Job 22: 5-9
Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?
For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.
You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
Our verse is found in the Old Testament. In a book known as a book of poetry. Now, Hebrew poetry is different than English poetry. Hebrew poetry gives short parallel or contrasting thoughts. In the Bible the books of poetry in the Old Testament are, Psalms Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Job. Job is the first book of poetry in the Old Testament, and that is what book we will be in today.
Job was reduced to his very existence. A wealthy man that was left with nothing, no possessions, no family, no wealth, and poor health. His so called friends basically accused poor Job of being a hypocrite, and explained away his trials as punishment from God.
In old testament time wickedness was not clothing the naked, not giving the weary water, withholding bread from the hungry, not helping the widows, and not strengthening the fatherless. Wickedness was oppression, injustice, living in prosperity and not doing any good with your wealth or power. If this same mindset was active today a great many of us would all be considered wicked. In our culture, we are to busy with ourselves to take notice of those in need around us. Putting our own luxuries and pleasures before others who are in need. Can we really justify our lifestyles while others around us are hurting, hungry and in great need? If God has blessed us, is it that we might use our blessings to help those in need?
I pray this week that we do not close ourselves to those who are in need around us. That God makes our community more sensitive to needs of others.