Today's passage is Job 4.
Eliphaz the Temanite reminds Job that he's been a help to so many others with his words of wisdom and encouragement. He says that Job's piety and blameless ways should be his hope in his trials. He shouldn't be discouraged. He hints that Job is being self-righteous and anyone made of clay should not aspire to a purity greater than God.
Eliphaz is not being much help to Job, spouting well varnished platitudes.
It's interesting, though, how much he respects Job and admires all that he's done.
Maybe he even received strengthening words from Job in the past.
But his pomposity in ascribing to the Holy Spirit what he himself has concluded about Job's spiritual anguish is too much to bear.
If I were Job, I'd throw one of the potsherds I'd scraped my boils with at him.
Pastor Kim repeatedly commented in tonight's sermon that everyone's spiritual walk is different, our sufferings are different, and to judge others according to right and wrong is to fall victim to Satan's efforts to block our repentance.
Eliphaz is judging. His sin is mine.
I judge others and voice platitudes as honed as Eliphaz.
What kind of help is judging your friend or your colleague or you family member?
Eliphaz needs to repent, just as I need to repent for the judging I've done.
Lord, bring me to quick and sincere repentance for those I've judged this day. Let me begin my day with repentance so I can walk into the morning with a clean spirit. Keep me mindful and wary of my self-righteous, I pray.
