Speechless Before God's Word; Job 25-26, Proverbs 13

May the mumbling commence!

It is a pity who sometimes we come to harsh exchanges of words.  Read the statement that punctuates a brief recourse from Bildad in chapter twenty-five and how Job answers him at the beginning of chapter twenty-six:

“How much less man, who is a maggot,

And a son of man, who is a worm?" (25:6)

Indeed, we have devolved into the name calling of the elementary school playground.  Now read Job’s initial response:

"How have you helped him who is without power?

How have you saved the arm that has no strength? 

How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?

And how have you declared sound advice to many? 

To whom have you uttered words?

And whose spirit came from you?” (36:2-4)

Touché!  Job fires back on the playground: How have you helped anyone who is powerless?  How have you saved anyone who lacks strength?  How have you counseled wisdom to the foolish?  How have you declared sound advice to many?  What good have you done?  Job’s rhetorical answer is that Bildad has done nothing.  Job questions the spirit behind Bildad’s actions. 

These are harsh words.  But, where do they get us?  Nowhere!  Let us instead think upon God together.  Read how Job ends chapter twenty-six with reflections on the majesty of the Lord:

“The pillars of heaven tremble,

And are astonished at His rebuke. 

He stirs up the sea with His power,

And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. 

By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;

His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,

And how small a whisper we hear of Him!

But the thunder of His power who can understand?" 

(Verses 11-14) 

What we see of God is like the proverbial tip of the iceberg.  God controls the very seas and storms that frighten us so.  The sea and the storm where thought of as the trials of life to the Jew.  God controls them.  So let us follow God – even when we can never completely understand our Creator.  Let us rest in that awesome power.

Let us come to God’s Word, again and again.  Let us be refreshed in our spiritual living.  Read a wisdom from Proverbs chapter thirteen:

He who despises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. 

The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

To turn one away from the snares of death. (Verses 13-14)

Embrace the Word of God and be rewarded – with wisdom and life of a kind that we can barely imagine, eternal.  With this embrace, we no longer need to fear death.  Death is defeated.  Christ reigns.  Let it be so in all creation.  Let is start in my heart. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out