Low Blows and Punches

O. T #1139  "Low Blows and Punches"
Jan. 24, 2018
Job 15
As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed.  Psalm 103:13-14

LET IT GLOW

Round 2. Here they go again, Job's friends tear him to shreds with their sharp words. They don't even give this grieving man a chance to answer. Eliphaz throws verbal punches with graceless words.
Swindoll  says, "In case you wonder what those kind of words sound like, they begin with:

• pride (verse 2); 
• insult (verses 3-4);
• guilt (verses 5);
• condemnation (verse 6);
• exaggeration and sarcasm (verses 7-9).

What gall this many had as he keep punching Job with verbal abuse. Low blows, one after another. Accusations, sarcasm continues in verses 11-16. Didn't he say enough the first go round? Eliphaz's rebuke is followed by the fate of the wicked That is why Job was in pain-he was wicked. He was getting exactly what he deserved. Huh? God had called Job a righteous man.

Job endures this, teaching us to endure with grace. Grace is always need, so we are to resist throwing a deserved punch and knocking them out. We have no idea what that person is going through, so we are not to return evil for evil.

People without grace kick you when you're down; pull you under when you're drowning. When you are almost finished, they write you off.  Will we get back up, though, covered with grace?

LET IT GROW

Epiphaz uses one of the oldest strategies: if you can't win, attack your opponent. He believes that Job revealed his inward corruption with his rebuttal.
You want to fight with bare fists? Come on. Though Job's hands were covered with sores, he willingly took off the gloves. We will read about it in the next two chapters. Job socks it to Eliphaz.

Billy Graham's devotional, Wisdom for Each Day, helps us get back up:

Problems and struggles can wear us down physically, emotionally, and mentally-and can even erode our faith. But God, our loving heavenly Father, understands our feelings at times like these, and He wants to encourage and help us. After all, His Son, Jesus Christ, went through the same experiences we do-although without sinning (Heb. 4:15). We are never alone when we know Christ, and we can trust Him to lead us and point the way out of our dilemma. Life sometimes takes us through hard places. But even in the midst of them, God is with us, and nothing can happen to us that is beyond His ability to help.

Eliphaz uses one of the oldest strategies: if you can't win, attack your opponent. He believes that Job revealed his inward corruption. How? When Job did not curse God through his trials. Not all suffering is due to a person's particular sin.

David Jeremiah states, "With God, true knowledge is not necessarily linked to age but to consistent obedience. (Ps. 119:99,100) Knowledge and wisdom come from doing what God instructs and discovering that He always knows what is right.(Deut. 4:6, 1 Tim. 4:12)"

LET IT GO

When harsh words knock me for a loop, get back up, dust off, and start walking by faith on that dusty, hard road.
Forgive those who punch me where it hurts.
Be filled with grace and pour it out to those who don't deserve it.
Let Jesus heal my injuries.