Apply God's Word - Job 4

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.

Propaganda Girls - a Review

Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa Rogak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book tells the tale of four restless women who wanted to help the war effort in World War II. Each brought unique gifts to the table: a Hollywood star and singer, intimate knowledge of Japanese culture and language, a gift for putting German soldiers at ease during questioning, etc.

The basic point is that they engaged in “black propaganda.” Leaflets, radio spots, etc, designed to demoralize the enemy. They would rewrite popular songs with lyrics that hinted that the war wasn’t worth it. Write short blurbs that drove a wedge between Japanese officers and soldiers. Announce to the Germans that Hitler was overthrown and they might as well surrender. Suggest that soldiers’ wives/girls were lonely back home and finding someone else to love them.

These tactics moved thousands of the enemy to surrender, waving the propaganda that these women wrote as they approached Allied forces in surrender. These women worked for the OSS, the precursor to the CIA.

The book has a lot of feminist insertions, constantly reminding the reader that the women worked way harder than the men, and got paid a fraction of what the men did. They were seldom promoted, being expected to go back home when the war was over. I’m sure there is some truth to the injustice of this, but it’s harped on repeatedly.

The immorality of the women and the Allies in general is only hinted at. But when you read between the lines it is quite atrocious. Most of them were divorced multiple times, one was a cabaret singer – the first to kiss another woman on the silver screen. This is all spun as “war is hard on marriage and love,” but they made poor choices along the way.

Still, a worth-while historical read. 3 stars.

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