"When Wise and Good Men Are Betrayed into Intemperate Passions"

Continuing my Bible study in Job:

(Job 11:1) Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, (2) "Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified? (3) Should your lies make men hold their peace? And when you mock, shall no man rebuke you?"

A third friend of Job speaks, and much rougher than the first two. He insinuates that Job is just a babbler, talking with a great many words, but not really saying anything. More severely, he even accuses Job of lying and mocking! As demonstrated in a previous study lesson, this is how NOT to comfort a friend in distress! In an early Bible commentary, Matthew Henry says it beautifully, "It is sad to see what intemperate passions even wise and good men are sometimes betrayed into by the heat of disputation, of which Zophar here is an instance."

This may be a good time to point out that I prefer the early commentaries, 18th century or before. Although I realize that people at any era can be mistaken, it seems to me that in latter times, they are more apt to err in important doctrinal issues. As men were more readily recognized and gained fame for their "wisdom", it seems their pride grew and some wanted to be the first to discover something never before found in the scriptures. Frankly, I believe that is what happened with regard to the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture. It was an idea first dreamed up in the 1800's that had religious speakers scrambling to be the first to spread the new doctrine to make a name for themselves. But the well-read and studied commentaries of the 1700's make no mention of a pre-trib rapture. It's amazing how many people believe in a rapture before the Second Coming of Christ now because that is what they have been taught. You can bet this was a tool of Satan's. I have read that in a 1933 issue of the Moody Monthly by the Moody Bible Institute, there was an article that said that Christians did not need to take a stand at the time on whether or not to recognize atheistic Communist USSR, because the Second Coming would resolve the problem. Imagine what that kind of promoted belief did to allow evil to run rampant in the world and to immoralize our culture! Christians need not make a stand on any of the issues of the day because they would be raptured away anyway!

(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) And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves."

Zophar tells Job that although he believes himself to be clean and pure, God's wisdom is double-fold or infinitely exceeding the wisdom of man, and He would tell Job where he had erred. After all, he says, God chastises and afflicts much less than Job's sin deserves, insinuating that his sin must be great, even though he does not see it.

(7) "Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? (8) They are as high as heaven; what can you do? Deeper than hell; what can you know? (9) Their measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. (10) If He cuts off, and shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder Him?"

Paraphrased, "Do you really think you can understand the depths of Almighty God? In whatever He does, there is no man who could stop Him."

(11) "For He knows vain men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it? (12) For vain man would be wise, though man be born a wild ass's colt."

God knows the hearts of men. He can see the wickedness of evil men when people may not. Zophar is asking Job if he doesn't think that God would have to act when He knows the wickedness of a man. Whether the meaning here is that vain empty man would be wise if it weren't for the fall, or whether only as a gift from God, either way, of himself, he is born into this world without understanding and wisdom.

(13) "If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; (14) If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tents; (15) For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear;"

Zophar continues in his insinuation that Job has sinned and brought his calamity upon himself, but if he will repent and return to God, then Job in all good conscience, can have confidence and be rooted and grounded in the Lord, and will therefore have nothing to fear.

(16) "Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away;"

With that renewed confidence and steadfastness in the Lord, the peace and rest that ultimately comes with it will make the pain of his afflictions a fleeting memory.

(17) "And your life shall be clearer than the noonday; you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning. (18) And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, you shall dig around you, and you shall take your rest in safety."

Whether "dig" here means to literally dig, or one of the original word's other meanings, to delve into, search out, or explore, the implication is that Job will be able to do his work in peace and safety.

(19) "Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall make suit unto you. (20) But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as loss of life."

Paraphrased, "In the rest and safety of the Lord, none will make you afraid. Although many will come to you with their supplications and petitions, you shall have confidence that the wicked will fail; therefore you will have nothing to fear.

That is, Zophar has insinuated, if Job would only repent of his sin!