You Can't Say That

Because You Can't Know It Only God Does! Job 11:1-20 “Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put awaye the sin that is in your hand and allow no evilf to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firmi and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by". (Job 11:13-16) This was good advice but miss spoken, because he had no way of knowing what he was talking about. Only God knows what is in the heart of man. Zophar, a friend of Job’s, was attempting to give wise and sound advice to Job in his attempt to help. He does start out pretty good, he says, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?” Zophar asked him (Job 11:7). “They are higher than the heavens above” (v. 8). Who can argue with that? But then he kind of runs himself into the ditch,he tries to guess what was in Jobs heart Job’s heart, he had just arrived and how could he have any idea of what he was saying, when he says, “If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then . . . you will stand firm and without fear” (vv. 14-15). all though it is good advice if it was even close to being true, but it wasn't and even if he had evidence, the bible tells us only God know the heart of man. First we must truly stop and think before we speak, I'm talking to myself here. Our human perception is very limited and can only be based on outward appearances, only God can truly understands what is truly coming from a mans heart. God knows, because He created us, the secret thoughts of our inner being. He only can know our next move and or our deep intentions. (1 Kings 8:39)says God alone knows the hearts of all people. I as a human being only see the surface, where on the other hand God sees the character, the spirit, right down to the depths of the soul. So then because of this total understanding of the human body init completion, God,s justice is based on what is right and true. For me, knowing that God knows, brings a sense of peace to my very soul. It also should make me stop and think before I critsize someone else and judge them. This knowledge should make me have a humble perspective in making e statement about someone else. Job speaks back to Zophar like this, “Wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?” (12:2-3). What Job was going through was beyond himself and no one else could really understand what was happening.(see Job chapters 1-2). When He said, “To God belong wisdom and power” (12:13) Hhe was so right. There will be times our friends will need our loving counsel. But I know from experience, we must be careful what we say. I have said things that hurt rather than soothe, Lord please forgive me for speaking before thinking. Our friends who are grieving or hurting need our prayers more, we need to bring their names before the throne of God, and lay them into His arms for His comfort. He know them from the heart and He knows where it really hurts. Lord God help me, think before I speak, especially when I am attempting to comfort a friend. Please help me rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. It is far better then words that cann be taken the wrong way. Lord, I want to help my friends in grief to relax in the wonderful truth that you truly know them better than I do, and you are holding them to comfort them and no matter what You still love them. Loed this morning I pray for those who have recently lost loved ones, I pray Lord you will place your arms of love aroound them and hold them in your care. It is in your name I pray AMEN