How should Job 12:20 influence our response to worldly authority and wisdom? Setting the Scene Job 12 finds Job reminding his friends that God alone rules all creation. In the midst of listing God’s sovereign acts, he declares: Key Verse: Job 12:20 “He removes the speech of the trusted and takes away the discernment of elders.” What the Text Teaches About God • God personally controls the abilities, influence, and understanding of even the most respected people. • Speech, counsel, and discernment are not autonomous human possessions; they are divine gifts granted—or withheld—at His discretion. • No earthly status or experience guarantees lasting wisdom apart from God’s ongoing favor. Implications for Our View of Worldly Authority • Respect without idolatry – Honor legitimate offices (Romans 13:1) yet remember the officeholder’s authority can fade in a moment if God wills. • Sobriety when leaders impress us – Eloquence and expertise are fragile; God can “remove the speech of the trusted.” • Prayerful dependence – Intercede for rulers (1 Timothy 2:1-2) because their clarity and judgment ultimately rest in God’s hand. Implications for Our View of Human Wisdom • Humility toward experts – Even “elders” lose discernment when God withholds insight (Isaiah 29:14). • Scripture as the final measure – “The word of the LORD stands forever” (1 Peter 1:25). Human conclusions must align with it to be reliable. • Readiness for God’s reversal – Worldly wisdom can collapse suddenly (1 Corinthians 1:19-20). Practical Takeaways 1. Test every counsel—political, academic, cultural—against the clear teaching of Scripture. 2. Resist panic when leaders falter; God remains firmly in charge. 3. Cultivate personal discernment through regular Scripture intake (Psalm 119:130) rather than leaning on experts alone. 4. Speak truth humbly, knowing our own words stand only as God sustains us. Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” • Daniel 2:20-21 – God “gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them.” • James 1:5 – Wisdom is granted generously by God, not self-generated. |
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