James 4:12 Friends Or Judges

James 4:12

12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?

This is a very blunt message by James, but all the letters of James are very blunt and can be a difficult part of the Bible to read. The holy word of God says it is the Lord who wrote the law with His finger on two tablets of stone.

Exodus 31:18  When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

Unlike any judicial system that exists in the world of any government, the Lord is the Lawgiver or maker of the law. He also saves us from His law and He can destroy us if we break it. The word of God tells us, we are all guilty of the law, the Lord made. The word law is the NASB English bible I am using is written 532 times,  the word judge 260 times, the word savior 42 times, the word advocate 4 times. Think about what James is saying in this little  Bible verse there is only one Lawgiver and Judge and He saves and destroys. In the Book of Job, a person who reads and takes their daily bread that will learn the Job goes through horrible tribulation, that he probably could have been raptured from. Job is like us and has friends named Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar who hear of his troubles and they go to comfort him but all they do is ask, (Job 2:11) what sin of God’s law did you break to punish this way. By all means Job, all of your 10 were killed at once, all of your livestock and your workers that provided you money and food and you did your labor is all gone and to top it off Job, your skin has been stuck with sickness and you have severe boils from your head to your toes, you must have done some serious sin against your God and Creator. Just because you and I are God-fearing and loving people doesn’t mean will escape tribulation, God told the devil, test my servant Job, he will turn his back on Me and curse no matter how much you ruin him.

Job 2:3  The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds firm to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.

Not only is Job being judged by his friend  but another young man comes along and his name is Elihu. He is introduced as a polite young man who is respectful of his elders. Elihu even in his youth has more wisdom about God’s word and tells Job’s friend, stop asking him what sin he did wrong. Elishu  even tells Job’s friend you don’t have enough wisdom to judge Job and he even says the same thing James 4:12 says, no of you are Godly enough to judge Job.

Job 32:12 I also paid close attention to you; But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, Not one of you who answered his words.13 So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom: God will defeat him, not man.’

The book of Job tells us Christians many things evil things happen to godly people, you and I can have everything at one moment and lose it all in minutes.  Our best friends and even spouses can be false judges of our loyalty to God. Last by not least the Lord according to Job’s word is our witness, advocate and redeemer even better. God bless you all, the Lawgiver and Judge loves you and so do I. Samuel Head. 

Job 16:19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high. 20 My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God, 21 That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor!

Job 42:7 It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is trustworthy, as My servant Job has.