SPIRITUAL GEMS: Week of November 20 to 26, 2023, Job 18 to 19, Answers.

SPIRITUAL GEMS: November 20-26, 2023, Job 18 to 19, Answers.

Spiritual Gems (10 min.)

Job 19:1, 2. Job's so-called friends hurt him greatly with their words. What lesson does this teach us? (w94 10/1 32)

The lesson that can be drawn from the situation of Job and his so-called friends is the importance of showing compassion and empathy instead of making hasty judgments and uttering hurtful words. Although Eliphaz and his companions intended to comfort, his words were ill-timed and lacked understanding of the suffering Job was experiencing.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In daily life, the lesson we can learn is the need to be careful with our words and to practice compassion when interacting with others, especially in difficult times.

It teaches us that we must be careful and thoughtful with our words, especially when it comes to providing comfort, as our words have the power to impact others, whether positively or negatively. By choosing to use kind and compassionate words, we can provide support and comfort to those in need, rather than causing them harm or distress.

Instead of offering words of comfort or support, Job's friends judged him and assumed that his suffering was a consequence of his own faults. This critical attitude and lack of empathy did more harm than good to Job, worsening his emotional and spiritual situation. The lesson we draw is the importance of empathy, compassion and sensitivity towards others in times of difficulty.

Although Eliphaz and his companions tried to comfort Job, they actually blamed him for his suffering, which worsened his distress, so we must be careful with our words and avoid causing distress to others with our expressions.

The key teaching here is the need to be careful with our words and be thoughtful when comforting or advising others. It is essential to be empathetic and actively listen and offer compassionate support rather than snap judgments or assuming we fully understand someone's situation.

Job's words show how true are the words of the Proverb he mentions, Death and life are in the power of the tongue. There he highlights the significant impact our words can have on the lives of others. He urges us to be mindful of how we use our words, as they can be a source of comfort or cause great harm.

We learn that it is essential to remember that we all face challenges and difficulties in life. Therefore, we must be kind and understanding with others and provide them with support and encouragement during difficult times. We also learn that we should never underestimate the positive impact our words and actions can have on someone's emotions and life.

We also learn that we must be careful with our words so as not to look like Job's so-called friends, who instead of showing compassion and empathy, made hasty judgments and uttered hurtful words. In the end it did not matter if the intention was to console, but rather the negative impact that his comments had on Job who was physically and emotionally very vulnerable due to all the circumstances he was going through. Meditating on this will help us be better comforters.

We must be very careful with the words that come out of our mouths towards our brothers, and mainly towards our spiritual family, we can build them up, we can demolish them, it is in our hands what we will do. These false friends of Job are an example of what we should never do to our brothers. Imagine that a brother or sister had to beg Jehovah for help because we have treated them badly with inconsiderate, sarcastic, unkind words. It would be a true spiritual tragedy if we did something like that to our brothers.

Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the law, whatever use you make of it, such will be the fruit. So it is in our hands what we will do with our words to encourage or discourage, without a doubt we want to encourage.

And someone could justify himself by saying that he has a great zeal for the truth, a great zeal for the spiritual and that is why he needs to be rude to others, but brothers, that is not valid, it is not justified, and it goes against the principles Biblical.

When Job needed encouragement, Eliphaz and his companions did not speak kind words. They blame Job for his adversity, implying that he had committed some secret fault. This teaches us that we should never cause another servant of God to cry out in anguish because of our thoughtless words. Rather, we should show consideration by saying kind words, thus showing that we are loyal friends.

What spiritual pearls have you found about Jehovah, ministry, and other topics in this week's Bible reading?

Job 18:2. The statement of humility reflects a lack of empathy toward Job, who is experiencing intense suffering. Sometimes, in our interactions with others, it is essential to be aware of the difficulties and pain they may be facing, before passing judgment or advice.

Job Chapter 18. This chapter shows how Bildad tries to frighten Job into repentance. So he describes to her the terrible fate of the wicked. This teaches me that as Bible teachers we must explain to our students and also to the people to whom we preach what sin is and what its terrible consequences mean. Likewise, we must explain to them the blessings that come with true repentance. But we should never use our knowledge of the Bible to frighten people. Rather, we have to ensure that those who are not heard know the truth, reflect on it and feel motivated to make the necessary changes in their lives.

Job 18:3. It reminds us of the importance of our speech and how our words can affect others. The analogy of speaking like irrational animals highlights the lack of sensitivity and care in our expressions, so when speaking we must do so with kindness and consideration for others, communicating in a way that is edifying and respectful.

Job 18:8. He describes the fate or destiny of the wicked. Although the wicked may appear prosperous or escape consequences and may temporarily evade justice or appear to be successful, they will eventually find themselves trapped by the repercussions of their evil actions or decisions. This teaches us that not only should we avoid evil through Jehovah's punishment, but it can also serve as a reminder of the importance of living a just and ethical life, always considering the long-term consequences of our actions.

Job 19:29. We see that Job shows that there is a judge who is watching him and will bring them to judgment. The lesson that can be drawn from this verse is the importance of justice and righteousness in treating others. It also leads us to reflect on the need for those who make unjust accusations or act incorrectly to face the consequences of their actions before Jehovah. 

Job 19:3. Job is in a situation of great suffering and affliction. Here, He reflects on how his friends and loved ones have abandoned him in the midst of his difficulties. This situation highlights the importance of being present for our brothers when they are going through times of anguish, affliction or difficulties. It is crucial to offer our support, understanding and comfort to those who need it.

Job 18:21. It shows that Job points out the result of the consequences of decisions. And we are shown the difference between following God's way and doing the opposite. Therefore, this passage reminds us that, if someone is doing evil and at the same time wants to try to follow God's commandments, his efforts will be in vain.

Job 18:17. We see that Job refers to the idea that the name of the wicked will be forgotten or not remembered. This is like a consequence of his actions and his character. You found, the importance of building a good name, a fair and honorable reputation before God and others is suggested.

Job 18:2. It teaches us how important it is to show good judgment. Before speaking, instead of saying the first thing that comes to mind, it is good to think about the effect our words will have.

Job 18:8,9. This text talks about who falls into a network or a trap, this makes us think about the care we must take when using the internet and social networks, since without realizing it we could fall into a trap, there is so much inappropriate content for Christians, Therefore we must be careful, instead, we must use the network without falling into it.

Job 18:5. This verse teaches us that no matter how much evil people advance, in the end their light will go out and they will be left in nothing. A clear example of this is the many famous people of this system who have reached the top of their career, but have paid for it. With losing his soul, without a doubt, Jehovah protects us and wants to see us well.

Job 18:15. It shows that Bildad disagrees with what Job says. This teaches me that even if we disagree with a person, we should not allow our feelings and emotions to lead us to say things that are hurtful to the other person. On the contrary, we must remember that by getting angry we leave room for the devil.

Job 18:5-10. We see how Bildad describes the miserable condition of the wicked, In which there was a certain degree of truth, if we consider that sin leads to the destruction of man if there is no repentance. But there were also traces of Babylonian teachings. This teaches me that as a Bible teacher, we must be careful not to draw erroneous conclusions from important truths. Because we could transmit these errors later to those who listen to us.

Job 18:15. Here we can also find another very valuable Pearl, since this text teaches me that no matter how impertinent, unpleasant or exasperating what I am hearing may be, as a good Christian it must demonstrate that I have learned to listen, that I have cultivated and developed empathy, that I have I have learned that it is not my place to judge and that I must take care of what I say, how I say it and even the tone of my voice when responding, because words have a lot of power.

Job 18:10. From this text we can learn that we must be careful of the hidden traps in Our path through life, a very subtle trap that can affect us without realizing it is pride, excess confidence in ourselves, thinking that we already know everything, when We fall into these traps and that's when we crash.

Job 18:5,6. In these texts we observe how Bildad, enraged by Job's unwavering resistance to his arguments, goes on to tell him: Your light will go out. That is what happens to those who forget God. By telling him this, he was trying to break Job's integrity. Like Job, we may not face several trials at once, and Satan may use discouragement or other factors to break our integrity. But Job is an excellent example of endurance and integrity that we can emulate.

Job 18:7-9. In these texts we observe that Satan is so cunning that he may try to make us turn against Jehovah, if we are going through economic difficulties. He may try to lead us to blame God for the death of a loved one or our poor health. Like Job's companions, someone may even accuse us falsely. This teaches us that we should not give up and not allow anything or anyone to distance us from our loving God Jehovah.

Job 18:19-21. These verses teach us that we must be careful when a brother goes through some difficulty or calamity, thinking that this happened to him because he has done something bad, is a thought that we must avoid, rather we must feel empathy and compassion, try to understand. the problems you are going through. Ask him how he is and pay attention to what he answers. Let's make him feel that we really understand what he is going through. And let's offer help in whatever is in our power. When we do this, we show true love.

Job 18:34. These verses remind me of the importance of humility, as they suggest that those who make plans with excessive self-reliance can end in destruction. The lesson is that we must trust in Jehovah and not excessively or completely in our own strength, actions or decisions. Humility brings us blessings from Jehovah, but pride and arrogance are Satan's traps.

Job 18:15. It shows how humility responds bitterly to Job. His words are extremely harsh and hurtful. Someone who seeks to give comfort to a servant of God and acts in this way serves Satan more than his neighbor or Jehovah. Therefore, we must be very careful with our words and intentions so as not to resemble these false comforters.

Job 18:15. This same text shows how humbly he is tired of listening to Job and how he accuses him of speaking without thinking, just as Eliphaz did before. Sometimes, we may encounter people who in the midst of their suffering only want to vent and be heard, and in the midst of their pain they may say things that seem senseless to us. It could also happen that they simply repeat the same things over and over again. However, if we are true friends and true servants of God, we will want to console each other, we will be empathetic and we will listen to them patiently and without criticizing them.

Job 18:3-4. The image of “tearing yourself to pieces with your fury” suggests an exaggerated or uncontrolled reaction to difficulties. The lesson here could be the importance of managing emotions, especially in times of adversity. So the lesson we can learn is that uncontrolled anger can cloud judgment and will not change the reality of the situation. 

Job 18:3-4. We can give this same text another application, since the reference says: "His own plans will make him fall" suggests that arrogance and excessive self-confidence can lead to self-destruction. This is a great reminder of the importance of humility and that it is Jehovah we should trust instead of relying on our own strength.

Job 18:3-4. These passages also invite us to reflect on our actions and decisions. At the same time, it is a lesson from which we can learn to examine ourselves if we are following a path of righteousness and humility or if we are prey to arrogance and sin. This will help us avoid the traps we could set for ourselves. And if we realize that we have followed a wrong path, it is crucial to repent and seek Jehovah's forgiveness.

Job 19:2-6. We see that Job is hurt by the words of his so-called friends and seeks understanding and support instead of judgment. Job feels that his friends are judging him unfairly and treating him harshly. These verses reflect the idea of ​​how words can be crushing and cause pain, even in situations where support is expected. For this reason, these verses teach us the importance of treating others with compassion and empathy, especially in times of difficulty.

Job 19:12. These verses show how words can have overwhelming power when misused. Job sought understanding and support but his false friends only judged him unfairly and harshly. This teaches me the power of compassion and empathy in times of adversity. Hence, the importance of cultivating these qualities to be truly prepared when it comes to providing support and comfort to those who suffer or are going through a bad time.

Job 19:2. It mentions something very important, it alludes to a cry for help, Job said how long will they continue to irritate me with those words. So when we are going through difficult times, it is a true blessing to hear kind words of uplifting words from a loyal friend, a true companion.

Job 19:1-5,22. These verses show how three false friends who claimed to serve God express erroneous doctrines when trying to correct Job. By arguing on this basis they became his persecutors. This teaches me that if I am not careful when correcting or advising a brother, I can also become his persecutor. In such circumstances I must apply Jehovah's judgment and not my own judgment or be carried away by my emotions.

Job 19:13-20. It shows how Job went from being someone highly respected by everyone to becoming forgotten by everyone. He became stinking to his brothers, disgusting to his wife, detestable to his close associates, and those whom he loved so much now treated him coldly. Today, some of us may experience similar situations due to various circumstances, whether outside the congregation or within it. But like Job, we must not allow any of this to break our integrity. On the contrary, we must remember that Jehovah never abandons his faithful servants and that they are also aware of everything that happens to us. Hence we must continue to endure faithfully.

Job 19:2. The same verse shows that Job was someone who gave encouragement to others, But when he needed encouragement he did not receive it, yet he remained determined to continue doing good, this motivates us not to stop doing what is right just because others They don't appreciate it, in the end, Jehovah and Jesus Christ are aware and promise to reward our faithfulness.

Job 19:7. Job cried out for help, but no one answered him. This teaches us about being attentive to our brothers when they need help, since if we see that they are facing or going through some difficulty we can offer to support them, instead of leaving them alone in their tribulations.

Job 19:13. That text teaches us that even if we find ourselves in pitiful or disadvantageous circumstances, and they abandon us. We must not forget that Jehovah is the protector and sustainer of his people. Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid, for Jehovah will not forsake us.

Job 19:25. We see that Job was sure that there would be a Redeemer for him. This Redeemer would arise after Job's death. Because Jehovah has provided the ransom through his son Jesus Christ, we have the wonderful hope of the resurrection.

Job 19:2. Words have power, if we speak without thinking we can hurt the feelings of others. If we keep in mind that our words affect others, we will use them very carefully.

Job 19:3. Job tells his so-called friends that they would be ashamed to treat him harshly. In the world we notice how people are disloyal to their friends, envious and even cruel. For this reason, we do not want to imitate that attitude, and we must always support our brothers when they are going through distressing moments.

Job 19:7. Like Job, we could feel distressed when we suffer injustice. However, we must remember that our righteous God knows very well the difficulties we have in these last days, and he will see to it that he gives us justice when he deems it appropriate.

Job 19:29. Reflecting on the sovereignty and impartiality of God and on our sinfulness should help us not judge others with an air of moral superiority. Since only God has the right to do so, it is not our job to judge and condemn others.

Job 18:3. Here we learn that the person who does not show appreciation for the ways, dealings and activities of God, has no dominion over his carnal desires, they are compared to animals that have no reason.

Job 19:17. A practical lesson in this is to take care of our personal grooming which includes our breath and our smell at all times and especially when we go to meetings and preaching.

Job 19:27. It teaches us that if we strive to remain whole we will be able to see the face of God, that is, we will experience divine favor and blessing as if we were standing before him.

Job 19:18. We see the importance of parents teaching their children to respect their elders, some make excuses thinking that they are children and that they should be left alone, however, many have grown up with that mentality and have ended up badly because as children they were not taught to respect to the older ones. 

Job 19:2. This text can help us examine ourselves and ask ourselves about the effect our words have on others. That is why we can ask ourselves: Does it encourage them to talk to us? Do we congratulate them and thank them for their efforts? Or, instead, do we criticize them and point out faults or errors? Without a doubt, we want to be friends instead of being executioners of our brothers.

Job 19:21. This verse shows us that we must show compassion, this means suffering together with someone, if we want to imitate Jehovah we must feel the need to help those who suffer difficulties.

Job 19:26. In this verse we observe that Job, even though he was going through a very difficult situation, had hope in God. In the same way, we must keep in mind the hope of the resurrection because God has the power to restore life to people who have died. Since his memory has no limits, he remembers even the smallest detail of each one of them. Those who are resurrected to live on earth will enjoy a body of flesh and blood, healthy and without defects, knowing this comforts us.

Job 19:20. As in the text some brothers may feel this way, perhaps they are suffering due to age or poor health. But as true Christians we can help them by asking Jehovah for his kingdom to come so that he can remove illnesses and old age.

Job 19:27. As Jehovah's Witnesses we trust in Jehovah and have hope, but even so sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by worries, not even God's servants are free from them. Perhaps we feel overwhelmed by financial, family or health problems, however, let us keep in mind that Jehovah understands our feelings, cares for us and will give us strength to move forward.

Job 19:25. This text shows us that soon Jesus will come to bring peace and rule the entire Earth. Through the Kingdom of God, he will make the entire earth a paradise, a beautiful place to live.

Job 19:23. This reading shows us that words have a lot of power, so we must be careful with what we say and how we say it. Because if our words were written in a book and were thoughtless words, they could cause emotional pain and break up friendships. For this reason we must be very careful to use our ability to speak, because we are responsible before Jehovah for what we say and how we say it.

Job 19:4. There it says, yes I have made a mistake, the mistake is my business. This reminds us that each of us carries our own burden of responsibility for our actions, undoubtedly this will affect in some way the family of the person who makes bad decisions.

Job 19:23-25. This passage shows that Job was confident in his personal integrity toward Jehovah despite the men who falsely accused him. Job was sure that there would be a Redeemer for him. He was also sure that he was leaving a good record for his Redeemer to consider for resurrection. This teaches me how much Job trusted the hope of the resurrection, making him an excellent example for each of us to emulate.

Job 19:2. We see how Job cries out: How long will you continue to irritate my soul, crushing me with your words? This teaches me that we should never cause another servant of Jehovah to cry out in anguish because of our thoughtless and unkind words or actions. For Jehovah will not overlook this. Especially taking into account that we are not ignorant of his righteous standards on Christian love.

Job 19:17. He shows that a subtle and very harsh form of persecution is the opposition of family members or close relatives. Job, in addition to suffering all his losses, suffering from a terrible illness, had to endure his own wife turning against him. Still, Job maintained his integrity. An excellent example to imitate that also reminds us that this is one of Satan's favorite methods to try to break our loyalty to Jehovah.

Job 19:13. Job is experiencing not only physical pain and loss, but the emotional pain of loneliness. This reminds us that, in difficult times, the feeling of isolation can be an additional burden. The lesson we take from this is that it is important to remember to seek support and compassion in times of need.

Job 19:13. These verses also show us that suffering can test relationships with others. People may sometimes withdraw or feel uncomfortable in the face of others' distress. The lesson here may be to understand the fragility of human relationships while also seeking empathy and support from those who are willing to stand by us in difficult times.

Job 19:13. Here we can also see that Job is going through difficult times, his story continues, and his patience in the midst of adversity is a lesson for us. as patience can be a valuable virtue, when facing challenges, allowing us to move through difficulties with a broader perspective and emotional resilience.

Job 19:15-19. This passage shows that Job experiences great suffering caused not only by his illness, the death of his children, or his material losses, but also by loneliness. From this I learn that we must be a true support for those who are going through adversity so that they do not become isolated or feel abandoned. I also learn that in such circumstances, we ourselves must avoid developing or feeding these negative feelings, as well as accept the help that is given to us in this regard.

Job 19:17. This verse is part of the speech of Job, who is experiencing suffering and afflictions. Job faces loneliness and rejection even from his loved ones. He is expressing not only the physical pain he suffers, but also the emotional suffering of feeling abandoned and rejected by those who should be supporting him. The lesson that can be drawn from this verse is the importance of empathy and support towards those who are going through difficulties. As it is essential to show compassion and understanding, and not judge others for their circumstances. It can also lead us to reflect on the fragility of human relationships and the need to maintain empathy even in the midst of personal trials.

Job 19:19. Although Job loved his friends, adversity reveals the fragility of human relationships. Difficult circumstances can test the strength of friendships and reveal the true nature of relationships. In difficult times, we may face emotional loneliness, which can be especially challenging. That is why the lesson we can learn is about empathy and support in difficult times, since true friendship is demonstrated in understanding and support, not in abandonment.