We should be wary, then, of grand pronouncements that begin, “The Bible says.” Where? To whom? In what context? Why? “You reap what you sow” may apply in one circumstance, like when the apostle Paul said it in his letter to the Galatian church to encourage them to continue in good works (Galatians 6:7), but it fell woefully short in the context of Job’s plight. So Job rightly condemns his friends-turned-accusers, saying, “If only you would be altogether silent! For you that would be wisdom” (13:5, emphasis added). Wisdom, it seems, is situational. It isn’t just about knowing what to say; it’s
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