Judging others

The assault on Job and his character continues.

This time Zophar takes his shots, and he basically continues the line started by his friends.  Namely, that Job must have sinned and that God is punishing for him it.

And after a scathing reply mocking their wisdom and refuting the idea that he himself was ignorant of God’s power and wisdom, Job goes on to say,

But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.

You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!  If only you would be altogether silent!  For you, that would be wisdom.

Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips.  Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?  Will you speak deceitfully for him?  Will you show him partiality?  Will you argue the case for God?

Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.  Would not his splendor terrify you?  Would not the dread of him fall on you?  (Job 13:3-11)

In other words, Job was saying, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.  You claim I’ve sinned when I haven’t.  I’d rather speak to God.  At least I know he’s fair.

How would you feel if God were to put you on trial?  How well could you stand up before him?”

And Job was right.  They were making baseless accusations against Job.  And if God had called them to the dock, they would not have stood at all.  We actually see this at the end of the book.

We would do well to remember the dangers of judging others.

Sometimes people do the same thing to others that Job’s friends did to him.  They’ll say things like “The reason you are sick and are not getting healed is because you don’t have enough faith.  If you had enough faith, God would heal you.”

Even worse are those that would say as Job’s friends did, “You must be hiding some secret sin.  That’s why you’re sick.”

But God will call to account all who judge others without basis.

Paul wrote,

You, then, why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother?  For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

It is written:  “‘As surely as I live, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ”

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.  (Romans 14:10-13)

Paul, of course, is specifically talking about not judging people concerning disputable matters.  Paul does say in other passages, however, that if a person is clearly in sin, we are to confront them (I Corinthians 5).

But we have no business passing judgment on people, making blanket statements about their spiritual lives when we have no evidence of wrongdoing.

Because when we do, instead of helping our brother or sister, we put a stumbling block before them in their walk with God, just as Job’s friends did with him.  And God will call you to account for that.

How about you? Are you passing judgment on others without basis?

Jesus tells us,

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.  (John 7:24)