Read Job 11
Zophar
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?
Is this talker to be vindicated?
3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
12 But the witless can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.
13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,
14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”
Go Deeper
Today we read Zophar’s response to Job. Job has experienced immense suffering from the loss of his children, his livestock, and even his health. Zophar’s response to Job’s experience is harsh. The title in the ESV translation is Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse. This should serve as an example to us when coming alongside someone who has experienced suffering the way Job has.
We are to balance both grace and truth in our response to them. Zophar responded in such a way that was so heavy with truth it comes across as arrogant. We see Zophar draw a direct correlation between Job’s suffering and his sin, meaning that Job’s sin caused his suffering. However we know that it is not true. There are several examples throughout scripture: Paul in prison, Jeremiah being placed in a cistern, and even Jesus who suffered in the greatest possible way through being crucified on a cross for sins he did not commit. Jesus was blameless (2 Cor. 5:21).
Verses 5 and 6 Zophar gives a cutting response to Job, heavily laden with sarcasm as he delivers his heavy-handed rebuke to Job. This is the last thing we want to do when comforting someone. Often when we are with someone who is in a dark place like Job was, it is more the power of presence than it is the profound wisdom that can be shared. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give them a hug and be with them.
In the Gospels when someone who is suffering encounters Jesus they experience his gentle and lowly heart. We can be encouraged that in the midst of suffering Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:28-30). We can also be encouraged that we have a high priest who can sympathise with us in our weakness, and that because of that we can draw near him in our time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).
Questions
- What correlation can be made between Job and Jesus?
- How can you take actionable steps to comfort someone?
- Who in your life is experiencing hardship? Reach out to them now.
By The Way
Read these two passages today as reminders that we are not alone when we suffer:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV
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3 responses to “Job 11”
As Job’s friends try to reason with him as he processes aloud his thoughts about his suffering, it’s apparent that none of them have complete knowledge of what’s happening. Often our human logic is incomplete at best and deeply flawed at the worst. I’m wondering why the friends didn’t stop and pray to God for him and over him; instead of just talking about God, their time would have been better spent talking TO God.
God in a box.
Pull Him out when we want or need something but not actually let Him be God in our life.
Job is experiencing the fiery furnace of God’s refining fire.
Zopher has a simple view of God with no intimate knowledge of how to grow spiritually.
verse 7 “Can you find out the deep things of God?”Zopher asks. “Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?” No is the answer. Job can’t understand all the deep things of God, BECAUSE there are no limits to God. “And these are reasons actually for faith in the middle of suffering, to know that there are no limits to God’s wisdom. His wisdom doesn’t run out.” David Platt
There are no limits to his power. He can do all things. There are no limits to his love. He perfectly loves his people.
God there is no one like You, You are HOLY. Thank You for showing. God You are all loving. Your love is without end for me. I trust You. God I give You praise. Your knowledge is without end, and there’s nothing you don’t know. God help my belief. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” God thank You for Your grace, peace, mercy and love that is all encompassing. God thank You for showing me how to share this, that You are limitless and all knowing with such deep fathomless LOVE!!! Thank You for today, these minutes of this day that I can, will and do worship You with all the glory and honor You deserve. God thank You for my eyes of understanding to continue to see what You are unveiling about Yourself to my knowledge in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 “Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you”
Oh my! I’m sure in Zophar’s mind he is “speaking the truth” to Job. Maybe he even thinks he has the gift of prophecy or discernment. But even if that is so, Zohar most certainly is not speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4).
When I feel called to speak truth, I better double check to see if that calling is from God. And then when I do, I need to do it in a loving and caring way!