Daily Manna 12 November
KEY VERSE: “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away” (Job 32:21, 22).
READ: Job 32:11-22 (KJV)
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
A story is told of a crow, a scavenger bird, which snatched a piece of meat from a farmer’s child and flew to a tree near a very hungry fox. The fox seeing the meat on the crow’s beak thought of a plan. He praised the crow for its sweet songs. He prayed to him to sing a song. The crow felt proud. As the crow opened its mouth to sing, its own piece of meat fell down. The fox took it away and ate it.
Today’s reading is an account of Elihu, one of Job’s acquaintances, who took his turn to rebuke Job’s friends for accusing Job wrongly. Though a younger man than Job and his three friends, Elihu tried to give a fiery defence of God’s ways of dealing with His creatures. While presenting his position, he was quick to point out what was motivating his opinion. He was not going to join the friends of Job to condemn him, nor was he also going to flatter Job because God hates flatterers.
Today’s world is unfortunately laden with speakers, preachers, politicians, business people, who hold men in admiration instead of holding God in reverence. Some people take flattering as a career; they are paid to speak or sing the praises of men even when these men are corrupt and odious in the sight of God and society. God abhors sin and corruption of any kind; His word is strongly against any kind of sin. And those who praise corrupt and sinful people are helping to promote their evil and ungodly practices.
We are to obey God, seek and speak to please Him always, if we are to continue to enjoy His pleasure. Like the crow, we will lose everything including our souls if we continue to massage the ego of sinful men, rather than tell them the gospel truth. We must steer clear of sugar-coated appeals that only help to caress the pride of men. We must speak the truth, even when it is obviously a bitter pill.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: We can never please God if our intention is to please men.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 3-5
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Beware of Flattery – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 12 November 2020
