Study of Job 12 20

He deprives speech from the trustworthy,

   Removes discernment from the aged.

 

4:30. Not a time I like to wake up. I was awake but chose not to get up. Apparently not getting up has thrown me into a physical state where everything feels funny. Funny in the sense that something is wrong, but I do not know what or even have an adequate description for it.

‘Deprives’ was also ‘removes’, ‘strips’, and ‘takes away’. ‘Deprives speech’ was also ‘silences lips’. ‘Trustworthy’ was also ‘trusted’, ‘trusted advisors’, and ‘counselors’. No real logic to my selections stands out other than the flow of the words felt right.

‘Removes’ was also ‘takes away’ and ‘makes off with’. ‘Makes off with’ was just silly, and while most used takes away, removes seemed a better fit. ‘Discernment’ seems very specific, but was also ‘understanding’, ‘reason’, and ‘sense’. ‘Aged’ was only used in King James with everyone else using ‘elders’, but I am traditional.

The book series I am reading (as I may have mentioned) focuses on some Navajo policemen and how their culture clashes with that of “the white man”.  One interesting concept is how the Navajo language does not have some words for key ‘white man’ cultural words. Another is how their religious beliefs clash with modern medicine. I have in the past wondered how some one who claims to be a Christian like me can also claim that modern medicine is against their religion.

In the last book, a character was dealing with reduced cognitive function in their spouse. My brain does not work well in some of the same areas in which this character’s did not, but I have always been that way, so I wonder if I will even notice if I get it, or if my spouse will. In this verse, I wonder if this disease is not a function of how God deprives speech from the trustworthy or discernment from the aged? I know people wrestle with the real impacts of this disease every day, but I would hate to see their fury directed at God as if it were punishment.

I get the impression this set of verses is focused on how God lets us make our own choices and gives us every opportunity to trust Him rather than those around us. I believe one of the tools of the devil is to convince people they are not to blame for their own mistakes. I believe in personal responsibility and that our failures are our own. We cannot blame others if we retain the right to choose.

I used to think that my mom picked every course of action directly opposite of what I suggested on purpose to be contrary or to feel as if she had made the decision. I tried hard to get her to focus on what God wanted for her and not what I or anyone else wanted. I definitely do not want my kids following every piece of advice I give them, and I try hard to direct them to follow God as well. The great thing about decisions is that God has already forgiven us for our errors and gives us counsel that can be trusted.

Written 11/19/23 Posted 1/29/24 Job 277