Job 19-12.12.22

Scripture

‭‭Job‬ ‭19‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“How dare you go on persecuting me, saying, ‘It’s his own fault’? You should fear punishment yourselves, for your attitude deserves punishment. Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment.”

Observation-What does it say?

In this chapter, Job is responding to Bildad’s speech from the previous chapter. You see, up to this point, Job’s three friends: Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad have been ridiculing him, and wrongfully accusing him of sinning against God. They are piling on Job’s sorrows by essentially ganging up on him, and verbally mistreating him. If they were truly his friends, they would comfort him, pray and intercede for him, encourage him, and love him no matter what.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Don’t kick a man while he’s down.

From the sounds of things, it looks like Job is in need of new friends. I mean, Job lost his family, his wealth, and on top of all that, his health is deteriorating. He is in need of some sort of support here. That’s what friends are for right? Not in Job’s case. Job’s friends add insult to injury. They wrongfully accuse him of sinning against God. They tell him that the reason why God is putting him through the wringer right now is because of his sin. They think they are better than him. They are looking at his humiliation with haughty eyes. Instead of trying to help him out, they mock and ridicule him. Poor Job. God did find him to be blameless and a man of integrity. But, sometimes God does allow bad things to happen to us. It is during those difficult times though, that God sees our character. God sees our faith. God uses those times to grow us and make us stronger.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”-Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬

‭“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”-James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭

Don’t be discouraged from our readings in Job though. If we continue to read until the end, we will see what God does to those who remain faithful to Him ‘til the end. We will see how God restores Job. Just continue to stay strong in our faith, lean on God for everything, and know that He is good. 😊

Life Application

Am I a wing or a weight?

If there is one thing I’ve been learning as I’ve been going through the book of Job, it is the importance of having godly friends around you to support you when you are down. Job didn’t seem to have that, which makes me ponder the question, “Am I a wing or a weight?” I’ve heard a pastor ask his church the same question once. Are we the type of people who uplifts, encourages, and loves on a person when they’re down? If so, congratulations you are a wing! But if you’re the type who discourages, mocks, and looks down on your friends when they’re having a difficult time, then…what’s wrong with you?! Let’s be the people God calls us to be. Let’s be forgiving, loving, encouraging, and constantly be praying for one another. Let’s build each other up in the Lord as opposed to tearing each other down.

-Moses Gaddi