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ZOPHAR SPEAKS
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 24
Job 11:1-12

Psalm 11

 

“For who hath known

the mind of the Lord?”

 

ZOPHAR SPEAKS
 
Job’s third friend, Zophar, was now ready to answer him. He began his attack by accusing Job of being an eloquent long-winded speaker who said things that were worthless. His long speech should not be allowed to silence people. Job had to be answered and not be allowed to mock his detractors into silence (Job 11:1-3).
 
Zophar was infuriated by Job’s insistence that he had not sinned in such a way to bring his suffering upon himself, calling Job a liar for saying that his relationship with God was good when these calamities came (Job 11:3-4). Zophar claimed that if God would deal with Job in a true measure for his evil ways, his suffering would become even worse (Job 11:5-6). Even today, we find that man becomes infuriated at the idea that we can be sure of our relationship with God. Like Job’s other two friends, Zophar exhibited some spiritual understanding as far as God’s holiness and greatness were concerned. However, man cannot learn about the nature and work of God even upon hard investigation. God’s knowledge and ways are too great for man with a finite mind to understand (Rom 11:33-34).
 
God’s greatness is compared to the heights of heaven, the depths of hell, the length of the earth, the breadth of the sea (Job 11:8-9). The Creator is too great for His creatures to understand by their own intellect. Only by His Word and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit can we come to truly learn about God. The Apostle Paul prayed that we may come to know the immensity of the love of Christ (Eph 3:18-19).
 
Zophar criticised Job for complaining that God was being too hard on him. Zophar said that God knew all about the wickedness of man, therefore, we have to be silent before Him (Job 11:10-12). As Zophar had claimed, it is true that man, by seeking on his own, cannot find out about God. However, we can know about Him because He has revealed Himself through His Word (Heb 1:1-2; 1 Cor 1:4-6). May each of us continue in the study of God’s Word in order to know Him better and to understand His work more clearly.
 
THOUGHT: What two things caused Job’s main problem?

PRAYER: I love Thee, Father, because Thou first loved us (1 John 4:19)

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