Year 2, Day 105: Job 11

In this chapter, Zophar gives some fairly sound advice with a few typically human flaws within his speech.  I really don’t find too much to argue with within his speech.  But let’s dive in and see what we shall discover.

Flaw: Approaching the Troubled

The one big flaw that I can see in the opening of his speech is that he forgets to take into account that he is speaking to a human being.  Job is in the midst of his struggle and as such he is going to see with a fairly dark perspective.  In order to minister to a person in that position, those of us who are outside the situation need to accept that the other person is going to come from a dark perspective and try to slowly move them away from it.

This is not what Zophar does.  Zophar comes out and is quite antagonistic with Job’s position.  He accuses Job of talking too much – implying that he really should be listening rather than talking.  Unfortunately we know that listening is important for the counselor because those in distress usually have a lot to say and a need to be heard.

He accuses Job of babbling and mocking God.  Zophar’s words are likely to put Job on the defensive.  This means that it is unlikely that Job is going to actually hear anything that Zophar says.  The first lesson that I learn from Zophar today is that even if we have great ideas – sometimes the way that we say them can determine whether or not the ideas are heard.

Flaw: Assessing the Problem

The other flaw that I can see in Zophar’s words is a hint of believing that Job has a need to repent.  Verses 13 and 14 seem to indicate that Zophar believes that Job does need to repent.  Zophar seems to indicate that Job has some preparation of the heart to accomplish.  Zophar seems to be teaching that there is iniquity within Job.  As we know from the beginning of the story, Job is in the position that he is in because of his righteousness, not his iniquity.  Granted, all of us are sinful by nature and in that sense we all have something to repent.  But in this particular instance the cause of Job’s suffering is not his humanity.  Again we seem to hear one of Job’s friends make that fatal error in discernment.

Wisdom: God is Gracious

Having brought out these detractions from Zophar’s words, let’s take a look at some of the actual theology that Zophar brings.  If we can move beyond Zophar’s indication that Job has some repenting to do, there is some truth that we can apply to humanity in general.  As I said above, all human beings are fallen and not one of us is pure or blameless.  Generally speaking, God does exact from all of us less than we deserve.  This is why God’s nature of grace and mercy are so important to us as human beings.  So in this regard I find Zophar’s words helpful.

Wisdom: Acknowledging Human Limitation in the midst of God’s Greatness

Then Zophar moves into a section of speech where he talks about the greatness of God’s wisdom.  Can any of us ever hope to find the “outer limit” of God?  Can any of us see with enough clarity to find where “God stops?”  No.  Again Zophar seems to be speaking true words here.  What can we know with respect to the limits and boundaries of God?  What can any of us know in comparison to God?

Wisdom: It Is Good To Approach God With Humbleness

As we approach the end, we can also find a bit of wisdom in his words.  Generally speaking, when we do come humbly before the Lord we will find forgiveness.  Then we will be able to lift up our head in His presence.  Our sorrow and suffering will pass away like waters receding from a flood.  We can feel secure and we can know the hope that is in God.  Generally speaking, it is good for us to approach God humbly because then we feel His grace and mercy.  In this instance, Zophar’s words do have some wisdom in them.

Summarizing Zophar’s Speech

As I look back upon this chapter, I wish that Zophar could have looked past the seemingly obvious conclusion that Job must have sinned and needed to repent.  Had Zophar given the advice that he gives in this chapter without implying that Job had some specific repenting to do I think his words would have been very true.  Again this seems to be a chapter reminding us as human beings that we should be quick to listen and slow to speak.  We must take our time in discerning God’s truth in every given situation.

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