Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, nice people.
Phooey! Thano just found another dead chicken. And he doesn’t know why.
Becki and I managed a late walk/jog…and even ran into town for breakfast. Now I need to get on with stuff…lots of stuff.
May you be blessed…and remain a nice person.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Job is clearly suffering. He has lost about everything tangible, including his health. Nevertheless, he remains a wealthy and healthy man in the possession of two valuable intangible assets: (1) His mind —his ability to think objectively, and (2) his clear conscience. They are so powerful and valuable that they enable Job to stand firm against the attack of these hard-headed “friends” who are absolutely convinced that there can be no way that Job could be demonstrating a clear mind—there’s no way he could have an authentic clear conscience. Job’s possession of these qualities are driving these guys crazy. So they keep pounding him with their bias—waiting, hoping, hacking, digging—fully convinced that at some point Job will break, and come forth with his confession of deep dark dirty diabolical deception—or secret sin.
Although Job puts up with it, he doesn’t appreciate their hammering him one bit. He begins this round of speaking with a stinging rebuke. My impression is that the volume is turned up to the level of a bellow. “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! Will your long winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? I could also speak like you, if your were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you” (16:1-3). Later he challenges them with sarcasm: “But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you” (17:10).
Without a doubt, if these were valuable possessions for Job, you can be sure they are valuable possessions for you. Knowing WHO YOU ARE by means of a clear mind and a source of authority that’s bigger than your opinion (God’s Word), as well as living GUILT FREE by means of a clear conscience, are qualities that will allow you to stand with confidence in the face of any opposition—against the pressure to be manipulated into conformity to the expectations of others.
I see in this some of the most attractive features of our Biblical faith. That is, you don’t have to win arguments. You don’t have to live with guilt or be manupulated by imposed guilt-trips. You don’t have to make others see your innocence or your clear conscience. You don’t have to be accepted by everyone. All you need to do is KNOW that your omniscient “witness is in heaven.” That will lead you to nurture a HEART AFTER GOD—which will lead you to know WHO YOU ARE and WHO YOU ARE LIVING TO PLEASE. These must be established as personal ABSOLUTES—they’re not up for vote—they’re not to be altered by democratic process (or “political correctness”).
The price tag for Job’s position was loneliness—even though he was surrounded by other people. We are wise to anticipate the same cost. But weigh that cost against this benefit: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).