Job 13:2-5 
“What you know, I also know; 
I am not inferior to you. 
But I desire to speak to the Almighty 
and to argue my case with God. 
You, however, smear me with lies; 
you are worthless physicians, all of you! 
If only you would be altogether silent! 
For you, that would be wisdom.” (NIV)

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Solomon collected and preserved a proverb fitting for this conversation between Job and his friend Zophar: 

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
With their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. 
(Proverbs 17:28 NLT)

Job sounds a bit testy here, doesn’t he? He calls his best friends worthless physicians. He says they are theological quacks. 

“Simple silence,” he says, “is superior intellect.” That’s the kinder, gentler way of paraphrasing it. What it really sounds like is “Shut up.” Here is more evidence for the truth of Mark Twain’s famous saying, “It’s never too early to shut up.” 

It has also been said that it’s wise for us to think before we speak. You get the idea that Job might have told Zophar that it’s a really good idea to think. If he had stopped to think, he might have stopped himself from saying what he said. If he had stopped to think and stopped from saying what he said, he would not have caused his dear friend the additional pain and misery inflicted by his ill-timed and ill-targeted words. 

Here is an important lesson for me to learn, and maybe for you as well: I do not have to speak every thought that comes into my mind. If you ever see me with my cheeks puffed out, it may be because I’m trying to keep word vomit from spilling out on anyone unnecessarily. 

The Rotary Club has its Four-Way Test. These four questions might come in handy in certain conversations, right? Job sure thought Zophar could have used this tool.

Is it the truth? 
Is it fair to all concerned? 
Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 
Will it be beneficial to all concerned? 

What’s the benefit of kicking someone when they’re down? 

We’ve all had people who pretended that they were really seeking our highest and best when what they were doing was kicking us around. They were stomping on us and grinding us into the dirt. They were telling us how rotten we were, but not helping us recover. 

Some people really, really like rubbing it in. Few people enjoy rubbing it out. 

There’s an old song called “Rub It In, Rub It In.” Billy “Crash” Craddock had an unexpected hit with that song in 1974. In 1977, he recorded a follow-up called “You Rubbed It In All Wrong.” I’m pretty sure Job would have said Zophar and his buddies rubbed it in all wrong. And I’m pretty sure each one of us can point to some of those occasions as well. 

What commitments do we need to make in light of this text today? Two come to mind:

First, be careful about rubbing it in. 
Second, don’t rub it in all wrong. 

I’m pretty sure that’s not theological quackery. Please let me know if I rubbed it in all wrong. 

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I will give preference to saying too little rather than too much.

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Our Father, remind me to think before I speak. Empower me to speak the truth in love. Deliver me from causing unnecessary harm. Stop me before I wound with my words without also becoming a channel of your healing grace. Amen.