Opinions - judgments, viewpoints, or statements that are not conclusive

Job’s “friends”, Zophar the Naamathite, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite had already given Job their opinions. Then Elihu the Buzite shared his opinion.

Job 32:17 "...I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion...”

Job 33:3 "...My words are from the uprightness of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely...”

Job 34:36 “...Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men...”

Opinion? Sincere? Right conclusion?

The friends weren’t seeking God’s counsel. They were offering opinions. God finally spoke, 38 chapters into the book of Job, and He spoke to Job, who was seeking an audience with God.

Job 38:1-2 “...Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?...”

God’s impression of the opinions of Job and his friends?

We expect God to act according to our current understanding of heaven and earth. We have opinions!

Psalm 95:9-10 "...When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work. "For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways...”

Isaiah 55:8 "...For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD...”

Do we know His thoughts and ways?

It’s important that we get beyond opinions and stand in truth.

Isaiah 55:2-3 "...Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you...”

Romans 12:2 “...And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect...”

Are we living proof of God’s good, acceptable, perfect will? How can education fall short of transformation?

God gives His Word to us. Jesus made it clear how important it (He) is.

Matthew 4:4 “...But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'...”

Matthew 12:35-37 "...The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned..."

Do we have opinions about His Words? Do we Auto-Correct His Words?

Opinions are a starting point. Having an opinion is not a problem. The problem starts when opinions become dogma (a set of principles laid down as incontrovertibly true) and the ongoing voice of God is replaced with preconceived notions.

Luke 18:7-8 “...now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?..."

Can there be justice in the absence of relationship with the Creator?

What would God say about the opinions we currently hold, and express?

Life Indeed - True Knowledge

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “...Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed...”

What are some things that people fix their hope on that are uncertain?

Who do people trust to supply things to enjoy?

How did Paul want people to live their lives, and what outcome did Paul expect?

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 “...According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...”

What is the best foundation for the future? Why?

John 17:3 "...This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent...”

How did Jesus describe eternal life in His high priestly prayer?

2 Peter 1:2-4 “...Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust...”

How did Peter describe the process of receiving life indeed?

What is escaped when the process takes place?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “...for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,...”

What gets erected to prevent life indeed, and how is it removed?

2 Peter 1:5-8 “...Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

How can diligence be given to the list presented by Peter?

How can a person avoid being “useless” or “unfruitful” in true knowledge (life indeed)?

Pestilence

Is a medical pandemic a random event?

If the spiritual dimension of reality is ignored, the possibilities are:

It may be a result of accidentally coming in contact with a pathogen or someone’s choice to spread the pathogen.

It is important to find a way to neutralize the threat.

If the spiritual dimension of reality isn’t ignored, the possibilities are:

It may be from the Lord. It may be from the evil one. It may be from the widespread corruption of a fallen world.

It is important to respond in a God pleasing way.

Biblical examples of pestilence:

References citing the Lord as the initiator.

The plagues of Egypt - Exodus 11:1-5 “..."Thus says the LORD, 'About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die ...”

The wilderness wandering - Numbers 14:11-12 “...The LORD said to Moses, ... how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? "I will smite them with pestilence..."

The curses of disobedience - Deut. 28:15,20-22 "... if you do not obey the LORD your God, ... "The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land ... they will pursue you until you perish...”

The result of David’s improper census - 2 Samuel 24:14-15 “...So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died...”

Jeremiah’s prophecy to a wandering people - Jeremiah 14:10-12 “...Thus says the LORD ... they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check .... I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence..." (also 21:6,21:7,27:8,27:13,29:17,29:18,32:36,34:17,42:17,42:22,44:13)

Message to Tyatira - Rev. 2:22-23 '”..Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, ... 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; ...”

Reference citing the evil one as the initiator.

The suffering of Job - Job 2:4-7 “... Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head...”

Reference citing the filth and corruption of creation.

Romans 8:18-23 “... the sufferings of this present time ... the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God ... the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God ... “

Biblical responses to pestilence:

REPENTANCE when the Lord is the initiator.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 "...If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land...”

Rev. 2:22-23 '”..Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, ... unless they repent...”

PERSEVERANCE when the evil one is the initiator.

Eph. 6:10-18 “...Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, ...pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

SERVICE when filth and corruption is the initiator.

John 13:13-15 "...You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you...”

Application:

This is not an exhaustive study, but merely a small sampling of scripture.

Hopefully it can create a thoughtful posture concerning current events.

Since we are responsible for our response, we need to be careful with our focus and our position.

The world is full of guilt, fear and shame. It’s hurting. It’s in need of the “...sons of God...” Rom.8:19

John 12:47 "... for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world...”

We need to faithfully center on Kingdom forgiveness, healing, and transformation.

Take Care, Do Good

The people of God had failed miserably as God was explaining what Kingdom living looked like at Mount Sinai. Moses wanted to help, needed to know God’s ways, and wanted to see the Glory of God.

Exodus 33:13,18 "...Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."... Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!..."

God’s glory is compassion, grace, slow to anger, love, truth, forgiveness - And justice.

Exodus 34:6-7 “...Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations..."

There is an expectation that we recognize God’s glory and live in the same way.

Ephesians 4:30-32 “...Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you...”

With wisdom and care we are to do God’s will in evil days.

Ephesians 5:15-17 “...Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is...”

While the world is consuming one another, God’s people are loving people.

Galatians 5:14-15 “...For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another...”

With great care we abide with the living God, and encourage others to do likewise.

Hebrews 3:12-13 “...Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin...”

There is always the danger that we will grow weary in doing good. Don’t let it happen!

Galatians 6:9-10 “...Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith...”
 

NOTE: Check out the following Bible Project Video on Generosity

https://bibleproject.com/videos/generosity/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=quarantinemail&utm_content=generosity