While Job continues to suffer and defend his innocence to his friends, he is still able to look to God and know where his redemptions comes from. In Job 19:25 he says, I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. No matter what struggles we face in this life, in the end we can be comforted to know God is in control of it all. God loves and cares for us and wants nothing but what is best for us; even in our suffering.
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2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.
Notice where Zophar’s focus is. HE is disturbed. HE is offended. HE feels dishonored. There is so much pride in all that he says. Instead of looking at Job’s circumstances and caring for him, he’s too busy focusing is own troubled thoughts that were spurred by the truth of Job’s words. Reminds me of one of Spock’s quotes in the latest Star Trek. It goes something like this (I’m terrible at remembering quotes) “You are getting defensive which indicates to me that what I am saying has validity”.
How often are we focused on our needs, our opinions, our sensitivities rather than on the needs of the person sitting across from us? How often do we become preoccupied with what we think is “right” instead of listening to the brokeness of the person across from us? I have many friends whose lifestyle choices I don’t agree with, but when they come to me with a broken heart, I have to put myself aside, listen to their heart and be a conduit through which Jesus can speak to them. That is what Jesus has called us to do and to be…and I have to remind myself of that daily.
Well said! It really is not about our opinions or our sense of morality, rather it’s helping to bring others to a place where they can find comfort in the arms of Christ.