Windy Knowledge

Job's friends, the paralytic's friends, and religious determinism.

The passage from Luke today has some narrative overlaps with Job. The book of Job could have been a lot shorter if it took the path of the opening scene in Luke today wherein a man has a skin disease, asks for help, and is granted it.

But that’s not always the way life goes, is it?

The second story - of the paralytic with persistent friends - could also shape the book of Job much differently. But Job’s friends are more interested in telling Job why he is in the state he’s in (talking about it) than they are about actively alleviating his suffering. The only solution they seem to offer is dependent on Job’s action - repentance.

Today we are reading Eliphaz’s second speech. Whatever kindness and pastoral tone Eliphaz had in the first place is long gone. We see in his speech (which seems to be a response to Job’s last statements) what it looks like when a presumed theological system is challenged. Eliphaz is having none of it.

Will the wise respond with windy knowledge?

Ouch.

(If we remember to picture Job in his state of disease and depression, this is pretty harsh.)

And Eliphaz’s theological heel-digging and brash words don’t seem that far off from the Pharisees - Who is this who insults God? Only God can forgive sins!

We see in Job, we see in Luke, and we see today just how damaging it is when people think they know all that God is and all that God wants against the world and then speak and act accordingly.

And it’s such a strong reminder why Jesus’ voice and example must stand against such baptized power, because it can and often does lead to sanctified violence and religiously justified war.

It’s one thing when we’re talking about individual situations like Job’s. It’s bad enough when religious determinism twists the knife further into wounds that are already deep. But when those same assumptions are expanded outward - when people believe they are defending God, protecting righteousness, or preserving order - they can lead to something far worse.

After all, the people who put Jesus on the cross believed they were doing exactly that.

Luke 5:12-26

Jesus was in one of the towns where there was also a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” Instantly, the skin disease left him. Jesus ordered him not to tell anyone. “Instead,” Jesus said, “go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses instructed. This will be a testimony to them.” News of him spread even more and huge crowds gathered to listen and to be healed from their illnesses. But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.

One day when Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and legal experts were sitting nearby. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem. Now the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal. Some men were bringing a man who was paralyzed, lying on a cot. They wanted to carry him in and place him before Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they took him up on the roof and lowered him—cot and all—through the roof tiles into the crowded room in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The legal experts and Pharisees began to mutter among themselves, “Who is this who insults God? Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus recognized what they were discussing and responded, “Why do you fill your minds with these questions? Which is easier—to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you will know that the Human One has authority on the earth to forgive sins” —Jesus now spoke to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up, take your cot, and go home.” Right away, the man stood before them, picked up his cot, and went home, praising God.

All the people were beside themselves with wonder. Filled with awe, they glorified God, saying, “We’ve seen unimaginable things today.”

Job 15

Eliphaz answered:

Will the wise respond with windy knowledge
and fill their belly with the east wind?
Will they argue with a word that has no benefit
and with unprofitable words?
You are truly making religion ineffective
and restraining meditation before God.
Your mouth multiplies your sins a thousand times;
you opt for a clever tongue.
Your mouth condemns you, not I;
your lips argue against you.
Were you born the first Adam,
brought forth before the hills?
Did you listen in God’s council;
is wisdom limited to you?
What do you know that we don’t know;
what do you understand that isn’t among us?
Both the graybeard and the aged are with us;
those much older than your father.
Are God’s comforts not enough for you,
a word spoken gently with you?
Why has your mind seized you,
why have your eyes flashed,
so that you return your breath to God
and utter such words from your mouth?
What are humans that they might be pure,
and those born of woman that they might be innocent?
If he doesn’t trust his holy ones
and the heavens aren’t pure in his eyes,
how much less those who are abominable and corrupt,
for they drink sin like water.

Listen to me; I will argue with you;
what I’ve seen, I will declare to you;
what the wise have told and have not concealed from their family,
to whom alone the earth was given
and no stranger passed in their midst.
All the days of the wicked are painful;
the number of years reserved for the hateful;
a sound of terror pierces their ears;
when safe, raiders overtake them.
They can’t count on turning away from darkness;
they are destined for a sword.
They wander about for bread. “Where is it?”
They know that their day of darkness is fixed.
Adversity and stress scare them,
master them like a king ready to strike;
for they raise a fist against God
and try to overpower the Almighty.
They run toward him aggressively,
with a massive and strong shield.
They cover their face with grease
and make their loins gross.
They lived in ruined cities,
unoccupied houses that turn to rubble.
They won’t get rich; their wealth won’t last;
their property won’t extend over the earth.
They can’t turn away from darkness;
a flame will dry out their shoots,
and they will be taken away by the wind from his mouth.
They shouldn’t trust in what has no worth,
for their reward will be worthless.
Before their branch is formed,
before it is green,
like the vine, they will drop early grapes
and cast off their blossoms like the olive.
The ruthless gang is barren,
and fire consumes the tents of bribers.
They conceive toil and give birth to sorrow;
their belly establishes deceit.

Prayer

God,

I’m always so moved by the paralytic’s four friends. Their persistence, compassion, and action are inspirational.

Lord, that I would do the same for others. I’ve learned I can’t do it for all (I think). But lead me in those situations where I can actually do something.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.