"idiom of permission" - Spiritual Integrity

Spiritual Integrity:
Believers in the old testament were not allowed to speak of other gods thus when speaking of the works of the adversary they used a figure of speech called Hebrew idiom of permission. With that figure they were able to talk of evil in terms of God allowing that evil to happen.
Why would God allow evil to happen? God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Because of freedom of will. Man has a choice to choose. When man makes the wrong choices he will suffer the consequences of those choices. When man chooses to do God's Word He will receive the abundant blessings of God's promises.
II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
A good example of where God's Word uses the figure of speech and the literal is in Exodus 12:23. It says "the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians." That's the figure indicating He would allow the Egyptians to be smitten due to their unbelief. But to those who obeyed His Word it says that He "will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you." God was able to protect those that did His Word. There we have the literal. It's the destroyer, the devil, that smites people. So, in one verse we have the Hebrew idiom of permission and the literal truth.
Again, Job gives much foundational insight to this truth.
Job 1:12
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
This truth is set here, and it never changes again throughout the entire word of God.

Job 1:20-22
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


We know from verse 12 that it was the devil who did this to Job. That is very clear. There can be no mistaking who did this to Job. Yet look at what Job said: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job seems to contradict what we have just learned, and appears to state that God did this to him. However, the word clearly teaches that it was satan, the devil, who did this to him. So what is the answer? Well, it is an idiom. An idiom is a figure of speech that is unique to a particular culture, where words are employed to mean something other than what they literally say.
Job was using an idiom here, that which we refer to as the idiom of permission. Job was not stupid, he knew where the attacks were coming from. Look at what the word says:

Job 1:22
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


Job did not charge God with having done all this to him, he did not blame God. If the police charge you, they charge you with a crime. Job did not charge God with these crimes.

The culture behind this idiom of permission is intriguing. Back in Job's day, folks passionately detested the devil, so much so that they absolutely refused to give him any credence or credit for his works. They simply refused to talk about him, or acknowledge his power and influence. In other words, they did not read newspapers, they switched off their televisions when the news came on, and they certainly didn't spend their day discussing what he was up to. When things went wrong, as they did then just as they do today, instead of giving glory to the devil by discussing all his bad news, they understood things in light of God having granted permission to allow things to happen because they had messed up somewhere.

Another important aspect of this idiom of permission to understand is that God gave a specific commandment in the old testament to not even mention other gods.


Exodus 23:13
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.


If they were not to make mention of the devil out of their mouths, then Job was doing what the word said in not making mention of the devil when he spoke.
Another way to understand this idiom of permission is to think of it in light of gravity. God designed gravity to bless man and enrich our lives. Can you imagine a world without gravity? Would we even be able to live without it? Now if someone is silly enough to fall off a cliff and badly injure himself, is that God's fault because he designed gravity and built it into the physics of life? Sure, you can blame your injuries on God because he made gravity, but the truth is your injuries are your fault. Somewhere along the way, you messed up, you missed something, you didn't do your job.

Just as God is not responsible for injuries caused by gravity, even though he invented it, he is not responsible for what happened to Job. Satan attacked Job, but we have to understand that God gave him the permission to do it because he had no other choice. This is the first book of the bible ever written and this is the very first chapter of the first book of the bible ever written. God is good and the devil is bad. The devil did all this nasty stuff to Job, not God. God is always good, and that truth carries throughout the entire bible.

1 John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


There is no darkness in God, none at all. God never did a mean thing to anyone in his life. Therefore, every time you read in the bible that God did something nasty you have to understand it in light of this idiom of permission. The devil only gets through because God is forced to allow it. That is this idiom of permission.
Now, why would this be the subject of the first chapter of the first book of the bible ever written? Simple, because it is probably the most fundamental spiritual lesson you will ever learn regarding spiritual safety. Green lights mean go, red lights mean stop. God is good, the devil is bad. This fundamental truth is set here and never changes again. Do not forget it. Your spiritual road safety will depend on it.

Job 2:1-3
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.


What does God say about Job in verse 3? He says he is perfect and upright. This is the third time God has said this. Do you think he is making a point? All this nasty stuff did not happen to Job because he was evil then, did it? Why? Because he wasn't evil, he was perfect and upright. This is important. Some churches and ministers teach that God makes people sick and does nasty things to them because they are sinners, and they often quote Job as their example. Job was not a sinner, he had committed no crimes, he was perfect and upright. And just for the record, even if people do mess up and are attacked, it is the devil attacking them, not God.


Job 2:4-8
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.


Who smote Job with sickness and disease? Was it God? No, it was not. It is very clear that it was the devil. There can be no misunderstandings or misconceptions about who did this to Job. Just to be sure, read it again.


Job 2:7
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.


It was satan, the devil, who smote Job. Was Job evil? Had Job committed any crimes? No, he was perfect and upright. Some teach that Job suffered these things because he was a sinner, but what they teach is religious horseshit that contradicts the bible. Job was perfect and upright. These things happened to him without cause. That is the testimony of the word and the word is true.

God's will for man is a wonderful family life with abundance, prosperity, and happiness. In contrast, we have seen the devil's will for man - poverty, disease, sickness, and death. The two contrast starkly and this sets the tone and mood for the entire bible. God is good and the devil is evil.


John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


The thief here is a figurative reference to the devil. All he comes to do is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. That is all, nothing else. That is what he lives for. He is good at what he does too, and don't expect anything else from him. Everything he does is in the categories of stealing, killing, and destroying, even to those who worship him.

Job had an amazing life, but he lost everything. He lost his children, his business, and his health. He was so sick, he was at the point of death. His skin was suppurating with poisonous sores. He was disgustingly sick and diseased. Did he deserve it? No, he was perfect and upright. God has told us that three times. Now look back at verse 3.


Job 2:3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.


Do you see that word integrity? We are now going to find out what integrity is, what the bible says integrity is. Job retained his integrity despite the attacks on his life. You see, it was Job's integrity the devil was after. Therefore, whatever integrity is, it must be important, massively important that we hold it fast like Job did. You see, these attacks on Job's life had a purpose other than just to make him miserable. They had design, they had purpose - they were an attempt to break his integrity.

Note also, that both times the devil asked for permission to attack Job, he bragged that he would get Job to curse God to his face.


Job 1:11
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 2:5
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.


Is it possible, therefore, that Job's integrity and cursing God to his face could somehow be connected? It is axiomatic, but we will take the time to explore this. Look at the last verse of chapter one.


Job 1:22
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


This is the main point of the chapter. Even though the devil attacked Job so viciously, Job did not turn on God and waggle accusatory fingers at him. He knew where the attacks were coming from, and he did not blame God for the evil, he did not charge him with the crimes. Think about this in the context of Moses teaching this to the bitching and complaining Israelites escaping from Egypt.

Job still had his integrity intact. How do we know? God said so in chapter 2 verse 3. Again, this destruction in his life was without cause, meaning he had not sinned, that he was perfect and upright, that he had not done anything to deserve this stuff. Now look at verse 9 of chapter 2 where we see integrity and cursing God woven tightly together.


Job 2:9
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.


My goodness. After all Job had been through, his own wife turned on him. But before you write her off, think of what she's been through as well. All her children are dead. She must have loved them. Her husband's business is in tatters, he is stinking with suppurating sores, dripping with pus, at the point of death. Her sorrow and hurt, coupled with her public humiliation and shame must have been horrendous. How do you think she felt? Sure, she was wrong, but don't be so hard on her. How would you hold up under the same circumstances? Now look at Job's response. It is absolutely staggering. He didn't tell her to fuck off, he gently reproved her with the word.


Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.


Lovingly and kindly, he brought her back to the word. Even though he was in such a mess, he still loved his wife enough to teach her the word. No wonder God called Job perfect and upright three times. God was impressed with this dude, and with good cause.


Job 2:9
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.


The issue of his wife aside, here we see integrity, the biblical definition of integrity, contrasted with what it is not, which is to curse God. The implication here is that if you curse God, you lose your integrity. To have integrity, therefore, is not to curse God. Look again at verse 5 and verse 3 very closely.


Job 2:5
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 2:3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.


The devil tried to get Job to curse God to his face, yet he failed because Job held fast to his integrity. Do you see the connection? The devil even used Job's wife to try to coerce him into doing this. Whatever it is to curse God to his face, it is serious in terms of spiritual consequences. The devil was doing all this to Job for a reason - to get Job to curse God to his face. What was it that Job refused to do?


Job 1:22
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job did not blame God for what happened to him. That was the temptation, but he held onto his integrity. Even his wife said to him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. To curse God was what the devil was trying to get him to do. Remember, this is the first lesson ever written in the bible, so this is rather important.
The book of James adds further light.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


Whatever enduring temptation is in this context, it is definitely something we want to do. It is so important that God even gives out a special reward for those who do it - they receive a crown of life, a special reward given in the future. Now don't go guessing about what the temptation is here, the next verses tell us.


James 1:13,14
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.


What did Job's wife say? She said, curse God and die. To curse God, and to accuse God of tempting you with evil is actually the same thing. The devil tried to get Job to blame God for all the evil he had done to him. If Job had done so, that would have broken his integrity. That would have been cursing God to his face.

When the devil attacks us, we are not to blame God for it. We are to recognise that God is good and not hurl accusations in his face. We are not to charge God foolishly. If we are under attack, like Job was, and we accuse God for it, we have just cursed God to his face, we have just driven through a spiritual red light. That was what the devil was trying to get Job to do. The temptation is to say your problems come from God. If you do, you compromise your spiritual integrity, you curse God to his face. Under pressure, we must always recognise that the nasty stuff in life comes from the devil and not from God. We must never blame God, ever, for anything. This is the first spiritual lesson God committed to writing in what we know today as the bible. If we accuse God of evil, we have driven through a spiritual red light, and that's extremely dangerous.
James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
God is always good. The devil is always bad. Nothing bad ever comes from God, it always comes from the devil. Like Job, the devil attempts to get us to blame God for all the nasty stuff in life. In Insurance, for example, they call earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters acts of God. If you believe that God deliberately causes earthquakes so he can murder people and destroy property, your spiritual integrity is under attack. If you think tsunamis come from God, your spiritual integrity is under attack. If you think illness comes from God, that God makes people sick and that he kills them, you have fallen for the devil's lies and your spiritual integrity is under attack. You are cursing God to his face. If your church teaches you that God makes people sick, you need to get out of that shit hole before you start charging God with such crimes.
Ask yourself, if God makes people sick then what right did Jesus Christ have to go around healing them? If God makes people sick, then Jesus Christ contradicted God's will by healing them. If God wanted us sick, and Jesus Christ always did God's will, then why didn't Jesus Christ go around making people sick? The devil makes people sick. Jesus Christ went around healing them because that was God's will.


Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

1 John 3:8b
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.


Oh today, people blame God for everything. If their businesses fail, they blame God, if their marriages fail, they blame God, if their health fails, they blame God. Don't blame God for your problems. Don't throw your hands up in the air and make excuses by blaming it all on God. Take responsibility for your life, get back to the word, and God will help you sort out your messes. If you think everything evil that happens comes from God, you are deceived. If you think God makes people sick, you are deceived. If you believe God orchestrates failed marriages, you are deceived. If your business failed and you think God made it happen, you are deceived. Quit making excuses for your failures and quit blaming them on God. It's time to quit driving through spiritual red lights.

So what happened to Job then? If he was perfect and upright, how did the devil get in? If Job wasn't evil, if he had done nothing wrong, had committed no crimes, then how did the devil breach that hedge of protection around him? We don't have to guess, because Job tells us himself in his own words, and we will cover that in the next session.

Hebrews 2:14 says that the devil has the power of death. That's a clear verse and is literal. Just like I John 1:5 says God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. That's the literal truth. Difficult verses must be understood in light of the clear versus. So with the figure of speech, " idiom of permission" understood; multitudes of verses can be clearly understood without contradicting the simple truth that God is good always.
Of course, we can speak of the devil openly because we have the gift of holy spirit which wasn't available in the old testament. We have overcome the evil one by the wonderful accomplishments of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.