Honeybees harvest the nectar to make Sourwood honey
that is so popular in the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains.
As we begin our scripture
readings today, we find Zophar answering Job.
He begins his speech by referring to what Job has said as “empty talk”
and says, “When you mock, should no one rebuke you?” He goes on to say, “God exacts from you less
than your iniquity deserves” (v.6). (This
is true for all of us and maybe—on 2nd thought, we really don’t want
what we deserve!) While Zophar points
his finger at Job, he would do well to remember that his other three fingers
are pointing back at him. He uses the words “you” and “your” over and over in
his diatribe. Romans 2:1, says, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man,
whosoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn
yourself; for you that judge do the same things”.
It is easy to tell someone whose
“lamp” has burned out (Job 12:5), what to do when our “lamp” is still burning
brightly! Job replies to Zophar that evidently wisdom will die with him (how
often do I act like wisdom will die when I do?) Job doesn’t accept Zophar’s
conjecture that he is inferior to him. We may forget what someone says, but we
never forget how they made us feel! Job
makes it quite clear that he is not inferior to Zophar—quite an accomplishment
for a man in Job’s situation, don’t you think?
Job makes a very wise observation
in chapter 12, verse 6: “And those who provoke God are secure—in what God
provides by His hand.” Zophar and Job had both received things from the hand of
God, yet Zophar was judging Job for God’s plan for Job’s life. It’s so easy to
look down on others when we feel secure in our deal! Job recognized that his
trial originated with God, “the hand of the Lord has done this” (v.9). He offers example after example of God’s power
and authority in the affairs of men and nature. God is involved in the lives of
those imprisoned—He has the power to leave them in prison or to release them. He
is involved in drought as well as in floods. “He pours contempt on princes, and
disarms the mighty” (v.21). “He makes
nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them” (v.
23).
God has the power and wisdom to
do what is necessary to accomplish His purpose, including bringing Job to
poverty and distress. The Book of Job would not be in the Bible were it not for
Job’s tremendous trial. Once again, Satan’s intention was evidently to devour Job
(I Peter 5:8), but God meant it for good (See Genesis 50:20). Job’s life was to
be put on display for all to see. His life was built on God and Job endured his
tremendous trial and came out on the other side with a deeper understanding of
God! What an example for us! God would
preserve Job’s story for the perusal of those to come for centuries, even
millennia—even us!
Who are we to desire
vengeance? This desire reveals pride and
God will punish the proud (Psalm 94:2).
“God knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile” (v. 11). Proverbs once again reminds us to beware of
the company we keep. We may unfortunately pick up bad
habits from those we associate with on a regular basis. God warns us in Proverbs 22:24-25, that we
“set a snare for our soul” when we learn the ways of an angry man and act in a
furious manner. We come in contact with
angry people almost daily and need to be aware that if we are not careful we
can fall prey to the hateful attitude that permeates our culture. Jesus did not display such an attitude and
neither should we as His followers. There should be as much difference between us and unbelievers as between light and darkness. We read in Romans 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the
gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things”. If our feet are considered beautiful,
certainly the attitude that we display should also be one of love and beauty!
No comments:
Post a Comment