Just Shut Up Already

Can the dead live again? If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle, and I would eagerly await the release of death. You would call and I would answer, and you would yearn for me, your handiwork. For then you would guard my steps, instead of watching for my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover my guilt. [Job 14.14-17]

The statements above are part of Job's dialog to God (prayer?).

I am trying my best to pay attention to everything Job and his friends said to see exactly what it is they said that secured their rebuke by God and need for repentance. More about this in a moment...

Regardless of the context of the passage above, I think we see here a beautiful picture of Messiah - a foretelling of Jesus. "Can the dead live again?" is indeed the question of all questions. It means everything, doesn't it? If the dead live again, it means that life has eternally more purpose than face value! If the dead live again, it means the difficulties of this life are only temporary. If the dead live again, it means death itself is only temporary. If the deal live again, God's call is to be anticipated. If the dead live again, then God's Word and His Promises are for our protection now (and not to beat us down or hold us back). If the dead live again, and we have 'answered Him,' then sins of this world are dealt with...

Can the dead live again? Jesus does, and showed us the way - Seek first the Kingdom of God!

Now, back to what Job and his friends did that would later require their repentance... As I was considering this today, it crossed my mind that Job, at the end of the day (so to speak) finally confesses, "I have said too much."

Perhaps the problem for Job and his friends was just that - they said too much. They ran their mouths instead of remaining silent.

It's not that they were just 'talking' but that they were all over the place saying things. Their arguments were and are, frankly, dizzying. The thing is, they all pretty much said things that are true and things that are questionable. I mean, Job, kept wishing for death - how righteous is that?

Could it be that Job's and his friends greatest failure was not in the quality of their statements, but in the overwhelming quantity of their statements? I must admit, that the more I talk, the less likely I am to be consistently accurate in what I say.

Excessive talking and arguing can only signal one problem: pride. I know for me, I need to "just shut up already," more often than not. But I find myself wanting - needing - to defend how well I know God. Pride. Stupid. Useless talk.

I am growing more and more to admire people who refuse to argue. I sincerely hope it is because I am growing in devotion to God!

Father, thank You for speaking to my heart today. Help me - I really want to get this right - help me to just shut up and stop arguing!