August 26
Job 20:1-22:30 | PS 40:11-17 | Prov 22:2-4 | 2 Cor 1:1-11
Insinuations are hurtful. We know so little about others, yet, all too often, we feel that we are positioned to wag our finger and judge. God knows us completely. We know ourselves next best. Our spouses know us the best after ourselves, followed by our children and parents. Most others see what we choose to show them. The media has been shown to be untrustworthy as they minimize or elevate the words of others. Social Media often has even less trustworthiness. AI has the ability to make anyone say anything and do anything and make it seem completely true. We don't even understand what makes ourselves do or say certain things and yet we often make broad sweeping insinuations about others which they are in no position to defend. When forced to defend these insinuations often the person, who could be completely innocent looks more and more guilty. Father, we thank you for your patience, for your mercy as you continue to withhold the judgment our actions deserve, for your grace as you continue to shower us with blessings that we don't deserve. May we learn to extend grace and mercy to others, and be patient with them. May we learn from You.
As we continue through the debate in the book of Job, we see Job continue to defend himself, while his "friends" ramp up the rhetoric behind their insinuations. Zophar no longer begins with any niceties. In Job 20, he simply discusses the wicked and insinuates that due to what is happening to Job, he therefore in his estimation must be wicked. In Job 22, Eliphaz even gets specific, without having any proof behind what he is saying, as we read in Job 22:6-11, "For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry. You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it! You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans. That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears. That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you.”
We must realize that these attacks against Job are being fueled by Satan. Satan took away Job's things, his children, his wealth, his position, now with the help of Job's own friends he is trying to take away his hope. We must be very careful. No matter who we are we can either serve as a tool for Jesus Christ or a tool for Satan. Even those who have the Holy Spirit residing within us, if we are not careful, if we choose to rely on our own intuition, our own ability to reason, rather than relying on the Holy Spirit, can be used as a tool for Satan. Our words matter. Our insinuations matter. Placing people in positions where they cannot defend themselves, especially when we might in fact be wrong, is a terrible thing. We must be very careful when we point that accusatory finger. May we all rely on God in humility, as we submit to His Lordship, realizing how inept we truly are, and how much worth we can have if we simply trust in Him rather than ourselves.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: