells us, He does what is best for us. Believing this brings us closer to Him as He uses trials in our lives to accomplish His pleasure. Highly recommended, especially for those with trials in their own or family members’ lives.” – John A.
“I have just finished Rev. Hanko’s book on Job. It has been a great read, both enjoyable and encouraging. As he points out, it is really a story about God and that is so. It is so easy to focus on ourselves in the midst of life’s difficulties and miss the greatness of God.” – Co. Down, N. Ireland
REVIEW
Ronald Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America who has served in active ministry for thirty-eight years. In his preface, Hanko defines this work as a “commentary” (p. ix), which attempts to show “how the book fits together and how the different speeches develop and build on each other” (p. xi). Hanko states his foundational assumptions and beliefs regarding the creation of the book of Job: “The book is inspired and infallible, given to us by God’s Spirit as an explanation of our own suffering and the suffering we witness” (p. ix). Further, Hanko believes that Job is a “real historical figure” (p. x), and that the work will be used “for the comfort of his people” (p. xi).
Following this preface, the book divides into the natural six-part division of Job’s 42 chapters—”Part One: The History of Job”; “Part Two: The First Round of Speeches” (Job 4-14); “Part Three: The Second Round of Speeches” (Job 15-21); “Part Four: The Third Round of Speeches” (Job 22-31); “Part Five: Elihu’s Entry” (Job 32-37); “Part Six: God and Job” (Job 38-42). Each of these chapters admirably summarizes the arguments of the various speakers, describing the different points of view, the way these play out in our lives practically, and the struggles we have in these to see the sovereignty of God and the saving grace of Jesus’s sacrifice for us today.
The “Job Study Guide” (pp. 143-48) follows this section and consists of questions that create a good foundation for discussion of the deeper theological thoughts found in Job. These questions should drive people deeper into the more challenging thoughts of God’s sovereignty, pain, and suffering, commonly known as “theodicy.”
Clearly, while the target audience imagined by Hanko is Sunday School classes and other pastors and church leaders, the book is valuable for any Christian who desires to dig deeper into the issues raised in Job’s story …
… the reader who works through this book (whether independently or in a classroom), even if it is to challenge Hanko’s conclusions, will gain a greater understanding of the issues raised in the book of Job. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (ESV). – Randall C. Bailey, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS)
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Job: God’s Sovereignty in Suffering
£10.00
Ron Hanko (160 pp. Hardback)
A short comforting commentary on the book of Job emphasizing God’s sovereignty over all things, even our trials and suffering.
The book of Job is God’s commentary on the sufferings and trials of His people. Jehovah speaks to our struggles, first, from the viewpoint of His own interactions with Satan, then from the viewpoint of Job’s interactions with his friends and, finally, as the One who appears to Job and his friends in a tornado. The book describes suffering on a scale seldom seen. It shows our weaknesses and the temptations we face when under the hand of God or when called to bring comfort to others who are suffering. For that reason, it is instructive and corrective. But it is also of great encouragement, for it points those who are suffering to God’s sovereignty in trials, and to His faithfulness and saving grace to His own.
This work is not an exhaustive, verse-by-verse explanation of the book of Job. Instead, Rev. Hanko shows how the book fits together and leads up to its grand climax in the appearance of Almighty God! It also shows that Job has often been misunderstood and maligned, and though guilty of sin, as we all are in suffering, is nevertheless one whose faith and hope in God are sure. May it be of help to all who love God as Job did, especially when the God they love chastises and corrects them as He does all of His children.
Ronald Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America. He has served in the active ministry for 38 years. He has also written Doctrine According to Godliness: A Primer of Reformed Doctrine and The Coming of Zion’s Redeemer: The Prophecies of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
“God’s sovereignty in all things. This short commentary tells us how God, in all situations, demonstrates He is in control of the beginnings and endings of events. Whether it’s in the desired outcome that we want, it’s God’s will that prevails. As His Word tells us, He does what is best for us. Believing this brings us closer to Him as He uses trials in our lives to accomplish His pleasure. Highly recommended, especially for those with trials in their own or family members’ lives.” – John A.
REVIEW
Ronald Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America who has served in active ministry for thirty-eight years. In his preface, Hanko defines this work as a “commentary” (p. ix), which attempts to show “how the book fits together and how the different speeches develop and build on each other” (p. xi). Hanko states his foundational assumptions and beliefs regarding the creation of the book of Job: “The book is inspired and infallible, given to us by God’s Spirit as an explanation of our own suffering and the suffering we witness” (p. ix). Further, Hanko believes that Job is a “real historical figure” (p. x), and that the work will be used “for the comfort of his people” (p. xi).
Following this preface, the book divides into the natural six-part division of Job’s 42 chapters—”Part One: The History of Job”; “Part Two: The First Round of Speeches” (Job 4-14); “Part Three: The Second Round of Speeches” (Job 15-21); “Part Four: The Third Round of Speeches” (Job 22-31); “Part Five: Elihu’s Entry” (Job 32-37); “Part Six: God and Job” (Job 38-42). Each of these chapters admirably summarizes the arguments of the various speakers, describing the different points of view, the way these play out in our lives practically, and the struggles we have in these to see the sovereignty of God and the saving grace of Jesus’s sacrifice for us today.
The “Job Study Guide” (pp. 143-48) follows this section and consists of questions that create a good foundation for discussion of the deeper theological thoughts found in Job. These questions should drive people deeper into the more challenging thoughts of God’s sovereignty, pain, and suffering, commonly known as “theodicy.”
Clearly, while the target audience imagined by Hanko is Sunday School classes and other pastors and church leaders, the book is valuable for any Christian who desires to dig deeper into the issues raised in Job’s story …
… the reader who works through this book (whether independently or in a classroom), even if it is to challenge Hanko’s conclusions, will gain a greater understanding of the issues raised in the book of Job. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (ESV). – Randall C. Bailey, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS)
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