Daily Devotion for Lent 2025, Day 19

Today's Reading: Job, Chapter Nineteen

What is the nature of piling on?

In American Football, piling on is a 15-yard penalty when the offensive player with the ball is already down and the play has been blown dead and a defender jumps on top of the defenseless player.  This penalty is considered a personal foul because it is unnecessary to the outcome of the game.  It is also dangerous and can cause injury against a player who is in a vulnerable position.  

It likely happens because the defender's blood is worked up and the aggression is difficult to turn off with the blowing of a whistle.  The penalty (and likely yelling from the coach) is a way to train people not to pile on.

Today, Job basically accuses his three friends of piling on.  He's already down with all of the tragedies that have struck.  What good does it do for his friends to berate him?

One of the baser instincts among animals is to attack the wounded.  Predators find wounded prey easier to dispatch and so they may go after them even more aggressively.  Does some of this carry over into social situations?

Job is calling foul and wishes that there was a referee to intervene.  

As we consider the people around us, we may find it easy to pile on - especially if we believe that the person's actions are to blame.

"You should have studied harder."

"I told you that outfit was too suggestive."

"You shouldn't have been late so many times."

"Why did you talk back to your boss?"

Our comments are meant to be instructive so as to prevent more bad consequences.  We are really saying, "You should get in line with the social norms."  

Job is reminding us that these comments may be less than helpful in the moment.  And we don't want to drive someone over the edge.  If we pile on, we could hurt a vulnerable person.  And that may be worth more than 15 yards.

How can we seek to be more empathetic?

Prayer for the day:

God, help me to be patient with the people I know - especially the people for whom I feel responsible.  As I seek to guide, may I do so with humility and compassion.  May the goal of their health and wholeness be my first thought for them.  And may it also be the first and last thing I share.  And please silence me when the things in between are better left unsaid.  Amen.

Photo by Kyle T via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.