CLANGING CYMBALS...JOB 26

But Job answered and said:“How have you helped him who is without power?
 How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?  And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words?
  And whose spirit came from you? “The dead tremble,
  Those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him,
  And Destruction has no covering.


TO MY DAUGHTERS,

We find Job rebuking Bildad in the first four verses of this chapter for his lack of concern for him, showing that all his friend’s “knowledgeable words” completely missed the point of his need and had been no help. Their words were hurtful rather than encouraging. No matter what their intentions they lacked love and were but clanging cymbals.

Job then goes on to say how no one escapes the eye of God. No matter where you are...God sees. There is nowhere you can flee from His Spirit...earth, sky, waters below or stars above...not even the dead can escape. The final verse of this chapter tells us that we only see the mere edges of His ways....that we hear only a small whisper of Him. But the thunder of His power who can understand?

My mind camped out on the verses...where I saw Jesus. These are the ones you see at the top of this study. Jesus had all wisdom, all knowledge, all power and all might. He was God and yet put aside His deity while He walked the earth. He did all in the power and strength of His Father. He was completely and utterly submitted to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came as a Servant. He came to heal the broken hearted. Luke 4:18 says this:

“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
   Because He has anointed Me
 To preach the gospel to the poor;  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,  To proclaim liberty to the captives
 And recovery of sight to the blind,
 To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Read the gospels and see the heart of the Father in Heaven for His people. His desire is to heal. His desire is that none of us should perish, but that all would come to life in His Son. God the Father could have annihilated us, but instead He sent His Son to die for us. Our words and our actions here on earth should reflect the essence and character of our Father in Heaven. His heart of love should be evident to all we meet. Job's “comforters” missed the point of love.

Love those around you with the love that the Holy Spirit has shed abroad in your hearts. As you speak to them, remember love. Remember humility. Meet them at their point of need.  

None of us sees the whole picture while we walk the earth. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 says

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Truly, we only see the mere edges of His ways and the whispers of His power. 

Love 

Mom