bullying – Be Still…

Job 30:1-31 – Anguish

Read Job 30:1-31

Job goes from remembering his glorious, “mountain top” experience kind of past, to the speak of his present life-changing anguish. Even the outcasts mock him and take advantage of his situation. We can see a bit closer the kinds of agony Job is enduring.

There was no easy transition from Job’s happy life to the desolate one. It was in an instant. Like when natural disasters strike. The last town where David and I lived before moving to Mexico was a small town in Iowa. Less than two years before arriving at this congregation, an F5 tornado had ripped through that community. The scars were and will always show from how their lives changed in an instant. They would understand Job better than most of us. Continue reading “Job 30:1-31 – Anguish”

Daniel 8:1-14 – What Bullies!

Read Daniel 8:1-14

A couple years later, Daniel has another vision. This one is all about a ram and a goat and lots of horns. Daniel also gives us a location for where he witnesses these animal skirmishes. Daniel reports, “In this vision I was at the fortress of Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside the Ulai River.”

The city of Susa is not unfamiliar to us. You may recall it’s where Esther became the new Queen of Persia. It’s where Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the king before receiving permission to return to the land of Judah to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Continue reading “Daniel 8:1-14 – What Bullies!”

Nehemiah 4:1-6 – Handling Big Bullies

Read Nehemiah 4:1-6

Construction of the Jerusalem wall continues. We hear more about the bully, Sanballat, in this passage. Sanballat is spouting off his taunts to discredit the work of the Jews. I couldn’t help but think of when Jesus was taunted during the final hours before his crucifixion. People can be so mean.

We can only suppose what Sanballat’s problem is with the rebuilding process. Could it be he feels threatened and wants to show his superiority? Sanballat tries to get others to agree and join in on his mockery.

2 Samuel 19:41-20:2 – There’s One In Every Crowd!

Read 2 Samuel 19:41-20:2

How fickle the men of Israel were in this passage! One minute they’re having a discussion with the men of Judah about fairness. The men of Israel were feeling like they had been left out or minimalized, and then abruptly turned in the opposite direction, against David.

There’s a _____ in every crowd. You fill in the blank! In this account, it turns out to be a troublemaker. Every good story has a villain. Even fairy tales often have a frightening side. Today our troublemaker is Sheba.

2 Samuel 16:5-14 – Sticks and Stones…

Read 2 Samuel 16:5-14

Do you remember that children’s rhyme? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That was the taunt I would use when being bullied. I’m quite sure I wasn’t as bold or brave as King David in almost inviting the ridicule.

Never did I give God credit for the teasing I received. Despite the situation King David finds himself in, he is still clinging to God’s promises and trusting that what he is encountering has God’s stamp of approval on it. Yet he does say, “And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”