Making Sense of Experience

If bad things happen to good people, does that mean God's covenant doesn't work?

The Bible’s Wisdom Literature is a section of Scripture that essentially wrestles with the reliability of the covenant. Recall that the core (if oversimplified) message of the Mosaic covenant is, If you follow the Law you will be blessed. If you break the Law, you will be cursed. Wisdom Literature pauses to ask the question, Is that true? Is it always true? If bad things happen to good people and bad people prosper, does that mean the covenant is broken?

These are relevant questions in every generation.

This video covers the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job.

1. First we talk about the two “temperaments” or traditions in Wisdom Literature: the more positive Proverbs tradition and the more critical Ecclesiastes and Job traditions (beginning until around 3:30).

2. Next we talk about Proverbs as a collection of instructions for wise living that basically affirm the logic of the covenant (3:30-11:47).

3. In the third section we look at the books of Ecclesiastes (11:47-17:12) and Job (17:12-25:13) as two books that in different ways test and challenge the logic of the covenant. It seems to the Preacher (Ecclesiastes) and Job that the fact that bad things happen to good people undermines the cause and effect nature of the covenant.

4. We close with concluding remarks that connect this conversation with the parable of the prodigal son (25:13-end).