We had a fun moment at family devotions tonight.
We were up to Job 4, and I kind of groaned, and said, Maybe
we’ll just skip to the highlights of Job.
My family pushed back a bit – rightly – and we read it.
WOW.
Job’s friends get a lot of flak, and rightly so, in some
ways. Right after saying he’s so sad he
wishes he’d never been born (chapter 3), they launch into “Who do you think you
are?”
It’s cruel, but couched in theologically correct
language. (Take a moment to read Job
4.) We agreed that this is probably
Satanic. Who is this spirit that glides
past his face, giving him goosebumps (verses 15-16)? Is it the Holy Spirit or the accuser? Both God and the devil can say the same
thing, have much the same sensational effect, and yet mean it for opposite
ends. Can a man be right before God (vs
17)? No.
Does that mean our fate is to be “crushed like a moth” (vs 19)?
That’s the devil’s plan.
Use total depravity to crush us.
Use anything, even the most glorious truths, the most beautiful and glorious gifts He's given us in the world, to turn us against our God.
He wants us “beaten to pieces” (vs 20), and he’ll use half of
“justification by faith alone” to do it.
“You can’t be right with God by what you’ve done. It’s no use.
So give it up. Lay down. Curse God, and die.”
The first two sentences are correct. The rest is wicked application of the truth,
turning us away from God.
Here’s a key point:
SO much of theology is in the application. Note how Eliphaz says true things – that Job
can’t be pure before God on his own. But
then uses that to crush him.
Parents and pastors are called to use God’s truth to edify,
encourage, sanctify, and yes, sometimes rebuke.
There’s a whole school of preaching out there that says, don’t apply the
text, you’ll probably screw it up. And
they’re half right. People DO screw up
the application, much of the time.
But to say, I’m not going to go there, because “I might get
it wrong” is burying your talents in the ground, and God doesn’t like that.
Parents that only give theology and worldview to their kids,
without speaking into their lives.
Pastors that rail against the latest thing on social media or
in the national news, without addressing the needs of their own people.
These are the most serious problems.
Yes, you might get it wrong.
But trust the Spirit within you, the love you have for your children,
your people, and talk to them, ABOUT them.
“Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the
weak, be patient with them all (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
Apply God’s truths to God’s people.
