Beware of The Company You Keep (3)
As I continue in the book of Job let me point out something that Job said that is very relevant. “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6: 14, AMP).
We must be mindful of how we speak to others. Because we are not God. As I continue in this series, I want you to understand that evil is continually present. Doors are opening that should have remained closed.
God is merciful, kind, compassionate, and long-suffering. “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old” (Psalm 25: 6, KJV).
God Loves When We Are Merciful
Job’s friends seem to lack mercy and compassion for him. Let us remain aware, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment” (James 2: 13, AMP).
Let me affirm this. And receive the manifest blessing. “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50: 19-20, KJV).
Job needed his friends to trust and believe him, to be mindful, to be there for him. They were talking at this point. But lacked what was crucial. They weren’t listening.
Be Present with Those You Say You Love
“Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream, you see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate]. Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’ Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?” (Job 6: 21-23, AMP).
Listen to how Job calls them out once more. “Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend” (Job 6: 27, KJV).
No one can tell me that this has not been their experience with friends and family. Having been both the offended and the offenders.
Be Quick to Hear and Slow to Speak
Not processing what you are hearing. But listening to respond. If we have and do, we will understand the wisdom I will share with you. “A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, AMP).
There are no words or no greater pleasure than intimacy and the ability for a man or woman to be able to cry out to God. Allowing Him to guide us. He only, will always come from a true place of love. As men, we are flawed and subject to opening up to demonic forces.
Can I get personal for a moment? As a child I was assaulted and for years a close family member would always say, “That’s why Harry “R’d” you”! This person was in the same room and witnessed it. People will say the most hurtful and spiteful things, most callously.
Envy Is as Cruel as The Grave
What is truer and the reason for the title is that jealousy and envy is as cruel as the grave. Remember, the enemy comes only to kill, steal, and destroy.
Let me authenticate this evil as Job’s other “friend, Bildad the Shuhite speaks. Pay attention to the coldness of his words.
“Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? If your children have sinned against Him, then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them” (Job 8: 3-4, AMP). Remember Job lost all of his kids in one day, ten times the sorrow of losing one. Unleashing despondency that can kill.
You Are Not God!
We all have done this as if we know the mind of God. As the Holy Spirit warns me to tell you these are a form of demonic interpretations.
Let this encompass His merciful, esoteric glory. “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
Who Knows the Mind of the LORD?
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11: 30-36, KJV).
Let me reiterate that last scripture from the amplified version. “For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen”.
Now as I close I want to add five key points as warnings of who God is and who we are not! This is a small example because God answers them in depth in the Book of Job.
There is No God Beside Him
1) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55: 8-9, KJV).
2) “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45: 5-7, KJV).
(Before you start questioning ANYTHING, read verses 9-10. “Woe” is a powerful word and emotion from the mouth of God!)
The Maker of All Things
3) “For the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you in the womb says this, “I am the LORD, Maker of all things, who alone stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by Myself, frustrating the signs and confounding the omens of boasters (false prophets), making fools out of fortune-tellers, counteracting the wise and making their knowledge ridiculous, confirming the word of His servant and carrying out the plan of His messengers” (Isaiah 44: 24-26, AMP).
4) See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand” (Deuteronomy 32: 39, KJV).
The Great I AM
This final one is one of my favorite proclamations of who God is. Succinct, concise, and indubitable.
5) “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3: 13-14, KJV).
Always coming from a place of love and in truth!!!
Originally written on January 22, 2024.
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