Confrontation of Accusastion

O. T. #1145  "Confrontation of Accusation"
Feb. 1, 2018
Job 21

LET IT GLOW
verses 17-22)
Zophar's accusations were insulting, exaggerated, and inappropriate. Job needed to confront his accusations and deny his lies. And that Job did do. Right off, he told Zophar to listen to him, bear with him, and look at him. Apparently the three critics were lecturing into space and not directly to Job's face. Most of the time accusers go behind our back, not spilling their words to our face.

Job answers Zophar with three questions:

1. Who says the wicked always die young? (verses 7-16) If that is the case, then why do so many continue on, becoming more powerful? They really don't know God. Job's not wicked, he is sick. No one knows why. He certainly wasn't in the category of the wicked.
2. Where's the proof that the godless always suffer calamity? (verses 17-22) The person who does wrong and is not judged immediately or calamity befalls him, then he keeps on doing wrong. They're getting away with the sin leads to more sin. Why can't the wicked prosper and the godly suffer? The wealthy can be godly and the poor can be wicked.
3. How can you say that death always falls hard on the wicked? (verses 23-26) Eventually, death comes to all people, whether they are old or young, rich or poor, godly or wicked.

Job accuses Zophar of falsehood, which means treachery or fraud in the Hebrew.

He was accusing Job of things which were just not true. Zophar needed to hear the truth.
Do we know folks who have made up their mind about theology and do not consider they were taught a falsehood? do we recognize a falsehood?

LET IT GROW

Swindoll gives us 4 responses we can learn from Job's answers:

1. Listen to what is being said, considering the character of the critic. Stay calm. don't jump in and react. Calmly take it in.
2. Respond with true facts and accurate information knowing the nature of your accuser. Don't react or ponder ways to retaliate. Stay with the truth.
3. Use examples that represent reality and balance, trusting your defense to the Lord. Lean hard. Leave the defense of your character in the Lord's hand. Our mind relaxes, our emotions settle down, and our inner peace returns when we lean hard on our God.
4. Refuse to let the accusations discourage and derail you, remembering they are nonsense and lies. Get tough. Going through hard times requires a get-tough mind-set.

Toughen our hid so we don't cave in while waiting on God's revenge given for us. Let us not be guilty of spreading rumors, lies, and slander against another.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any harmful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.  Psalm 139:23-24

LET IT GO

Pray for wisdom and grace in responding to false accusations.
Ask God for the truth.