“Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end? Job 22:5
If you’ve read through the Book of Job, you may have noticed how “Orderly” the conversations are. You have Job with his Introductory Lament, then, each Friend takes a turn with Job responding to each in turn. You’re struck by the politeness of it all, even if some of the choice of wording is a bit over the top. Perhaps this was a Cultural Thing back then where People didn’t talk over one another or butt in to share their 2 cents worth!
Well, as the arguments wind down, we have Eliphaz up to bat for his 3rd and last time. He opens with a Very Slanderous Accusation as we see in Today’s Verse. It’s Shocking!!! In the beginning of the Book, we are told “they came each one from his own place”. Obviously, it was far enough away that they were unaware of Job’s Conduct: “Blameless, Upright, Fearing God and Turning Away from Evil Job1:1b”. And so, like the Media today, they relied on False Assumptions to determine the Truth!
This is such a Huge Lesson!!! How many times have we done the same? As we are talking with a friend, we come to a Quick Conclusion (as if we’ve read their mind!) and make a closing remark accordingly? Or as we hear about someone, we fill in the blanks and rush to a Hasty Judgement? As James tells us “Brethren, these things ought not to be”!