Job 16.2-5 (NIV)
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3 Will your long-winded
speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
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I don’t think any of us could count how many times we have been offended, mistreated, insulted, spoken poorly to, or have been judged wrongly and in frustratingly offensive ways. Our natural desire is to then respond in kind: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and insult for insult. It is tempting to fight fire with fire. But why would we want to fight fire with fire, when we could fight fire with water?
When Job’s “friends” relentlessly misjudged him and his circumstances, they pushed him to a point where he was about to explode. He wanted to talk back to them in the same pompous way they were speaking to him: with arrogance, vitriol, and rash words. But Job made a conscious decision to not lower himself to their foolishness. He made it known to them that he could reply in the same way they spoke to him, but instead he chose to respond with self-control, gentleness, meekness, and humility.
This isn’t just a “Job thing,” but this is exactly what Christ teaches me, models to me, and even how He has acted towards me. Instead of returning the favor of insult, He says to bless those that curse me and to even love my enemies (Matthew 5.38-48). Paul also tells us to never avenge ourselves, but instead trust the Lord and overcome evil with good, (Romans 12.9-21).
You never so touch
the ocean of God’s love
as when you forgive
and love your enemies.
-Corrie Ten Boom
It’s true that I shouldn’t have to put up with the wrongdoings and mistreatment of others, but I am called to live differently. God’s Kingdom is not of this world, and my King does not call me to anything He Himself has not endured. He was wrongly afflicted and accused, yet He “opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53.7, Luke 23.6-16). I can trust that Christ will be my defense, my strong tower, my fortress, my shield, and the Rock that not only do I stand upon but am also hidden within. I can choose to bless, encourage, and be patient with those who attack me, because this is how Christ treated me even as I sinned against Him. Like Job choosing to bless his accusers, Jesus chose to encourage and comfort me, His enemy.
Read Again Out Loud and Make it into a Prayer:
Job 16.2-5
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Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Psalm 55.12–23
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary
who deals insolently with me—
then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together;
within God’s house
we walked in the throng.
15 Let death steal over them;
let them go down to Sheol alive;
for evil is in their dwelling place
and in their heart.
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old,
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
Selah
20 My companion stretched out his hand
against his friends;
he violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smooth as butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down
into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.
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Pray Aloud:
Father, be glorified in __________ ,
let Your Kingdom and will be done,
in and through __________
as it is in Heaven.
Give _________ daily bread,
and thank You for Your forgiveness.
Help me to forgive others,
as I know that You have forgiven me.
Keep __________ eyes fixed on You
and Your Word so that _______
may not sin against You.
Thank You for Your sovereign love.
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