Zophar Speaks

Job 11

It is interesting what certain people may say when you are suffering. I know when I have seen people deal with the loss of a loved one, some people just should keep their mouths shut. I know they may have good intentions but sometimes they may just say something that was not good and could be hurtful. They may try to sympathize with you and say they just lost their dog, or something but it does not compare to your pain and suffering. 

In this chapter we see Job’s 3rd friend, Zophar, speak.

Zophar speaks

To sum up what Zophar tells Job is that he should be thankful that God is showing mercy to him. Job deserves way more suffering and pain than he already is facing. Wow! Can you believe that. While Job is not only in pain from the boils on his body, he also is mourning his family and do not forget that he went from wealthy to poor in a matter of seconds and this guy, Zophar has the nerve to say, “Be thankful, you deserve worse.” How do you think that made Job feel? 

Zophar also calls Job stupid (vs 12) and tells Job that if he stretches out his hand and asks for forgiveness, he will find deliverance (vs. 13-14). One thing that Job stresses is that he is not guilty of anything. This sorrow and suffering that he is facing is not because of any sin; remember that it says, “In all this Job did not sin against God.” The one thing that Zophar is forgetting is that God is in control and allowing this to show Job’s trust in him. Zophar thinks that just because something bad was happening, Job must have been guilty and thus is receiving the punishment.  There are many people that have that thought about God and sorrow. They think when someone dies or disease hits that it is because of sin. Now we may sin which brings consequences to these such as drinking a lot of alcohol can be harmful to our health and result in death or disease but Job did not do any of these. 

Job was innocent and sometimes the innocent face the fires of life and we pass through them not on our own but with Christ, and we overcome the trial. James 1:2 reminds us that we will face trials of various kinds. Instead of Zophar and his other friends too, should have been praying for Job and helping him with strength to endure. We as humans can be so quick to judge and slow to encourage. We think we can fix the problem or give our two cents but the truth is we do not understand everything, the only thing we do know is what God’s Word says and the hope we have in that TRUTH.

What’s Wrong

Job 9

Job has been very depressed and the weight of sorrow is upon him. His friends have been supposedly comforting him but truly they have not said anything of great comfort. In this chapter Job responds to Bildad’s words of not so encouragement. 

Can I Bring my Case Before God

This chapter can be summed up as Job saying, “He can not bring his case before God.” God acts and that is all there is too it. In verse 2 and 3 he says, “But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.” It is true that man can not stand before God on his own. We are sinful and unworthy before a Holy and righteous God but we can stand before God because there is someone who stands between us and that is Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 4:16~ “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We have the confidence to know we can ask our request or present our case before God because Jesus stands before us. He allows us to do that. What was Job missing in his response to Bildad? 

We know we can ask God our requests! We know we can even ask God how much longer will I go through this hard time or suffering! When you read the Psalms you can see how David is honest before God with his worries and complaints but David always turns it around on how in control God is and how he works for his children. We need to know that God wants to hear from us even though he already knows what is going on. What are some ways that we can show that we can approach God confidently with our requests because of Jesus Christ? What are some ways that shows that we may not believe that?

What Kind of Friend are You?

Job 8

The second of Job’s 3 friends try to offer Bildad offers his advice. Remember that his 3 friends came and just sat with him for 7 days as he mourned and was in sorrow. The first friend, Eliphaz, decided to share with Job that there must have been some reason why he is receiving all this sorrow. He thinks Job must have done something to deserve it and must have sinned for some reason. Job responds with that can he not receive unmerited suffering as well as unmerited grace. 

Eliphaz gives his words.

This chapter we can sum up two things that Eliphaz tells Job. 1) If Job was a blameless man, God would not have rejected him and 2) The tent of the wicked does not stand long. We read this and we can almost think that it was truth that he was saying but it was far from it. Instead of just being there for Job and comforting, maybe by not opening their mouths, they start talking like they know who God is. They assume that God only gives blessings for the righteous and if something bad happened then you must be accursed. 

Is this a good friend? Is this someone you would want in your corner? Do you think his words are comforting to Job? They are really not, instead of turning Job’s attention on God’s grace and hope, they make it seem like God is cruel is his givings. 

A True Friend

A true friend would be someone that does not run from your hardships but endures it with you. Romans 12:15 tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those that weep. Job was weeping and yes, his friends wept with him but then they decided to open their mouths. 

There is one thing that I have learned from being married for 3 years. When my wife wants to talk to me about a problem, she just wants me to listen and when she asks for advice then I give it. Job’s friends were quick on the “I can solve this.” What happened was false and improper help. This help to someone that may not be a righteous person like Job could have been devastating. That is why it is so important for us to give the council of the Lord. We do that by pointing them to the Word of God. It needs to not be our words but the active and living word. What kind of friend are you?

A Wave of Depression

Job 7

Have you ever been depressed? How about someone that was really depressed? Reading this chapter allows me to see the weight of sorrow Job was feeling. Remember Job lost his possessions, livestock, family, and now his health was falling apart. 

His friends came to try to comfort him but in ch. 4 and 5 we see his first friend Eliphaz basically tell him that God is doing this because there must have been some sin or problem he did against God to deserve this sorrow. Job responds with the fact that can we not receive unmerited suffering too as well as unmerited grace. 

Sorrow (Job complains to his friends 1-11)

Job continues sharing to his friends that there is no hope for him because his sorrow is so great. In verse 3 we see the extinct of this as it says, “I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. He is in a place that some people reach. They do not have hope and the weight of their sorrow is grand. Have you ever met someone in this place? The Bible says that Job never cursed God but he sure is complaining to him. This gives me comfort because I am a complainer and I know I have no reason to complain, not like Job anyway; but at least I know God does listen to my complaints. 

Job says some truth in this chapter, verse 7 he says, “Remember that my life is a breath.” Life is so short. It is but a vapor. Before you know it, you are married man with a baby. 

Sorrow Continued (Job complains to God 12-21)

In verse 12, Job asks God if he is some sea monster because the suffering is so great, it could not be for a human. We see that Job is not even comforted by sleep because he has bad dreams and does not have peace in his dreams. As Job complains to God he does ask God why is this happening? “What wrong did I do? Did I sin against you?” He also asks, “Why do you not take away my iniquity?” These questions I feel are very relevant as many people wonder why is this bad stuff happening to me. Why is God allowing this to go on? 

The answer is because of sin. Sin happens and because of sin, there is death and disease. Some people wonder why there has to be sin, but remember sin is because of Adam and Eve. Sin was their fault and is passed down to us as we are sinners. 

The Hope of Today and for Job

Matthew 11:28-30~ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Jesus spoke these words and my question for you is are you heavy laden? There are many strains in life today and also in our given economic state. What is burdening you? What weighs on you where you have no hope. The hope we have is in Jesus Christ. He did the work already and he conquered death and sin on the cross as he rose from the dead. My hope lies with him and the sorrow that I may face I know one day will be replaced with joy. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I know that I will have that peace that surpasses this world in logic during those tough, weighty, sorrowful times. Turn to him, Jesus, who gives rest and peace to our souls and minds.

Character Counts in Trials

Job 1

We start a new book today. The book of Job, which we will spend some time in. We also start a different type of genre of literature. We are now beginning psalms and wisdom literature. Many scholars say that Job takes place before the time of Abraham and the patriarchs. Either way Job stands as a great reminder for us to be reminded of who God is even in trials. We also get a glimpse of the spiritual world in which God is control over.

Integrity

The first verse talks about where Job came from, Ur and his integrity. It says that he was blameless, upright, and one who feared God. Job was not from the same line as Abraham, instead he was a man who had no inheritance like the Jews, but he still feared God and was blameless and upright. This means he did not have any fault in him. He walked righteous. He made sure he was pure before God. It says a lot that the very first verse we see that he was morally strong man, based on God’s standards. 

Well-Off

The second and third verses talk about how well off he was. He had numerous amounts of sheep, camel, and oxen; which was money during this time. If you had a lot of livestock you were wealthy. Not only was having livestock a form of wealth but also the size of your family. If you had a large family you were considered blessed and prosperous. We see that Job not only was wealthy but loved his family and made sure they were taken care of financially as well as spiritually.

Spiritual Battle

In verse 6 we are introduced to something that really has never been seen, a dialogue between Satan and God. In this we still realize that Satan had to ask God for permission to test Job and see how righteous he really is if you took away all of his wealth. This gives us an idea that there is a spiritual battle which we know of from Paul (Ephesians 6:12) and that God is all powerful, Satan is limited. 

The Test

In verse 13 to the end we see what Job went through. In matter of seconds Job’s livestock was gone whether it was from raiders of fire from heaven it was gone. This was like saying you were a millionaire and then everything that had your money and investments failed and you are flat broke. While the messenger was telling him about all this another one interrupted him and told Job that the roof fell on all of his sons and daughters. They all died! I may not need to go into detail on the devastation of hearing this. He would have been heartbroken. 

His Character Still Stood the Trial

The reaction that Satan wanted was that Job would curse God. He wanted Job to turn his back on God and not fear him anymore. Satan’s goal in this life is to want us to turn away from God. He does that by distracting us, destroying us, or even annoying us. Job had the character award because what he did next shows his heart was in the right place. He of course was mourning the loss of his family but he worshiped God. He knew that he came into this world with nothing and that he can not take anything with him. But where his attention went when calamity stroked was to God. I can honestly say I have never faced anything that tough but I do know that all the stuff I have faced, even if I did not go to God right away, God still was there for me. David, time and time again, knew that God was the answer as he praised and sang to him in his songs. God is the answer and Paul and Silas were in the prison cell at night and singing praised to the Lord. 

Look up James 1:2 and let me know what you think about what the Bible says about Trials. Practice going before the Lord in the good and the bad and the ugly now because one day you will face something tough taht you would never think you would be able to go see the end but with God you can.