Who darkens your counsel?
"Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"
God spoke these words in the 38th chapter of the book of Job in the Old Testament after Job and his "friends" discussed, accused, and argued about why God caused or allowed Job's suffering. They reached no consensus. No agreement. No resolution of the question.
But then...
Out of the storm, God showed up.
And God had some questions of His own. Lots of questions. Job eventually responded.
You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”
These days, I hear lots of folks with lots of opinions about our current crisis of public trust and civil discourse. Lots of hand wringing. But I see no consensus. No agreement. No resolution of the questions. Lots of confusion. Even among friends.
Seems to me that it's a time to get a larger view.
Maybe it's a time to quit the shouting and sniping. Maybe its time to stop accusing and blaming. All the noise (words without knowledge) darkens your counsel. Too many well-meaning voices declare inconsistent messages about what God is doing. They can't all be true. And they aren't. So guard your ears and mind.
If we want a larger view, we need to listen for God's voice. Turn an ear to His word.
God is still in charge. Even in the midst of the storm, He still speaks. Let's encourage each other to grow beyond hearing about Him. Ask for eyes that see Him as He really is.