Hello everyone! Today’s Bible study is on Job 11 – Zophar urges Job to repent. According to Bible scholars, the events of the book of Job took place approximately before 2100 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Job 11 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Job 11 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God better. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Job 10, we read about Job pleading with God to grant him relief from his suffering because he perceives that his end is fast approaching. In today’s Bible study on Job 11, we will read about Zophar, one of Job’s friends, urging Job to repent of his sins. The entire book of Job is about conversations and discourses as we have seen until now and this is one such discourse by Job’s friend towards Job.
Without any further delay, let us begin the Bible Study on Job 11, shall we?
Zophar Rebukes Job
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
4 For you have said,
‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.
In Verses 1-3 of Job 11, Zophar one of Job’s friends rebukes Job. Up until now, two of Job’s friends had tried to urge Job into repentance without outlining Job’s sin. Now, Zophar, who had been quiet all this time, began speaking (rebuking Job). He proceeds to tell Job that a man full of talk like Job will not be vindicated by God. And he asks Job if all of them (meaning Zophar and two other companions namely Bildad and Eliphaz) have to stay quiet and shut up inspite of Job’s empty talk.
In Verse 4, he begins to tell Job that he has declared himself and his arguments pure in the eyes of God even when it is not the case. According to Zophar, Job’s doctrine is not pure because Job had said that God knowinlgy afflicts both the righteous and unrighteous and no one could question Him or prove himself to be righteous before God. In Verses 5-6 of Job 11, he (Zophar) wants God to open His mouth against Job and show him the secrets of His wisdom. And he further adds salt to Job’s wounds (figuratively) by saying that Job’s suffering is far less than what he actually deserves!
Observation
When Job lamented about his suffering and found no relief (physically, mentally and emotinally), it didn’t seem much to Zophar because he was not in Job’s shoes. Zophar and his companions wanted Job to repent. However, Job wanted to know what was his sin against God because he had done everything right as far as he knew. Job, in Chapter 6 and 7 justified his complaint and said that he is comfortless in his suffering. In, Chapter 9, exclaimed that he had no mediator before God to talk on his behalf. In Chapter 10, Job pleaded with God to give him relief from his suffering atleast until he died because he perceived that he only had a short time left on the earth if the illness were to continue.
However, Zophar classifies Job’s discourse in all previous Chapters as “mere empty talk”.
It was easy for Zophar to criticise Job as he too had no knowledge about what occured between satan and God in the courts of God. To him, Job’s suffering definitely was a sign of Job’s sin.
The Deep Things Of God
7 “Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
In Verse 7 of Job 11, Zophar continues to question Job and asks if he (Job) can search out the deep things of God or find the limits of God. In Verses 8 and 9, he gives the answer to Verse 7. He says that the deep things of God are deeper than Sheol (the place of darkness and death) and the limits of God are higher than heaven, longer than the earth and broader than the sea. In short, the deep things of God are immeasurable and no man can measure or know these things in all detail.
Observation
Zophar did not like the fact that Job spoke without restraint asking God about why He was condeming him in Chapter 10. According to Zophar, Job was talking as if he knew God inside out. And hence, he explains how it is impossible for any man to know the deep things of God and no man knows His limits, including Job no matter how much he claims to be righteous.
Who Can Hinder God
10 “If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can hinder Him?
11 For He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
In Verses 10-11 of Job 11, Zophar questions Job on who could hinder God from passing by, imprisoning the wicked and gathering them to judgment. He tells Job that God knows deceitful men and sees their wickedness and considers it and that is why he gathers them (the wicked) to judgment. In Verse 12, he says that an empty-headed man can never be wise. Expecting a stupid man to be wise is like expecting a wild donkey’s colt to be born a man.
Note: Zophar on speaking about the empty-headed man who can never be wise was referring to Job. Also when he spoke in Verses 10 and 11 about the wicked being judged by God, he was referring to Job.
Observation
According to Zophar, Job’s was being judged by God for his wickedness. And as a result of God’s judgment Job had lost everything including his health. Zophar had the wrong perception regarding Job’s calamity. He knew not of what conspired in Job Chapter 1 and 2 in the courts of God. He was rebuking and judging Job for his calamity and suffering instead of consoling him.
Zophar Asks Job To Repent
13 “If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
In Verses 13-15 of Job 11, Zophar tells that if Job would prepare his heart and stretch out his hand towards God and if he put away his sins and not let wickedness in his house, then surely Job could approach God without fear.
Zophar Talks About How Job’s Life Could Change If He Repented
16 Because you would forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope—loss of life!”
In Verses 16-17 of Job 11, Zophar tells Job that if he repented of his sins and asks God to deliver him then his misery would be a thing of the past. It would be as waters that have passed away. He likens Job’s misery to running waters that pass away meaning it is not permanent. Stagnant waters collect at a place, but running water never stays in the same place twice. He said that Job’s life would be brighter than noonday and even though he is facing darkness, he would be renewed like the morning and his life would shine like never before.
In Verse 18, he continues to talk about how Job could be secure if he repents because there is hope for his future. He said that Job could lie down in the future and not be afraid of anything and many would seek him for favour.
However, the wicked would lose their eyesight and not escape their judgment from God. Their only hope is in losing their lives (dying).
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of Job 11. We come to see how human’s perceive suffering as God’s judgment on them and Zophar was no exception. He believed that Job’s suffering was a direct result of his sin and that is why he urged Job to repent.
I hope you enjoyed reading this bible study and that it was useful to you. As usual, if you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Until Next Time!