Job

Job Chapter 11

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

Job 11:1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

So we get to friend number 3. This one is worse than the others in his accusations. He even calls Job a liar for claiming his doctrine is pure and claiming that he was clean in his own eyes up until these things started to happen to him. Job may be miserable and complaining now that it has happened because he doesn't understand and his friends are making things worse by their accusation instead of their support.

So I'm thinking, what do we do in this situation if a friend of ours were suffering. First we don't assume and make judgments without seeking the Lord. If we speak anything negative and hurtful, it should only be if God reveals to us that the person has sinned and that sin is causing judgment.

We would have to be absolutely sure it was God and not our own imagination or assumptions. The best way would be to all gather together in prayer and pray for God's help for our friend. Pray for understanding to come to the one suffering and for his or her relief and healing. We can also go to God privately and ask Him for directions in how we can deal with the situation instead of lashing out and false accusing someone. Fervent prayer is the only way.

Examining our own motives is also necessary also. Have we been secretly jealous of our friend's prosperity and wealth? Job was wealthy. Do we envy his popularity? He had a good reputation among the people. Does their good deeds make us feel guilty because we are not doing the same? He was an excellent neighbor and helped the poor. Do we secretly rejoice at his or her sufferings?

Job 11:5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

This friend is actually saying Job's sin is probably worse than God's judgment or this evil would not have happened. This is a good example of jumping to conclusions.

Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

It is true that God has the power to do all this and more but what they do not understand is who is really behind the suffering of Job. It is Satan not God.

Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

This is true if a sinner turns to the Lord sincerely. Through Jesus Christ, sins can be washed away, old things pass away and all things become new.

Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

These words of repentance and getting right with God are true if it was applied to one who is deep in sin and needs to repent and get right with God. In Job's case they are like casting stones at him. How can one repent if they do not know what they've done wrong? In order to repent, we have to see our need to repent. We have to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and know that we have erred.

I'm sure Job has prayed and asked God to show him what he did wrong by this time. It is good to preach repentance messages to a crowd of people if the Holy Spirit leads in that direction but to go to an individual and accuse him or her without knowing for sure they have done evil, is confusing and can work opposite to what is good. We need to be mighty sure that our words are coming from the Lord or we could permanently ruin someone's life. Wrong advice even with good words can be dangerous but also knowing what to say with the right motive and a heart of compassion for a person can be dangerous if we withhold what is right to say to keep from hurting their feelings if we know the Lord wants us to speak. Again I say, examining our own motives is vital and also fervent prayer. DC

Job Chapter 12