January 27
Job 30:1-31:40
Perhaps as I get older, my perceptions of the past get a bit cloudy. But there are things occurring which would never have been allowed or tolerated in the past. If I got in trouble with my teacher in school, I feared my parents’ reaction, expecting them to take the side of my teachers rather than going at the teacher in defense of me. The truth is when I misbehaved, the teacher was usually correct in their analysis. I would never have gotten in the face of law enforcement as I was taught to respect them. The truth is there will always be bad examples in every segment of society, that does not mean that profession as a whole should be disrespected and discarded. We are seeing restraint thrown away with anarchy being encouraged. What was deemed right in the past is now being labeled as wrong. This is not progression but a visible downward spiral of our society. Those who now brazenly break the law are now spitting in the face of those who are trained to uphold the law. Society is being flipped upside down. We were warned of these times, but it is still surprising as it unfolds before our eyes. Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own consciences seared with a hot iron,". Peter said in 2 Peter 3:3, "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,".
Job, as described by God, was "blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). He was respected throughout the land, but now as he sat on the ash heap on the outskirts of town we read of his current treatment in Job 30:1, 9-13, "But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock..."And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword. They abhor me, they keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face. Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off all restraint before me. At my right hand the rabble arises; They push away my feet, And they raise against me their ways of destruction. They break up my path, They promote my calamity; They have no helper." Job was being ridiculed by people who had no respect of this man's integrity. This example should not surprise us as we saw Jesus suffer similarly as we read in Matthew 26:59-67, that He was falsely accused, disrespected, mocked, declared guilty by those who were not worthy to so much as carry His sandals, given the death penalty, and we read this scene concluded in v.67, "Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?""
It is hard to watch as events continue to unfold. We do live in a godless society. Jesus during His ministry saw how fallen mankind was. He also realized change was needed. He did not start a violent revolt, He did not promote anarchy. He gave us His Sermon on the Mount. He flipped society on its head by giving us a new way to see and act in this world. He said in Matthew 5:3-8, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." The difference in the approach is staggering. If we see segments of this society which are wrong and need to be changed we all have a choice. We can adhere to the human philosophy that "might makes right", or we can adopt Jesus' teachings to rid ourselves of self-righteousness and approach Him and for that matter, others, in a spirit of humility. The world needs revival, not a violent display of anarchy. In these tumultuous times we need Jesus. His words spoken two thousand years ago are just as relevant today.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: