Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Job 38:2, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"

This morning, there is much counsel being darkened by folks that do not have the knowledge that they need to properly discern the truth of the situation. We live in an instant gratification society that values the truth of a situation less than what they personally "think" is right. Many folks today are willing to take what they feel over a known or measured standard. As foolish as it sounds, it is really not new. Folks have been denying the standard of the word of God for centuries, so it is really only a matter of time for evil men to wax worse and worse before they start denying natural standards as well.

Here the Lord is responding to the conversation that has gone on for the previous 35 chapters. He specifically condemns the 3 miserable comforters (the chief of which was Eliphaz) for their judgment on Job.
He says that they were not acquainted with Job's plight, but presumed to know what was best and proper for him. When reading the chapters where the miserable comforters were speaking, one finds that the words they spoke fit into 3 categories (there may be others that I have not found): 1. what they spoke was false, 2. what they spoke was true, 3. what they spoke was true but did not apply to Job. This third category is the hardest to spot in what someone says.

Many times it is harder to reason with somebody if they are applying a correct principle to the wrong verse than if they are applying a false principle. For example, I would not use a timely text of salvation (Romans 1:16, I Corinthians 15:1-2, etc) to teach salvation by grace. Is salvation by grace a true principle? Yea verily, but we must rightly apply verses to teach the principles contained therein. Job's comforters spoke many times of God's judgment and chastening of His people. However, they presumed that this was such a time with Job.

Job had not done anything wrong, and God was not chastening him for wrongdoing. The Lord did rebuke Job at the end for justifying himself, but the sufferings he endured were not due to wicked behaviour. Many people today hit upon rough times and immediately think that God is against them, and they begin to blaspheme Him (much as Job's wife advised him to do). Therefore, we must be careful to not just teach the correct principles, but apply them as they ought to be. We must give account of ourselves as stewards, and may we ever be found faithful.

In Hope,

Bro Philip