Watching our Words

O. T. #1132  "Watching our Words"
Jan. 12, 2018
Job 11

LET IT GLOW

If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. How many times have we said that to our children? Changing that, Job's three friends should have been told if they couldn't bring sympathy and comfort, then don't bring anything. Let your presence do the talking. (Swindoll)
Are we watching our words?

The first two friends to speak to Job were Eliphaz, a poet and spiritual man who saw visions and dreamed dreams, based his advice upon his experience. The second friend, Bildad, was a man who rest on authority, and appealed to tradition. Now the third friend, Zophar, is a man o worldly wisdom and common sense. In some respects, he is the most offensive of the three. (Falwell)

Job has insisted that God had been too hard on him. Zophar considers God's dealings with Job to have been too easy on him. Zophar was a classic legalist, condemning Job that:

• He was guilty. (verses 1-4)
• He was ignorant. (verse 5-12)
• He was sinful. (verses 13-20)

Those put-downs are a bit much, don't you think? Job wasn't a bag of hot air, self-serving. Zophar goes as far as to insinuate that Job is an idiot in verse 12, An idiot will become intelligent when the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

Idiot is from a Hebrew word meaning to be hollow, empty.
When it is used to refer to an idiot person, in modern terms, it is one who is empty-headed, an airhead. Zophar suggested that Job, being an idiot, could never be wise, any more than a donkey could give birth to a human. (Swindoll)  Ouch! Can Zophar's put downs get any lower?

Actually, Zophar had an answer for everything. He spoke angrily to Job, who was hurting. Such insensitivity!

Beware of legalists. They judge you because you are not doing what they believe you should be doing. Or else, you are doing what they think you should not be doing.

Are we careful to not become a legalist? Let us not compare our self to others, for we would come out on top. but when we compare our self to Jesus, we come out on the bottom every time, begging for mercy.


LET IT GROW

Zophar doesn't need to teach Job about God, for he is not ignorant. Job was identified as the greatest man of the East feared God, and turned away from evil. In chapter 6, verses 24 and 28, Job says, Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred. Now please look at me, and see if I lie to your face.

Job knew he wasn't guilty of sin that brought all those tragedies upon him. We know he was right, and it was Satan's doings. Also, we know it was God that allowed them to happen. But Job did not know all of that.

Are we who have been attending Sunday School so prideful in that we think we know all those Bible stories we here over and over again. What can they teach us hat we don't already know?

Zopar tells Job, in verses 13-15, how to be free from fault, firmly established, and unafraid, holding his head up high:

• Redirect your heart, lift up your hands to God in prayer.
• If there is iniquity in your heart, remove it.
• Don't allow injustice to dwell in your tent.

He tells Job to repent of his sins, turning away from wickedness. Then God would forgive him, restore him, and remove all fear and suffering.
Certainly, we should repent and remove sinful ways and things in our life. We need God's forgiveness.

LET IT GO

Repent, agreeing with God that I have sinned against Him.
Forgive others in the way I want God's forgiveness.
Clean house, spiritually.
Watch out for legalists.