Title: The Lowly Life/Job 18:1-4
Content Job 18:1-4
vulgar life
A disciple asked a saint. < What kind of person is a lowly person?> Then the sage said, < It is not obvious. Those who do lowly things for themselves are lowly people.> In the old feudal system (封建制度) society, it was sometimes mistaken for lowly people to be born separately.
If you listen to Bildad's words in the text, you can see that although it was the result of an emotional battle with Job, he was truly humble. Although not all of Bildad's arguments are correct in the text, the words themselves are meaningful in this respect.
Then, in light of the text, let's take a look at what's really mean.
##### 1. Putting only words ahead
Bildad rebuked Job in verse 2, saying, “How long will you seek a horse?” The translation Bible translates this verse as <How long will you keep your mouth shut?>, so it is like saying to your colleagues, but it can be translated as <When will you keep your mouth shut?>. Of course, Job was not the only one who spoke first. But no matter who you are, the attitude of putting your words first is a demeaning thing to do. Because, in whatever matter, he who diligently picks up his words never achieves anything, and in the end he has nothing but the pride of his words. The more fluent a person's speech is, the more often there is actually no content in it. Putting words first sounds even more empty among believers.
That is why the psalmist tells us in Psalm 33:7, “In salvation, words are vain, and in their great strength they cannot ask.
And the apostle Paul also reminded Timothy that those who do not understand their own words, fall into vain words, and want to become teachers of the law. Let's remember that what we living in the flood of language need are sincere actions that come from our hearts rather than grandiose words. So, I hope that you will become wise believers who keep their words and move them with their hands rather than putting their words first.
##### 2. It is to belittle others.
Bildad rebuked, “Why do you count us as animals and look unclean” (verse 3). Of course, Job never treated the three friends who came to him like animals. However, when he called his friends 'blind fools' (17:4), he was outraged and accused them of treating them like beasts. But if Job really treated other people like a beast, that would be very lowly. Because there is not a single person who treats others like beasts, whose heart is not like that of an animal.
Thus, the saying 'A dog's eyes only sees a dog, and an adult's eye only sees an adult' was born.
To reprove oneself for being stupid and ignorant and to call oneself like a beast in front of the Lord belongs to humility (謙讓). However, if you treat others as beasts, that is a far more cruel abusive language than swearing at your brother as a fool. Therefore, we must never forget the sincere attitude that considers others better than ourselves for the rest of our lives.
--Greece. Persia. This is the story of Alexander the Great, who built a great empire that reached India. As the banquet was in full swing with the joy of victory, Alexander the Great, drunkenly, called his childhood friend, his capable general, "Hey, cowardly friend." Then, the friend, who felt insulted in front of many of his subordinates, said, "Why am I a coward, do you not remember that I saved your life in a fierce battle?" and exposed Alexander's weakness that no one knew about. At that moment, Alexander pulled out a spear beside him and threw it at his friend, who was struck with a spear in the heart and died.
Alexander the Great, who was deeply guilty of killing his best friend, whom he had been close to since childhood, tried to stab himself with his sword, but his men stopped him and failed. After that, Alexander the Great stayed in his room without eating anything, and it is said that his men only managed to get out of the room after 3 days.
##### 3 is to abuse oneself
Bildad also attacked Job, saying, "You who tear yourselves with wrath! Will the earth be forsaken for your sake?" (v. 4). This was quite convincing. Job's accusing God of tearing himself up and lamenting that he was actually tearing himself apart was the same as tearing himself apart. Of course, you should not use these words to criticize Job as a scoundrel, but to tear yourself apart means self-abuse.
In the Gospels, there is a record that a young man living in the Gerasea area was possessed by a demon and was walking between the tombs, wearing an iron shackle, and stoned himself and wounded himself (Matthew 5:5). It leads to a state of misery like a lifted young man. Because self-sacrifice is another act of destruction against human beings made in the image of God.
Instead of demeaning yourself in difficult situations and giving up in despair, you should become a person who accomplishes God's work through perseverance and perseverance.
Saints!
There is a saying that a person's humanity is revealed only when he is in a difficult situation. If you are really in trouble and care a little, you can easily turn into a lowly person, and in some cases, you can fall into an ugly person or transform into a personality destroyer. Even giving only words, disrespecting others, and tearing oneself apart all came about as a result of this. Therefore, we must be very careful and pray so that we do not fall into such a downfall.