IN LIGHT OF RECENT societal unrest over continuing racial injustice, I am moving up the calendar on this post entitled “Shut Up and Listen” (or, more politely, “Listening is Better than Speaking”). And it will be an abbreviated one.
Judging someone as guilty is a major theme in the Book of Job and continues to be mirrored in today’s society. Sometimes it’s better to shut up and listen before—or even instead of—speaking.
Marvelously, Job’s friends actually did ‘shut up’ quite well in the second chapter, while they sat with him—in the ashes—for seven days! (I doubt I could manage seven hours … or even seven minutes!)
Now, of course, there are situations where the person is truly guilty, but even then—both in our country and in ancient Israel—the truth must come out in a court of law, the defendant being heard first, and then the charges brought against him, (by two or three witnesses, as the Old Testament says).
Judgment based on appearances, assumptions, or past experience is a dangerous and frightening thing, resulting in–and from–inequalities on both sides.
Jesus, in the New Testament, said in the Sermon on the Mount, “By the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2)
We will speak more in future blogs of what has become known as ‘active listening’ (or rather the lack of it) in the Book of Job. Here is just a sampling:
- Job’s friend says: “Who can keep from speaking?” (Job 4:2) — apparently those seven days were definitely too long to wait.
- Job’s friends say: “We have investigated this, and it is true! Hear it and apply it for yourself.” (Job 5:27) — like when your friends have their minds made up, never to be confused by the facts!
- Job says: “Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind?” (Job 6:26) — this is definitely not a good way to treat a friend.
- Job says: “If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!” (Job 13:5) — this is not a good thing to have to say to your friend!
- And finally, Job says: “Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.” (Job 21:2) — in other words, the listening is what helps, not the talking.
To end with a verse just a couple books past Job in the Old Testament, “When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
We’ll definitely be hearing more about this topic and how important it is, both to a friend and to a nation.