Job 9:24

The land is given over to the hand of the evil doer,

   Who is able to bribe the judges,

      If not he, who then is responsible?

 

We watched a tv show where a corrupt judge was busted taking bribes. This is the activity taking place in this verse. When the judges are corrupt, then justice is not served. I ponder whether the corruption in our government is too much. Our county judge and our mayor have been connected to illegal schemes to profit themselves or their friends. The sad thing is that both will run again, and they might actually win.

“Land”(3) was also “earth”(5), “given” was also “falls”, and “wicked” was also “tyrant” or “evil doer”. The choices all seemed easy enough.

The second stitch varied from “He covers the eyes of its judges”, “He blindfolds the judges”, and the like to “who is able to bribe the judges”. I do not remember any of the logic presented for the switch, but since my favorite option came from my favorite source, I figured it was good enough.

The last stitch confused me, I was not sure if it was he for the wicked, he for the judge, or He for God. Most of the sources used “who is it”, and they all used “he”. Only one source use “guilty”, but I threw in “responsible” for the clarity it added on what the question was.

I heard from a friend that there are ramblings from the liberals who want to strip the tax-exempt status away from a church after the pastor urged his followers to be politically active against these same liberals. He did not name anyone, but he did let it be know his ideals were on the conservative end of the spectrum. The media has just barely reminded everyone that the law is that the church cannot be active in supporting candidates, but that a church is allowed to clarify its beliefs and how they might apply to issues the politicians are discussing.

I tend to look at these issues in two ways: How do they impact the organizations I want to be in and how do they impact the organizations I do not want to be in? If we say a religion can do anything, then we cannot complain when they sacrifice children. If we say a religion can do nothing, then we cannot meet to pray and worship. There are lines that religious freedom does not need to cross.

Telling someone to vote for Trump is too specific. Telling someone to vote Republican is too specific. Telling someone to vote against liberals attacking the family unit is not too specific. Telling someone to vote for those who will protect the poor and defenseless is not too specific.

I personally say do not vote for Trump, do not vote for a Democrat unless you know them to be upstanding Christians, and do not vote for laws that continue horror to young (and all) rape victims. My opinion on Trump is personal. My opinion on Democrats is a stereo type. My opinions on protecting victims of rape are an extension of my religious studies of the duty to protect the defenseless. When our judges and our lawmakers and law enforcers do not follow our values, we need to vote them out. Our churches need to act responsible against these forces of evil.

 

(Written 9/5, posted 9/23, Job 196)