“He leads priests away stripped…” Job 12:19a

In describing more of God’s character traits, Job addressed how lawyers, judges and rulers are accountable to Heaven’s standard of righteousness (read vv. 17 & 18). Then he moved to those who seemed immune to scandal… and accountability: the priests of a state-run religion. Job didn’t stop there. Under divine inspiration,
Job asserted his righteous zeal against those who conspire to cloak evil deeds: the power-brokers of the establishment, their kiss-up advisors, and the elders of the land who turned their heads away from wrong to escape the call of duty for exposing it (read vv. 19b – 20).

Since biblical times of long ago, rulers have surrounded themselves with advisors, provincial governors and priests of a state-run religion. Along with a strong military presence, these key influencers helped to keep the citizens cooperative to the ruling authorities for maintaining order and commerce. Both good and evil rulers used similar strategies. The main difference between the two ruling types, both in Job’s day and throughout history, is found in the priests and elders during the reign of evil rulers: the priests are complicit in calling wrong right, while the elders of the land turn their heads to corruption and wrong doing.

Even in our own day, we have seen how evil has gone unchecked for decades within university sports departments, scouting and church organizations. Victims who have suffered the wrong done to them know all too well the silence of those who should have spoken up, and who should have been present to act as a shield to unsuspecting persons – most of whom were children. ‘Elders’ within each organization were
more concerned with preserving their jobs and incomes than the welfare of those under their charge.

God’s character always elevates righteousness, exposes wrong and rescues those hurt by bad actors. He leads priests away stripped of their influence and prestige. Does the name Jim Baker sound familiar to you? Many baby-boomers remember the humiliation he suffered from the Jessica Hahn scandal of the 1980’s. There are many others in communities across our nation, including our own national capital who could be used as examples of bad actors in a seemingly good profession. God breathed into Job His ability to uncover what man has sought to cover-up with these words:

“He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; He sends them wandering
through a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.” (vv. 21 – 25)

While God reveals deep things, in this setting, God exposes the deep things of darkness… bringing them into His light. Job’s words may have been prophetic, if written before the time of Israel’s captivity. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon who invaded and successfully captured Israel and many other nations of the region. Just as Daniel predicted, Nebuchadnezzar experienced a period of madness – becoming incoherent, losing all sense of reason (read 2 Kings 24; Daniel 4:29-37). In recent times, we have seen scandals brought to light from Penn State University to the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team; government and inter-national church cover-ups; and an almost endless discovery of continued offenses against humanity.

Did you notice how Job was inspired to describe what God uncovers? God reveals the “deep things of darkness”. Sin imprisons ambassadors of evil in dark pits of mental insanity, spiritual depravity, and sensual decadence. It takes strong prayer and many eyes to bring these prisoners of darkness into an awareness of
accountability.

This passage should be a wake-up call to all pastors, coaches, teachers, and leaders of children to turn away from sin’s enticements and seek first God’s Kingdom. Job’s inspired words should empower elders and program managers to stand against the abuse of others or any other illicit action that injures one’s
esteem or disrupts the quality of a community’s life. May His Word change our hearts and actions toward others and in our lives.

Have a blessed day…