Title: Meaning of calamity/Job 12:4-12
Content Job 12:4-12
the meaning of disaster
When we hear the word disaster, we only think of things like whether someone has a fatal disease or the family is in ruins. In other words, when a fire broke out and the house was burnt down, and there was no place to sleep right away, I think that disaster struck.
That's right, of course. But it is not the only disaster that is important, but there are more important disasters that plague us. Saints need to know that.
So what does the text teach us about disaster?
##### 1. It is a disaster to persecute the righteous.
In verse 4 of the text, Job laments what he is going through with his three friends, saying, “The righteous and innocent have become a mockery.”
Although the circumstances are different from what Job experienced with his three friends, there are many records in the Bible that the unrighteous mocked and ridiculed God's prophets and the righteous while persecuting them. A typical example is an incident where the robber mocked the Lord when He was crucified, saying, “If you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40).
Those who always ridicule and ridicule are bound to become full of trouble. It is equivalent to doing evil without the slightest fear. The arrogant attitude is not in itself a disaster. However, we must clearly understand that persecution against the righteous is itself a great disaster. Because a mockery of the righteous is a mockery of God. The unrighteousness of such a person is to trample upon the righteousness of God. That is why the Lord warned the Pharisees, 'From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, all the righteous blood shed on the earth will return to you' (Matthew 23:35).
Therefore, the true believer lives in truth. The truth sometimes hurts us. But that's because it's a light thing that can be treated soon.
##### 2. Living in peace is rather a disaster
Job lamented in verse 5, “The heart of the peaceful despises calamity.” The peace mentioned here is not the spiritual peace that comes from God, but the temporal and physical comfort. He who has enough and has nothing to worry about does not consider himself unhappy. Few would call such a peace a disaster. On the contrary, the people of the world are struggling to seek that kind of peace.
However, from a spiritual point of view, physical peace can be rather a disaster. Because those who are immersed in fleshly things only neglect the spiritual things. They are only interested in fattening the belly of the body and enhancing the skin color. That is why Jesus warns us in Luke 6:25, “Woe to you who are full, and woe to you who laugh now!”
The Apostle James criticized those who contacted them with luxury on the earth, saying that they are 'fattening themselves for the day of the slaughter' (James 5:5).
No one can say that fat pigs are happy. That's how the saying 'Hungry Socrates is better than a full pig' was born.
The peace of the world is not only a fundamental peace, but it can be a disaster in itself.
##### 3. Prosperity of the wicked is rather a disaster
There are many things that are difficult to understand in the world, and one of the most confusing problems is the prosperity of the wicked. That is why Job lamented that 'the tent of robbers prosper' (verse 6).
The three friends refuted Job's attitude with the very superficial logic that his older sister 'the righteous prosper and the wicked suffer calamity'. However, the problem is that such a logic may be correct in principle, but not necessarily in practice.
This is because, on this earth, good people will fall, while those who run into endless evils by using all sorts of tricks and tricks often prosper. (Hab 1:13) In the world, those who run rampant with evil plans prosper more. . The world is a hotbed of evil from its structure. Therefore, you should know that the prosperity of the wicked is already a disaster in itself. Such prosperity is everyone's own trap. The prosperity of the wicked is their grave. The calamities of the world work to awaken the ignorant mind. However, wrong prosperity only creates pride in evil deeds.
Therefore, you should not envy the prosperity of evil.
##### 4. A great instrument is beaten
In the text, Job suffers from being criticized by his friends. He lamented his own plight, saying, "I, having been called by God and heard, I have become the laughing stock of my neighbors, and the righteous and innocent have become a mockery.
But now it's completely inverted 180 degrees.
Rabbi Ben Hanani said, "If the hemp is good, he keeps beating it. The more he beats it, the better it gets and the better it shines. But if he thinks the hemp is bad, he doesn't beat it. Because if he beats it casually, it breaks." Says.
If we realize that God strengthens the weak and makes the strong stronger, we can accept Job's situation without any doubt. If you are suffering so much that you can't stand it right now, look into the heart of God who wants to make you a whole person, trust the Lord, our good shepherd, and praise him like this.
Classmates!
Whether it's a trap or a trap, a snare or poison, it's not that scary when it's out there. But when they are camouflaged by something, they become fatal dangers. The ridicule of the wicked, peace and prosperity are all such hidden calamities. Make sure you know why we must completely resist such things.