Stop It! Isaiah 58

As you may know The Old Testament blog that I write each week is part of an assignment in a college course which I am currently taking. The blog posts are written by me but structured around a specific prompt. This week is a little bit different. The LDS Church just released a ten minute video against bullying and it is probably the most powerful message on the subject that I have ever heard. I will still be completing my assignment as usual but I felt it was important that I tie this weeks blog into this very important topic.

If you haven't been bullied as you watch the video think about how you would feel if you were in the girl's shoes. For those who feel trapped by bullying try to see how foolish the bully's really are. See past the fear and understand that there are people who love you and that the Lord will always love you.

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning," Isaiah 58:8 Is a promise to those who follow the Lord. It is easy to feel alone when you are the subject of bullying and it is difficult to see the other side. The Lord promises that when you call he will answer. The Lord is always there for those who need him.

What about those who are not bullied themselves but have the courage to stand up for those who are, those who choose not to participate, those who stand on the right side regardless of the social consequences? In verse ten they are promised this.

 "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and they darkness be as the noonday:"

Again we see that the Lord will be with you too.

The Lord speaks to the bully's as well

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Corinthians 2:14

The Spirit of God is not with those who find cheap entertainment at the expense of another. These are God's children. Only he truly knows them, he knows their potential and you (the bully) know nothing.  Not only are you destroying your own value as a person and a child of God but you are attempting to do the same to someone else.

I was fairly blessed during high school. I had a great group of friends and tried my best to stay on the right path. We protected each other and I feel like I had a pretty good experience. There were a few ugly incidences though, like the time I returned from my freshmen gym class to find that someone had jammed my backpack into a school toilet.

It was much worse before high school. I was made fun of, I had stuff stolen, and constantly given ugly looks just to see how I would react. I was too skinny, my grades were too good and I was an easy target. As I've grown up I have been able to overcome a lot of that and have found that maturity allows people to appreciate those who don't play football.(i.e. fit in with the popular crowd) Looking back, I pity those people. Those that bullied me turned out to not really be that cool in the adult world. I wish them well. They are children of God too and to be honest who hasn't been a bully to somebody. I think it is important to not only stop bullying for the sake of the bullied but also for the sake of the bully.